The Great Fifty Days of Easter - Day 18 - April 18th

Day 18

Alive

1 Corinthians 15:22 (NIV)

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

In today's verse, Paul continues on with his thoughts about Adam & Christ.  Because of Paul's comments in early verses, it can be assumed that "all" in this verse does not mean both believers & unbelievers.  Remember back to verse 2 that Paul reminds the Corinthians that "by this gospel you are saved," and in verse 18 he says, "they...who are fallen asleep (dead) in Christ."

I really like the fourth verse of "Now the Green Blade Riseth."  I like the imagery of being alive in Christ.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
Jesus' touch can call us back to life again,
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

The hope that Jesus gives us that our hearts can be touched and brought back to life, even when our hearts are hardened, dead, bare.  His love, His grace, will grow anew.  (Note the reference to wheat -- firstfruits!)

As you think about today's verse and the hope that it gives us, consider listening to KevinMcChesney's Choral Anthem accompanied by Handbells or Kenneth Kosche's Choral Anthem of "Now the Green Blade Riseth."