The Hope Jesus Brings 耶稣带来的盼望
Dexu Xia
Do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13
Today's Scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Today's Insights
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul comforts believers in Jesus who are grieving the loss of loved ones. He doesn’t dismiss their sorrow but reminds them of the greater reality of their shared hope in Christ’s resurrection and promised return. Because Jesus conquered death, we’re bound together not just in belief but in eternal hope and destiny. In moments that feel hopeless—when grief swells or life seems fractured—the love of Christ is our anchor. We don’t grieve “like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (v. 13), because our hope is rooted in a Savior who lives and who’ll return to take us to be with Him where He is forever. This promise unites hearts across generations, cultures, and death itself. In Jesus, separation is temporary, and reunion is certain. When everything else feels lost, His love holds us fast.
Today's Devotion
It began with an email a grieving father sent to me. He had lost his daughter Alyssa—a college junior—in a car accident, and he needed to hear from someone who understood his wrenching pain.
Nearly three hundred emails and four years later, Craig and I were finally able to meet in person. His job had taken him to a nearby city, so on a Sunday we shared a church service, lunch, and memories of our daughters: Melissa and Alyssa—two girls who’d made other people happy, enjoyed volleyball, loved Jesus, and innocently lost their lives in car accidents.
What was the essence of our conversation that day? We discussed our sadness. And we cried. But mostly we spoke of hope. True, authentic hope based on God’s promises. “We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope,” the apostle Paul explained. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and . . . God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). For the believer, beyond the grave is life—life eternal.
Craig and I ended the day by praying and thanking God that our daughters are secure in His loving arms. The shared love of Jesus binds hearts and gives hope in otherwise hopeless situations.
Reflect & Pray
What loss weighs heavy on your heart? Who can you talk with about it? How can your hope in Jesus help you face this difficulty?
Loving God, thank You for putting others in my life who understand my pain and for providing true, authentic hope.
By Dave branon
“论到睡了的人，我们不愿意弟兄耶稣带来的盼望们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样。”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13）
今日经文：帖撒罗尼迦前书 4章13-18 节
今日洞见： 在帖撒罗尼迦前书 4章13-18 节中，保罗安慰那些因失去亲人而悲痛的信徒。他没有轻视他们的悲伤，而是提醒他们，共同拥有的盼望是基督的复活和祂应许的再来，这才是更伟大的现实。因为耶稣战胜了死亡，我们不仅在信仰上，更在永恒的盼望和归宿上彼此相连。在那些看似绝望的时刻，当悲伤涌上心头或生活支离破碎之时，基督的爱是我们的锚。我们不会像那些没有指望的人那样悲伤（13节），因为我们的盼望根植于一位活着的救主，祂必再来接我们到祂永远所在的地方。这个应许跨越世代、文化，甚至死亡，将人心紧紧相连。在耶稣里，分离只是暂时的，重聚是必然的。当一切都看似失去时，祂的爱紧紧地拥抱我们。
今日灵修 一位悲痛欲绝的父亲发给我了一封邮件，他失去了女儿艾莉莎，一位大学三年级的学生，她在一场车祸中丧生，他需要有人能理解他撕心裂肺的痛苦，自此我们之间开始了近三百封邮件往来。四年之后，我和克雷格终于见面了。他的工作把他带到了附近的一个城市，所以在一个星期天，我们一起参加了教会礼拜，一起吃了午餐，回忆起我们各自的女儿：梅丽莎和艾莉莎，两个给别人带来快乐的女孩，她们都热爱排球、深爱耶稣，却无辜地在车祸中失去了生命。 那天我们谈话的重点是什么？我们倾诉了彼此的悲伤。我们哭泣。但我们谈论的更多的是希望。基于上帝应许的真正、纯粹的希望。 “论到睡了的人，我们不愿意你们不知道，恐怕你们忧伤，像那些没有指望的人一样，”使徒保罗解释道。“因为我们相信耶稣死了，复活了，……并且那些在耶稣里睡了的人，神必将他们与耶稣一同带来。”（帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:13-14）对于信徒而言，肉身死亡后仍旧活着，永远活着。 我和克雷格以祷告和感谢结束了这一天，感谢神让我们的女儿们安息在他慈爱的怀抱中。耶稣的爱将人心紧紧相连，在看似绝望的境地中带来希望。
反思与祷告 你心中是否有什么深沉的伤痛？你可以和谁倾诉你的伤痛？你对耶稣的盼望如何帮助你面对这困境？
慈爱的神，感谢你让我生命中出现理解我痛苦的人，并赐予我真实又真切的盼望。——戴夫·布兰农