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Pondering Prayers: The Dying

By: Steve Negley

Posted: November 3, 2018

Category: Daily Devotional

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
John 12:20-26

One of the lessons we learn from Jesus is that earthly life does not last forever. Luckily, we also learn from Jesus that God promises us life eternal in our Lord and Savior Jesus. Along with Jesus, as His followers, we get to live a resurrected life forever. Chapter 12 of John’s gospel is one of the places in scripture where Jesus spells out this promise.

In the Worshipbook (jointly published in the early 1970’s by The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The PCUS, and The United Presbyterian Church), we find this prayer “Prayer for the Dying.” We may wish to pray this today as a prayer for ones we know(or do not know) who are in the last moments of earthly life.

Prayer:

Almighty God, by Your power Jesus Christ was raised from death. Watch over dying men and women. Fill eyes with light, to see beyond human sight a home within Your love, where pain is gone and frail flesh turns to glory. Banish fear. Bush tears away. Let death be gentle as nightfall, promising a day when songs of joy shall make us glad to be together with Jesus Christ, who lives in triumph, the Lord of life eternal. Amen.