Preaching Your Own Funeral

Our Thoughts:

Today, we went to a funeral for my husband’s brother-in-law. He had lived a long and fruitful life – ninety-five years. Most of that time, he was a Christian. He met you with a smile and a handshake and hug. He never failed to tell you, each time he met you, about Jesus. Those speaking of him at the funeral gave evidence of that today. He was a wonderful piano player. Often, we’ve sat and listened to him pat his foot to the rhythm of his piano playing – old southern gospel music was his love, after the Lord.

Both his Sunday School teacher and his pastor told what a joy and privilege it was to know him. His pastor told how he always told those around him that they needed to pay their tithes. Even one of the grandchildren related in her speech how he’d send money for a Christmas gift to her children. He would write in the card to them, “Be sure and pay tithes on this.” He knew the Lord, knew the Word, and expected others to know the Word by his example. The pastor, in summarizing this man’s life at the end, said, “he preached his own funeral by the life he lived.” What a wonderful eulogy for a dedicated man of God!

What kind of funeral are you preaching for yourself? Is it going to be one of joy and celebration? Or, is it going to be a sad and hopeless? Are you living a life that shows others the light of the Lord in your life, or are you failing to show that you are serving the Lord at all? The way in which we live our every day life tells people a lot about the condition of our heart and soul.

God's Thoughts:

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Our Cup:

Heavenly Father, help each of us assess the way we live our lives today. If there are changes to be made, help us to make the right choices. Help us to show your light to others, as we go about our daily living. We give you praise. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.