Blessed are the Dead

Revelation 14:13

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Quickword: Blessed are the Dead

Today at the Antioch Church, we will lay to rest a member who has served faithfully for over 40 years. During my time here, I was bless to get to know this member and her husband who went home to be with the Lord a few years ago. As I pulled into my driveway yesterday, my eyes were drawn to the bricks of my house. What stood out to me was not the bricks but the mortar between each brick that held the bricks together. We have persons in our churches, communities and families who are like the mortar between the bricks. Year after year, they served, they worship, they give of themselves with little or no fanfare and their presence just holds things together. We often don’t realize how truly valuable these persons are until they are no longer present. Today we will honor and celebrate the life of one such person. So today in this space I honor such a person, Sister Maxine Ingram. This verse in Revelation chapter 14 captures my sentiments today: “ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Sister Ingram, take your rest, sleep well, we will see you in the morning.

Let’s pray: Dear God in Heaven, as we prepare to celebrate and honor the life of one of your daughters, I know there are many others this morning who also sit in the seat of bereavement. God, we thank you for the lives of your servants who are faithful and serve until the very end. God bless are the dead which die in the Lord. God comfort the Ingram family and others who grieve the loss of love ones today. We are reminded by your word that weeping may endure for a night but Joy comes in the morning. God, be with us today as only you can in the name of Jesus. Amen.