Hi there and thank you for joining me for today's Our Daily Bread Devotional.

I'm Sheridan Voizzi and I've titled Today's Reading, Rising to Dance.

In a widely shared video, an elegant elderly woman sits in a wheelchair.

Once a famed ballet dancer, Marta Gonzalez-Saladanya now suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

But something magical happens when Chikoski's swan lake is played to her.

As the music builds, her frail hands slowly rise, and as the first trumpets blast, she starts

performing from her chair. Though her mind and body are perishing, her talent is still there.

Reflecting on that video, my thoughts went to Paul's teaching on resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.

Likening our bodies to a seed that is buried before it sprouts

into a plant, he says that though our bodies may perish through age or illness, may be a source of

dishonour and may be wracked with weakness, the bodies of believers will be raised imperishable,

full of glory and power. Just as there is an organic link between the seed and the plant, we will be raised imperishable, full of glory and power. Just as there is an organic link between the

seed and the plant, we will be us after our resurrection, our personalities and talents intact,

but we will flourish like never before. When the haunting melody of Swan Lake began to play,

Marta at first looked downcast,

perhaps mindful of what she once was and could no longer do.

But then a man reached out and held her hand.

And so it will be for us.

Trumpets will blast, a hand will reach out, and we will rise to dance like never before.

Today's scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 35 to 44.

But someone will ask, how are the dead raised?

With what kind of body will they come? How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

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