Luke 22:41-44
He pulled away from them about a
stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, remove this cup from me.
But please, not what I want. What do you want?” At once an angel from
heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder.
Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
This morning as we got ready
to go to church, I listened to the live broadcast of worship services at
“Mother Emmanuel” A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina. Just
four nights ago, 9 members were massacred there by a 21-year-old man who
claimed to hate black people and told them, You’ve got to go.” Today,
members of the congregation – and Charleston at large – gathered to
worship God…to remember those who were killed… and to offer hope and
encouragement to one another – and to the world.
During the
service, the altar was opened for prayer, and as several knelt there,
the crowd sang the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” It is hard for
many to fathom how we can sing these words in days following such a
heinous act. How can we sing that God doesn’t change – and neither does
His compassion and care - when nine people who were gathered to study
God’s word and pray were gunned down, even as they worshipped Him?
How
can we declare that everything we have ever needed has been provided by
God…that His mercies never fail…when the very people who welcomed a
stranger into their midst were betrayed and assassinated? The better
question is…”How can we not?”
We need look no further than Jesus’
actions in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He cried out to God to
relieve Him of the suffering that was to come – to “take the cup” of
impending brutality, torture, and agonizing death…but only if it be
God’s will. And many will ask, “How can we serve a God who would allow
such atrocities…even to His only Son?” Again, the answer is found in
another question…”How can we not?”
The full answer lies in the
greatness and magnitude of God’s love and commitment to us. This began
with Noah and God’s promise to never wipe out His people again. God made
covenants with us to always have our back…to always offer us love,
mercy, second chances, and forgiveness. And the only way to really make
this work was to sacrifice His only Son – Jesus – on the cross. And
somehow, whether we realize it or not…the only way God could make His
perfect plans work was to call these nine church members to Heaven at
the hands of a deranged gunman. We may never see the “end result” of
this event…we may never fully understand what God intended by allowing
this horrific crime to occur…but we must accept it and trust that God is
in the details.
Be assured that God will not waste these lives
– or the way in which they ended. This is evidenced already in the
media coverage and the public reaction to these deaths. Additionally,
scripture tells us that an angel appeared to comfort Jesus in His grief
and anguish. Surely God sent angels to surround those nine on Wednesday
night – and He is surrounding many with angels of comfort and compassion
even today as they grieve, mourn and sort through the roller-coaster
emotions of this aftermath.
I pray that God never calls you or me
to face a deranged killer. But I know that He will test each of us
throughout our lifetimes. How will we fare? Will we have the strength,
courage – and faith – to say, “Your will, not mine”?
Will we call out for mercy with the intent to fully accept whatever
decision God makes? Will we still be able to claim the blessings of
God…even when our world seems to be crumbling around us?
Do we
fully understand God’s faithfulness over us…how He is holding up His end
of the covenant bargain? Or do we question His presence, particularly
when tragedies like this one arise? Are we fully committed to God’s
will…no matter how difficult it may seem? Can we sing “Great is Thy
faithfulness” with confidence in all circumstances…and a heart for
serving Him in all things? Could THIS be what God intended in
Charleston last Wednesday? Will this be the day that we begin to make it
so?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label [raising Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [raising Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 4, 2014
Jeremiah 17:14-18
You, Lord, are the one I praise.
So heal me and rescue me!
Then I will be completely well
and perfectly safe.
The people of Judah say to me,
“Jeremiah, you claimed to tell us
what the Lord has said.
So why hasn’t it come true?”
Our Lord, you chose me
to care for your people,
and that’s what I have done.
You know everything I have said,
and I have never once
asked you to punish them.
I trust you for protection
in times of trouble,
so don’t frighten me.
Keep me from failure
and disgrace,
but make my enemies fail
and be disgraced.
Send destruction to make
their worst fears come true.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the closing paragraphs of her book, Just Give Me Jesus*, Anne Graham Lotz talks about how Peter responds to Jesus in the 21st chapter of the Book of John. Jesus has questioned Peter and asked him more than once, “Do you really love Me?” Peter is exasperated and finally points to another beloved disciple and asks, “What about him?” In verse 22, we read...”Jesus answered, ‘What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me.’”
Lotz makes the point that how Jesus works in the lives of other people – and how they respond to Him – is basically none of our business. We are not to compare ourselves with others. We are to focus on Jesus – and Jesus alone. And other people are to do the same.
This is hard. We are all about comparing ourselves to others. Are we as successful, attractive, popular, intelligent, or talented as the other guy? Surely we are healthier...our “lifestyle habits” are not as bad as his/hers...right? Clearly we are more faith-filled...a better servant...more “Christ-like”! And OBVIOUSLY, we are more humble!
Pay close attention to the words of Jeremiah - and the admonition of Anne Graham Lotz...focus solely on Jesus. Worship and adore only Him. Listen for His voice and do what He commands of you. Forget about the other guy and what he/she is doing – or not. Quit comparing yourself to everyone else, because Jesus has told us plainly in John 1:22 that whatever and however He chooses to work with others – and how they respond – is between the two of them and does not involve us. It has nothing to do with our own relationship with Jesus.
Focus on your connection with Jesus. Worship Him with every fiber of your being, and expect him to keep you “completely well and perfectly safe”, according to His will. Trust that you are operating within His will, and that He most certainly will care for you – flawlessly and entirely.
Lotz closes with an interesting question...”Have you been deeply disturbed and discouraged – even depressed – as you have looked at the lives of those who say they are disciples...and the community that calls itself the church yet not seen Jesus?” She concludes that if Jesus can’t be seen anywhere else, let Him surely be seen in your life – and mine. Jeremiah asked GOD to punish those who had criticized him and behaved poorly. Lotz is suggesting that we concentrate on ourselves and our own bond with Jesus, the healer of everyone and everything.
Where is your focus today? Are you busy comparing yourself with others and hoping you “fare pretty well”? Or are you fixated on praising and pleasing Jesus – and living in His perfect healing and the safety of His protection? Is time you for a shift of emphasis? Wouldn’t this be a good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Just Give Me Jesus - ©2000 Anne Graham Lotz – Word Publishing, a Thomas Nelson Company
You, Lord, are the one I praise.
So heal me and rescue me!
Then I will be completely well
and perfectly safe.
The people of Judah say to me,
“Jeremiah, you claimed to tell us
what the Lord has said.
So why hasn’t it come true?”
Our Lord, you chose me
to care for your people,
and that’s what I have done.
You know everything I have said,
and I have never once
asked you to punish them.
I trust you for protection
in times of trouble,
so don’t frighten me.
Keep me from failure
and disgrace,
but make my enemies fail
and be disgraced.
Send destruction to make
their worst fears come true.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the closing paragraphs of her book, Just Give Me Jesus*, Anne Graham Lotz talks about how Peter responds to Jesus in the 21st chapter of the Book of John. Jesus has questioned Peter and asked him more than once, “Do you really love Me?” Peter is exasperated and finally points to another beloved disciple and asks, “What about him?” In verse 22, we read...”Jesus answered, ‘What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me.’”
Lotz makes the point that how Jesus works in the lives of other people – and how they respond to Him – is basically none of our business. We are not to compare ourselves with others. We are to focus on Jesus – and Jesus alone. And other people are to do the same.
This is hard. We are all about comparing ourselves to others. Are we as successful, attractive, popular, intelligent, or talented as the other guy? Surely we are healthier...our “lifestyle habits” are not as bad as his/hers...right? Clearly we are more faith-filled...a better servant...more “Christ-like”! And OBVIOUSLY, we are more humble!
Pay close attention to the words of Jeremiah - and the admonition of Anne Graham Lotz...focus solely on Jesus. Worship and adore only Him. Listen for His voice and do what He commands of you. Forget about the other guy and what he/she is doing – or not. Quit comparing yourself to everyone else, because Jesus has told us plainly in John 1:22 that whatever and however He chooses to work with others – and how they respond – is between the two of them and does not involve us. It has nothing to do with our own relationship with Jesus.
Focus on your connection with Jesus. Worship Him with every fiber of your being, and expect him to keep you “completely well and perfectly safe”, according to His will. Trust that you are operating within His will, and that He most certainly will care for you – flawlessly and entirely.
Lotz closes with an interesting question...”Have you been deeply disturbed and discouraged – even depressed – as you have looked at the lives of those who say they are disciples...and the community that calls itself the church yet not seen Jesus?” She concludes that if Jesus can’t be seen anywhere else, let Him surely be seen in your life – and mine. Jeremiah asked GOD to punish those who had criticized him and behaved poorly. Lotz is suggesting that we concentrate on ourselves and our own bond with Jesus, the healer of everyone and everything.
Where is your focus today? Are you busy comparing yourself with others and hoping you “fare pretty well”? Or are you fixated on praising and pleasing Jesus – and living in His perfect healing and the safety of His protection? Is time you for a shift of emphasis? Wouldn’t this be a good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Just Give Me Jesus - ©2000 Anne Graham Lotz – Word Publishing, a Thomas Nelson Company
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