John 19:38-42
Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus' disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross.
Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead. In the place where Jesus had been nailed to a cross, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they were in a hurry to put Jesus' body there.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For weeks now, an acquaintance who belongs to my church has posted on Facebook about her journey with her dad, who suffered a stroke several months ago. She talked about how she had been away from home for weeks on end, sitting by his bedside in a hospital and rehab facility in nearby cities. She lamented missing many of the activities surrounding her daughter’s activities as part of the high school homecoming court and other events. And many of us have encouraged her, prayed for her, and sent her “virtual hugs.” But I have to tell you, after only six days of sitting with my grandmother in the hospital, I sent this friend an apology. Hospital sitting/caregiving is exhausting – and often lonely… and I was not sympathetic enough toward this friend in her lengthy ordeal.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea could easily have said, “I’m so sorry Jesus is dead… I will pray for His family.” They could have gone on their way and never looked back. They could have asked, “What will others think if I get involved? Will they misinterpret my actions and think I’m a busybody? Do I really have time for this? Can I afford to step in and help? Do I really know Jesus and His family well enough to ask for His dead body?”
The bottom line is that Nicodemus and Joseph operated out of great love and care in taking responsibility for Jesus’ remains. The tenderness and thoughtfulness they showed in preparing this mangled, maimed shell that had housed our Heavenly Father are in many ways a direct mandate for all of us. We can all do more to help others… to notice their needs and meet them.
How can we apply this to our own lives and those in need around us? Make a phone call or send a personal note or e-mail to ask, “How are you doing? Could I do something to help?” – and mean it! Those in need may be hesitant to ask for help, but you can contact them and say, “I’m headed to the grocery store… could I pick up anything for you?” Call and let them know that, “I’m bringing you a burger,” or “I made cookies or banana bread… could I bring you a tray?” Offer to pick up kids at school or walk the dog. If the person in need is a close friend or relative and you can make time, offer to come to their home and do laundry or help with yard work. Look for needs that might be less obvious to most… and do your best to meet them.
I “get it” that we are all busy. But helping others is not about doing what is convenient. Do you think the acts of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea would have been as significant to Jesus if they had truly had nothing better to do with their time or no sacrifice to make? When we operate out of a deep desire to serve rather than a place of obligation or boredom, we are truly honoring Jesus and our relationship with Him.
The old adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care” applies. We can’t really be the hands and feet of Jesus until we truly become exactly that. Actions do speak louder than words. What are you saying about your walk with Christ today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label caregiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label caregiving. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for September 8, 2010
Job 5:11
He protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you stop and think about Jesus’ ministry and teachings, the core of His message is found in Matthew 25:37-40, which says, “Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."
God protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced. How? By sending nurturing believers … caregivers … those who are filled with grace, love and mercy – and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I hear so many people say, “Oh, when someone dies, I just don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say to the family… it just makes me uncomfortable.” Others say, “I am no good at helping sick people,” or “I have my hands full with my own life … I have so much to do, and don’t have time to see about someone who is injured or help others with their chores and errands.” Others say, “I simply have no patience with people who whine and complain or are sick or depressed or can’t seem to get their life together.”
Can I tell you something? There is an epidemic of burned-out caregivers and nurturers in this country, because many are called, but few are stepping up to the plate. If you look around and listen, a whole lot of us have an arsenal of excuses ... and what it often boils down to is the fact that we don’t want to do anything that tests our patience, our comfort level, our “image,” or costs us a little bit of our time. And age is no excuse, either.
Not too long ago, a junior high student posted a prayer request on Facebook for a fellow classmate who was having serious surgery. An elementary school student spent many hours and days this summer with her friend during his ordeal with brain surgery. My friend Melissa is heading up The C.A.L.L. – a ministry to help foster children in our area – despite the fact that she is the busy mother of two very young children. Another friend, Ms. Peggy, who is an octogenarian, keeps a visitation calendar that would exhaust a 16-year-old. She cooks for others, visits, calls, sends cards and notes of encouragement, love and sympathy … and she prays for countless people on her list.
Let me tell you … caring for the hungry, the sick, the elderly, the injured, those in prison or down on their luck, the homeless and hopeless, and more… can be unpleasant, time-consuming, and personally draining. But consider this … when a woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He felt the power of the Holy Spirit leave His body. The next time you help someone in the name of Jesus and feel drained afterward, maybe that is the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you! Maybe God is using you to protect the sorrowful and lift those who have been disgraced. Do you really want to risk missing this blessing?
There may very well come a day when you find yourself in need of nurture and care from others. How will you feel if nobody shows up to serve you? We have a lot of excuses – but none of them are good ones. You can say all you want that “I’m not very good at that,” or “I have no patience,” … or even “I don’t know what to do,” but I’m not buying it … and God most certainly isn’t! We weren’t called to only serve when it is pleasant or convenient or makes us look good. In fact, we are called to do just the opposite … to step outside our comfort zone and do what needs to be done, with grace, mercy, love and joy … and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the words of comedian Bill Engvall, “Here’s your sign.” This is your wake-up call … your notice that it’s time to get up and get going and figure out how and where God is calling you to serve. Who are you supposed to lift from sorrow? Who are you to encourage to overcome disgrace? Who are you supposed to feed, clothe and assist? Are you praying for others and asking God to send you wherever He needs you to serve? How long has it been since you felt the power of the Holy Spirit flow from you to others – if ever? It’s time… now… today… to start serving in the name of the One who gave His very life for us. Where will you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you stop and think about Jesus’ ministry and teachings, the core of His message is found in Matthew 25:37-40, which says, “Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."
God protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced. How? By sending nurturing believers … caregivers … those who are filled with grace, love and mercy – and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I hear so many people say, “Oh, when someone dies, I just don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say to the family… it just makes me uncomfortable.” Others say, “I am no good at helping sick people,” or “I have my hands full with my own life … I have so much to do, and don’t have time to see about someone who is injured or help others with their chores and errands.” Others say, “I simply have no patience with people who whine and complain or are sick or depressed or can’t seem to get their life together.”
Can I tell you something? There is an epidemic of burned-out caregivers and nurturers in this country, because many are called, but few are stepping up to the plate. If you look around and listen, a whole lot of us have an arsenal of excuses ... and what it often boils down to is the fact that we don’t want to do anything that tests our patience, our comfort level, our “image,” or costs us a little bit of our time. And age is no excuse, either.
Not too long ago, a junior high student posted a prayer request on Facebook for a fellow classmate who was having serious surgery. An elementary school student spent many hours and days this summer with her friend during his ordeal with brain surgery. My friend Melissa is heading up The C.A.L.L. – a ministry to help foster children in our area – despite the fact that she is the busy mother of two very young children. Another friend, Ms. Peggy, who is an octogenarian, keeps a visitation calendar that would exhaust a 16-year-old. She cooks for others, visits, calls, sends cards and notes of encouragement, love and sympathy … and she prays for countless people on her list.
Let me tell you … caring for the hungry, the sick, the elderly, the injured, those in prison or down on their luck, the homeless and hopeless, and more… can be unpleasant, time-consuming, and personally draining. But consider this … when a woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He felt the power of the Holy Spirit leave His body. The next time you help someone in the name of Jesus and feel drained afterward, maybe that is the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you! Maybe God is using you to protect the sorrowful and lift those who have been disgraced. Do you really want to risk missing this blessing?
There may very well come a day when you find yourself in need of nurture and care from others. How will you feel if nobody shows up to serve you? We have a lot of excuses – but none of them are good ones. You can say all you want that “I’m not very good at that,” or “I have no patience,” … or even “I don’t know what to do,” but I’m not buying it … and God most certainly isn’t! We weren’t called to only serve when it is pleasant or convenient or makes us look good. In fact, we are called to do just the opposite … to step outside our comfort zone and do what needs to be done, with grace, mercy, love and joy … and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the words of comedian Bill Engvall, “Here’s your sign.” This is your wake-up call … your notice that it’s time to get up and get going and figure out how and where God is calling you to serve. Who are you supposed to lift from sorrow? Who are you to encourage to overcome disgrace? Who are you supposed to feed, clothe and assist? Are you praying for others and asking God to send you wherever He needs you to serve? How long has it been since you felt the power of the Holy Spirit flow from you to others – if ever? It’s time… now… today… to start serving in the name of the One who gave His very life for us. Where will you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)