Monday's Blessing
John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd risks and lays down his life for the sheep.”
How many of you out there are on life interrupted?
Your basic daily plans, routines, and friendships may be on hold for a couple of months. We are asked to stay within six feet of each other to prevent containment spray. Not to go to public outings that range more than ten. There is even a preacher out there defying the odds and asking his congregation to join each Sunday because "God will exempt us from the disease and want us to gather."
It reminds me of the old joke:
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."
The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me."
So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."
To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety."
To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"
To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
I believe those angels today are in the form of health experts, doctors, and nurses who work the front line during the pandemic. Simply put, stay away, and stay put.
These individuals make great sacrifices for us today. The more I read the Bible concerning people who God deems as "great," the more I see these individuals made huge sacrifices and there was nothing convenient about what God asked them to do.
Abraham had to leave his country, his relatives, and his home and go to a place God would not even tell him about until he arrived. Joseph saved a nation from starvation, but not before he was violently removed from his comfortable home and put in an inconvenient place for a number of years. Esther saved the Jews from destruction, but God certainly interrupted her plan in order for
her to do so.
This list of sacrificial obedience goes on and on. The Bible calls them people "of who the world was not worthy" (Hebrew 11:38). These people were inconvenienced so that someone else's life could be made easier. Jesus died so we could have life and have it abundantly. Soldiers die so that civilians can remain safe at home. Doctors, medical assistants, and nurses go to work each day to combat this pandemic. It seems quite obvious that someone usually has to experience pain or inconvenience for anyone to gain anything.
If you make the decision that you don't mind inconvenience or interruption, then God can use you today. You can make a difference in the world right now. Do it with the guidance of our health officials though. Don't jump out there thinking your preaching the word, then touching people, and spreading the germs. Ask God now, if you need to be out of that comfort zone, on what you can do to help others who are in such need at this moment.
This Week's Meditation:
Teach me to "open up my heart to your direction."
Pray:
Help me to meditate: I know that you will guide me where I'm needed.
Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me.
Remind me that I need your help first.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. And realize God has you in his arms always.
John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd risks and lays down his life for the sheep.”
How many of you out there are on life interrupted?
Your basic daily plans, routines, and friendships may be on hold for a couple of months. We are asked to stay within six feet of each other to prevent containment spray. Not to go to public outings that range more than ten. There is even a preacher out there defying the odds and asking his congregation to join each Sunday because "God will exempt us from the disease and want us to gather."
It reminds me of the old joke:
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."
The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me."
So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."
To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety."
To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"
To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
I believe those angels today are in the form of health experts, doctors, and nurses who work the front line during the pandemic. Simply put, stay away, and stay put.
These individuals make great sacrifices for us today. The more I read the Bible concerning people who God deems as "great," the more I see these individuals made huge sacrifices and there was nothing convenient about what God asked them to do.
Abraham had to leave his country, his relatives, and his home and go to a place God would not even tell him about until he arrived. Joseph saved a nation from starvation, but not before he was violently removed from his comfortable home and put in an inconvenient place for a number of years. Esther saved the Jews from destruction, but God certainly interrupted her plan in order for
her to do so.
This list of sacrificial obedience goes on and on. The Bible calls them people "of who the world was not worthy" (Hebrew 11:38). These people were inconvenienced so that someone else's life could be made easier. Jesus died so we could have life and have it abundantly. Soldiers die so that civilians can remain safe at home. Doctors, medical assistants, and nurses go to work each day to combat this pandemic. It seems quite obvious that someone usually has to experience pain or inconvenience for anyone to gain anything.
If you make the decision that you don't mind inconvenience or interruption, then God can use you today. You can make a difference in the world right now. Do it with the guidance of our health officials though. Don't jump out there thinking your preaching the word, then touching people, and spreading the germs. Ask God now, if you need to be out of that comfort zone, on what you can do to help others who are in such need at this moment.
This Week's Meditation:
Teach me to "open up my heart to your direction."
Pray:
Help me to meditate: I know that you will guide me where I'm needed.
Teach me to be patient and know you will mentor me.
Remind me that I need your help first.
Meditate on this for several minutes a day. Allow various thoughts to come into your mind. And realize God has you in his arms always.
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