Weeping

VERSE:                                                            John 11:35-36

Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him?”

REFLECTION:

Terror struck Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday as a man went in to the school and shot 27 people including 20 children. This is an absolutely tragic event that shows everyone the evil that exists in this world. America is in grief for the families of all of those involved but amid chaos there is peace.

This week highlights the sympathetic and caring side of Jesus. Lazarus had died and Jesus wept over the loss of His friend. When all 27 people died and Sandy Hook on Friday Jesus wept. He wept because He loves everyone and He doesn’t want anyone to lose their lives in a tragic way.

I believe He also weeps when we die spiritually. He doesn’t want any of us to lose our lives spiritually. He doesn’t want to see us walk away from Him. Often during these times of chaos people will blame God and wonder why He lets evil happen. I can’t really explain that but what I do know is that the only constant we can cling to during these times of chaos is Jesus. These are not the times to walk away from Him it is a time to draw closer to him. As the verse indicates He doesn’t just love Lazarus, He loves you and He loves me. He loves us during the good times and the bad and we need to honor that love by loving Him and following Him.

We have wept this weekend for those lives lost at Newtown because deep down we love others. Give your life to Jesus and let Him love you out of the chaos and turmoil that enters our lives. We need to love Him because He first loved us.

PRAYER:

Pray that God will comfort the families who lost a loved one. Pray that good will comfort you during times of chaos. Pray that you will follow Jesus during the good and the bad.

Moving Mountians

VERSE:                              1 Corinthians 13:2

 

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

 
REFLECTION:

 

    How strong is your faith?  This verse says that if you have all faith you can remove mountains.  Think of the power and the strength that faith must have  if it can remove mountains.  What type of mountains do you have in your life?  Are you struggling with some kind of addiction?  Are you compromising your integrity?  Whatever problems you face or mountains you confront they can be removed through your faith in Jesus Christ.  

    Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  If you hope to be free from sin in your life you must put all of your faith in Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen a mountain be removed but I have heard testimony after testimony about lives being changed because of faith in Jesus Christ.  My life has changed since I put my faith in Jesus Christ.  Your life can too if you just humble yourself and let Jesus be Lord of your life.
 
    One last thing I wanted to note about the verse and that is it doesn't matter what you have or how much faith you have you must have love to tie it all together.  Love toward God and love toward others. Without love we are nothing.  Faith will remove the mountain but it won't go anywhere if there isn't a change of heart.
 
PRAY:
 
    Pray for God to remove mountains in your life.  Pray and let Jesus be Lord of your life.

 

Pray in Love

VERSE:                                                 1 Peter 4:7-8

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

REFLECTION:

How do you treat others?  How is your prayer life?  Two questions that I believe are being asked in these verses.  The first part of this verse is asking us how our prayer life is because the end is near.  It is important that we be in constant prayer.  We must be praying for each other, pray for unbelievers and pray for the world around us.  In Matthew 24 it speaks of wars and rumors of wars as being a sign of end times.  It also speaks of “famine, pestilence and earthquakes.”  All of these things will come to pass.  It is important that we pay attention to the world around us.  There are many wars throughout the world and there is much calamity in many parts of the world.  We must pray for the world around us and pray that we can discern how close the end is near. 

With that in mind we must have a fervent love for one another.  Because that love “will cover a multitude of sins.”  But how do we show that love to others so their sins are covered?  We want them to be saved so if we truly love them we will pray for them and tell them about the gospel of Christ.  We must be fervent in our prayers for others so they will come to the knowledge and acceptance of Christ Jesus as their Savior.  What a great way to show your love than to pray for those who are lost. 

Looking back on the questions that are posed, How do you treat others?  With the love of Christ or the disdain of satan.  It is your choice but choose correctly.  How is your prayer life?  Is it me centered or God centered?  Are you praying for others or yourself?  Show you love for others by praying for them.

PRAYER:

Pray for the world around you.  Pray for friends and relatives who are lost.  Pray for a heart full of the love of Christ so you can share it with others.