My pastor pointed out that the gospels make no mention of Jesus conducting any funerals. Jesus didn’t conduct funerals because his business wasn’t death; it was life! He was in the business of resurrection! Our old selves may have died, but a new and better person was born! Thank you, God, for this new life!
O God, help me find the right words when they can bring comfort but help me know when it is best to remain silent and just be present for someone in pain.
I remember an old (1980) movie called “My Bodyguard.” In it, a nerdy high-school kid, who is being harassed by the school bully, hires a fellow classmate, a husky loner, to be his bodyguard. Eventually the two become friends. We probably don’t need a bodyguard, but we all could benefit from a “soul guard”. God provided one: the Holy Spirit! So let’s make friends with Him.
I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me – he’s got judo I never heard of. But he can’t handle the One to whom I’m joined; he can’t handle the One to whom I’m united; he can’t handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature. [A. W. Tozer]
Human life is as short-lived as grass. It blossoms like a flower in the field. When the wind blows over the flower, it disappears, and there is no longer any sign of it. [Psalm 103:15-16 (GW)] In reality, all a tombstone marks is a somewhat useless piece of real estate. What will we really leave behind when our days here end? What gift will we bequeath to the living? Lord, help us remember that what really matters won’t be how well we were liked but how much we loved. The number of people we knew won’t be as important as the number of people to whom we offered friendship. The amount of money we had won’t be of consequence, but how much we gave will. The extent of our knowledge will be forgotten, but what we taught will be remembered. What we owned will be of no significance, but how well we shared it will. Our memories will be gone, but others’ memories of us will remain. Guide us, O Lord, in our remaining days.
Epitaph, tombstone inscription in Shrewsbury, England
“For the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
Do all the good you can,
To all the people you can,
In all the ways you can,
As long as ever you can.”
Father, guide us so that we are truly able to celebrate the success of others, even when our lives aren’t going smoothly. Help us to show empathy and concern when there are people who need our compassion and understanding, even when we would prefer having a sympathetic ear for our own problems. May we always be willing to listen (and respond) with love.
I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. [Job 42:2 (NIV)]God has a plan for us and He can be relentless in trying to get us to follow it. Unfortunately, much of the time, like stubborn mules, we are obstinate and ignore His guidance. As steadfast as He is, God will do whatever it takes to get our attention. It may be a simple heavenly nudge or a tap on the shoulder. If we continue to ignore Him, however, He may find it necessary to get our attention with a whack from a mallet or even a sledge hammer. Let’s not be so stubborn that the Lord needs to get out the heavenly jack hammer or bull dozer before we follow His plan!
Devotions of the Heart 