E-Devotion Friday, November 21, 2008
VERSE:
"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
-- John 11:21
THOUGHT:
Where is Jesus when we hurt? Why couldn't he be here to help us? There are a couple of crucial answers to remember. First, Jesus is with us in our moments of hurt, even loss and grief. The Church is Jesus' Body and every act of kindness, support, comfort, and help is Jesus working to alleviate our grief. Second, while He may not have eliminated the hurt and pain, He strengthened us and He may use the situation so that He might receive glory.
PRAYER:
Holy Father, please help me see Jesus' ministering presence in my times of hurt and pain. Help me see him in the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit who abides in me. Help me see him in the acts of love and kindness your people do to help me. In addition, dear Father, please help me see ways that I can serve as Jesus' presence to someone else who is experiencing hurt or even loss and grief. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Alan Beasley
alan.beasley@charter.net
First United Methodist Church
Russellville, Alabama
Posted on 21 Nov 2008