Luke 7:11-16
"As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow....When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, 'Don't cry.'"
(Luke 7:12-13)
Losses can be devastating, causing us to feel as if our hearts have been ripped from us. Life then becomes a series of days wrapped in despair. We find it difficult to believe anyone could understand what we're feeling, including God.
Jesus - fully God, fully man - showed us God does understand. His simple words to the heartbroken widow, "Don't cry," were more than an empty phrase. His heart was knit with hers. But unlike the others there, Jesus could remove the source of her grief. He gave her back what she had lost - her precious son.
Jesus understands our grief today. His compassion reaches into our lives, bringing wholeness. He may not restore what is lost, at least in this life. But a relationship with Him heals our spirits and comforts us in ways no one else can.
If you have not yet suffered a disturbing loss, you will. Loss is part of our sin-sick world. But through prayer, God's Word, and His Holy Spirit, we can draw on Christ's compassion, a compassion that brings comfort when no one else can.
INSIGHT
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED A DEEP LOSS? RECEIVE THE LORD'S COMPASSION AND COMFORT, AND THE REALITY OF HIS PRESENCE.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jeremiah 1-2
Psalm 104
Acts 28
Luke 7:11-16
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”
BIG GOD ... LITTLE HEARTS (WEEKEND EDITION PART 2)
We like rules. They tell us when we are being good and when we are being bad, but Jesus has a bigger agenda for people of all ages ... His agenda is grace.
No comments:
Post a Comment