“Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:11-13
At 4 AM today I tried to send out the devotion that I really didn’t like and come to find out God didn’t care for it either as my internet connection was down. So, here is what was really weighing heavily on my mind. Early in the morning a few days ago here in the twin cities, a 32 yr man hid his wife’s and his cell phones and then took his 2 ½ yr old and I week old sons into the basement of their house and strangled them, started a fire and then took his life. I read their obituaries this morning and the terms ‘loving father’ and ‘devoted husband’ were used but there was no mention of their Savior having been a part of their lives. The above verses from Matthew were in one of my morning devotions on Thursday and they caught my attention. Who do I know that will be knocking on the Lord’s door and hear Him say “I don’t know you”? Did anybody know that there were problems in that house a week ago when that baby was born or a month ago? Did somebody in their neighborhood or family have an opportunity to tell that family about Jesus; the Savior of this world. These six Haitian children give thanks to God for their daily meal and for all the people who made that possible; their meal is all about Jesus their Savior. If you notice that your life is more about pleasing you and less about others who seem to be hurting or lost; turn to the Cross of Christ. Get out of the boat and start walking on the water. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Let us ever walk with Jesus’ that were written by Sigismund von Birken in 1653.
“Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure, flee the world, which would deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in His footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father's bidding. Faithful Lord, abide with me; Savior, lead, I follow Thee. Let us suffer here with Jesus, to His image, e'er conform; Heaven's glory soon will please us, sunshine follow on the storm. Though we sow in tears of sorrow, we shall reap with heavenly joy; and the fears that now annoy shall be laughter on the morrow. Christ, I suffer here with Thee; there, oh, share Thy joy with me! Let us also die with Jesus. His death from the second death, from our soul's destruction, frees us, quickens us with life's glad breath. Let us mortify, while living, flesh and blood and die to sin; and the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven. Jesus, here I die to Thee there to live eternally. Let us gladly live with Jesus; since He's risen from the dead, death and grave must soon release us. Jesus, Thou art now our Head, we are truly Thine own members; where Thou livest, there live we. Take and own us constantly, faithful Friend, as Thy dear brethren. Jesus, here I live to Thee, also there eternally.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay