“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15: 5-6
Several years ago, when I lived in Haiti, I escorted a medical mission to Jeremie. There were four of us, a woman doctor from Idaho, a Haitian with a guitar, and a female Haitian translator. The two Haitians were singing “Ou pa Kapob” and a few other hymns in Creole. I was tired and at peace as I listened to them. I was thinking that if God chose to take me home at that moment, that would be fine. How about you? Are you at peace with God? I’ve read about people struggling to complete just one more ‘important’ task before they draw their last breath. The only way to be at peace with Jesus is to remain in Jesus, and give your troubles and victories to Him. May you spend some time at peace this week and consider what is most important for your life at this moment in time. I am closing today with the words from the hymn When My Last Hour is Close at Hand that was written by Nikolaus Herman in 1561.
“When my last hour is close at hand, Lord Jesus Christ, attend me; beside me then, O Savior, stand to comfort and defend me. Into Thy hands I will commend my soul at this my earthly end, and Thou wilt keep it safely.
My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore, my conscience cannot slumber; but though as sands upon the shore my sins may be in number, I will not quail, but think of Thee; Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me, Thy sufferings, shall uphold me.
I am a branch in Thee, the Vine, and hence the comfort borrow that Thou wilt surely keep me Thine through fear and pain and sorrow; and when I die, I die to Thee, Thy precious death hath won for me the life that never endeth.
Since Thou the power of death didst rend, in death Thou wilt not leave me; since Thou didst into heaven ascend, no fear of death shall grieve me. For where Thou art, there shall I be that I may ever live with Thee; that is my hope when dying.
My spirit I commend to Thee and gladly hence betake me; peaceful and calm my sleep shall be, no human voice can wake me. But Christ is with me through the strife, and He will bear me into life and open heaven before me.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths 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