“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:5–7
Today is the first Monday in April which means it is International Day of Prayer at Trinity HOPE. That fact caused me to reflect on the adage about each of us is but one link in a chain. None of us, here in North America or living in Haiti is a whole chain. Each one of us is a link, but take away one link and the chain is broken. I’m sure that you have either heard that before or shared that lesson with your children, co-workers or your bowling or pickle ball partner.
I am going to the clinic in Champaign, IL tomorrow for an invasive test and not one of the people in scrubs working with me is the whole staff. The doctor and his staff are each a part of the staff. If one of them can’t be there tomorrow my procedure may have to be cancelled. Each one of us is important. I need my daughter to drive me to there and need that surgical team to all be there around me. I will be saying a prayer for all of them before they place me in la la land.
Today we pray for the feeding programs at the Christian schools in Haiti. We pray for the safety of all of the team members who make those feeding programs possible. We pray for their safety during these chaotic times in their country. You may feel like your prayer is not that important in the bigger picture; stop thinking that! You are a valuable link in the prayer chain today. I am going to close today with the words from the Lenten hymn ‘Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness’ that were written by Nicolaus L. von Zinzendorf.
“Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness, my beauty are, my glorious dress;
midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head. The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father's bosom came, Who died for me, e'en me t' atone, now for my Lord and God I own. Lord, I believe Thy precious blood, which at the mercy seat of God, forever doth for sinners plead, for me, e'en for my soul was shed. When from the dust of death I rise to claim my mansion in the skies, e’en then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died for me. Jesus, be endless praise to thee, Whose boundless mercy hath for me and all who trust Thy hands hath made an everlasting ransom paid. Ah! give to all, almighty Lord, with pow’r to speak thy gracious word, that all who to thy wounds will flee may find eternal life in Thee. Oh, let the dead now hear thy voice! Now bid thy banished ones rejoice; their beauty this, their glorious dress, Jesus, thy blood and righteousness.”
Prayer time today. We need your link.
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