“Then the King will say to those on His right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:34
How do you prepare for adversity and suffering? How do you react to the highest of hurdles that present themselves along your journey? When the dim flashes of upcoming problems become brilliant lightning bolts of tragedy into your life, where do you find strength?
Life’s challenges that take us from our comfort zones are somewhat different to an adult living in North America than to a child living in Haiti. The level of suffering can be light years apart. We can certainly try by our own to prepare ourselves for such times, but we don’t want to because we would rather not experience these stressful times ahead. While we hope for the best, we also need to prepare ourselves spiritually, physically and emotionally for the worst of times that may catch us off guard. My friend Job knows all about that.
The children and the old man in the attached photo are in Ouanaminthe, enjoying the shade of the tree in the school yard, enjoying a time of merriment; a game of patty cake that breaks all language barriers and fills that void with endless smiles and contagious flowing steams of laughter. Enjoying life on this planet under the shade of a tree; together in the shadow of the tree and also together in the shadow of the cross of Christ.
In my preparation for unforeseen problems in North America, and as this child prepares for her future challenges in Haiti; together we stand at the foot of the cross, in the shade thinking about why God has placed us here and praying that no matter what happens to us we are always under His care and watchful eye. And, when the days are over and our journeys have been completed, we have the promise of a heavenly home which was prepared for us since the beginning of time.
Until then we labor and continue to do His work, seeking and saving the lost by whatever means He has empowered us. Thank you for being there for them, under that tree, in that shadow, responding to His call by blessing their life with your prayers, your blessings of a feeding program and your encouragement. We all have different callings in our own journey, thank you for being such an integral part of these children in Ouanaminthe. On last Sunday, we had two adults Baptized in my Church and we sang the hymn ‘All Christians who have been Baptized’ during the distribution of Holy Communion and I thought it would be a good way to close this devotion today by sharing the words.
“All Christians who have been baptized, who know the God of heaven. And in whose daily life is prized the name of Christ once given. Consider now what Christ has done, the gifts he gives to everyone Baptized into Christ Jesus. You were before your day of birth, indeed from your conception, condemned and lost with all the earth, none good without exception. For like your parents’ flesh and blood, turned inward from the highest good, you constantly denied Him. But all of that was washed away; immersed and drowned forever. The water of your baptism restored again whatever Old Adam and his sin destroyed and all our sinful selves employed, according to our nature. In baptism we put on Christ, our shame is fully covered. With all that He once sacrificed and freely for us suffered. For here the flood of His own blood now makes us holy, right, and good before our heavenly Father. O Christian, firmly hold this gift and give God thanks forever! It gives the power to the uplift in all that you endeavor. When nothing else revives your soul, your baptism stands and makes you whole and then in death completes you. So use it well! You are made new, in Christ a new creation! As faithful Christians live and do within your own vocation! Until that day when you possess His glorious robe of righteousness bestowed on you forever.”
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