REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought is an updated version of AMI QT Devotional first posted on August 24, 2013.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the  Weekend

“The Father Who is Always With Us”

Luke 7:11-17

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus[b] gave him to his mother. 16 Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” 17 And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Jesus told a widow who had just lost her only child, “Don’t cry” (v. 13).  Whether losing one’s spouse or child, it is the part of a painful life experience that many go through in life; certainly, separation, death, and helplessness are inevitable in life.  I have heard that in Asia, the worst thing a child can do to his parents is to die before his parents pass away.  The reason is obvious: the child was to grow up to take care of his elderly parents. With such background in mind, we can see that the widow crying in the funeral procession in today’s passage was even more painful. Does God really care what I am going through?  What comforting word do I need to hear from the Lord?  It does not have to be long but it can be simple as “Don’t cry” as though Christ knows what He would do. 

The God incarnate, Son of God Jesus Christ is never separated from what we go through in life.  As matter of fact, in our weaknesses, whether we are tempted or going through trials in life, Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses (Heb 4:15).  This is the only event we find that is exclusive to Luke’s Gospel.  I believe it is rightly so since Luke places much emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit in the humanity of Christ.  It serves as an encouragement to us, those who have decided to follow Christ in this earthly life.  Although we are constantly tempted to run away from this present reality in order to be in the other side of the glory, God has called us to be faithful.  Sometimes in our helplessness we find ourselves being frozen and unable to move or do anything.

May our Lord touch our lives that have been stained by death and hopelessness (v. 14a)!  May our Lord speak into our situation that is good as dead (Ezek 37:4: “Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord”), “Young man, I say to you, get up” (v. 14)!  May there be much of testimony from us, “God has come to help his people” (v. 16b)!

Prayer: Lord, help us in our weakness. Lord, humble us in our strength. Lord, always be with us.  In fact, thank You that You are indeed always with us!  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: 1 Kings 14-15