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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. March 19, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Pain has its Purpose!)
March 19, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Pain has its Purpose!) PDF Print E-mail
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Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009 02:17
As much as we try to avoid pain (try watching TV and not hear about pain relief products), pain has a purpose.  It tells us when there is a problem.  It tells us when we should stop doing something. 

2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16
Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29
Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22

 
Matthew 1:16, 18--21, 24  (alternate reading: Luke 11:14-23)  and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. (18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary  had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; (19) and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (20) But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; (21) she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (24) When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife 

 
Meditation by Daniel Patrick O'Reilly
Wow, lots of scripture to read today. The readings seem to be about God’s promises, Joseph’s character and good news. 
In 2 Samuel, God tells Nathan to tell David that his throne shall stand firm forever. The psalmist proclaims, the promises of the Lord I will sing forever. In Romans, Paul speaks of God’s promise to Abraham.
In Matthew, we see Joseph’s obedience to God. And in Luke, we hear the story of Mary and Joseph searching Jerusalem for the young boy Jesus.

 
Have you ever met someone who said they could not believe in a loving God because of all the pain in the world?  I did a while back and, sadly, I did not know what to say.  That was before my knee surgery. Now I know. I had knee surgery about a month ago. The day after surgery, I felt great. I decided I did not need crutches. Why, I should just be able to get up and walk. The drugs had not worn off yet. What a mistake! The next day my knee looked like a basketball, I was crying like a little girl and I was begging for pain pills.  Okay, not quite that bad, but it  was pretty enlightening.  As much as we try to avoid pain (try watching TV and not hear about pain relief products), pain has a purpose.  It tells us when there is a problem.  It tells us when we should stop doing something.  And pain is often the result of our own actions (or those of someone around us).  Despite my pain, I was  pretty sure God still loved me.

How can I be sure God loves me? It’s Lent. A season where we can take some time and look at ourselves, at God and evaluate our relationship with God.  Do I love God?  Am I obedient to God?  Am I giving God and his Word enough of  my time?  Am I serving God and man?  Am I open to new directions or nudges from the Holy Spirit?  Does God really love me?

I was thinking the other day about how much God loves us.  It’s quite amazing when you stop and really think about it.  Jesus came down from heaven to earth.  Not as a ruler or king, but as a baby.  He gave up the comfort of heaven to endure the scrapes, bumps, parental scoldings and general pain that all of us endure in the process of growing up.  And it doesn’t get better.  Jesus would be rejected and killed by the very people he came to save.
If tonight, God came to me and said, “Dan, I want you to leave the comfort of your home and go to these people I love.  They live in some pretty bad conditions.  I want you to tell them the good news that I love them, though they may not want to hear what you have to say.  I want you to live as a model for them, though they may reject you and kill you.  What do you say, Dan?”   I think I would say, “Lord, how much do you love these people?”
It seems there is plenty of bad news to go around in the world today.  Debt, war, loss of jobs, foreclosures, bad economy, etc.  The bombardment of bad news from the media is unrelenting.  Where is the hope?  Where is the good  news?  Well, how about God so loved the world that he sent his only son to save the world.  How about God really  loves you.  Now that’s some good news.

 
My prayer today is for those of us who need to be reassured that God truly loves us.  May this Lenten season be fruitful and full of hope.
 
 

Supplementary Reading
Jesus calls, "Follow me." 
 

Then Jesus said…'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' – Matthew 16:24

Who of us likes to pay taxes? Taxes are nothing new, and tax collectors have been unpopular for centuries. Matthew was a tax collector whose profits came from the excess he could squeeze from people. His profession offered him the fastest, surest route to making money in Galilee.
When Jesus called Matthew to become one of his twelve apostles, he was sending the message that he can use anyone!
For Matthew, following Jesus meant leaving behind substantial wealth. Yet he did not hesitate for a moment to answer yes when Jesus called, "Follow me."
If Jesus could find such a lofty place for a misfit such as Matthew, he can find a place for you and me. So open
your heart. Listen with your soul. And you'll hear Jesus say, "Follow me."

* * *
Take a good look at your life to see if there is anything in it that keeps you from fully following Jesus Christ . .  no matter what he may ask you to do.
* * * 
Note: This excerpt was taken from the "Power for Life Daily Devotional"
 
GOD BLESS US ALL!

PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

 

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Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 March 2009 18:32
 

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