Celebrate His Love
To
help you get your mind in tune to the Easter season, I am inviting you
to join an exciting giveaway taking place right now until Easter. It's
called Celebrate His Love and features several Christian-themed books
that you can pick up for FREE. And when you enter the giveaway, you also
stand a chance to win a $25 gift card. My ebook,
For God So Loved: The Story Behind Easter,
which won an honorable mention in a Writer's Digest contest is on the
list. So please get your FREE books and invite your friends to do so as
well. God bless you.
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"The righteous cry out, the LORD hears and he rescues them from all their afflictions. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. Psalms 34: 18-20 These words were quoted by Senator Marco Rubio of Miami, Florida a few hours after a newly-constructed bridge at Florida International University (FIU)collapsed, killing and injuring several people. This is the second major tragedy to hit the sunshine state in about a month. Even though I don't know anyone who was affected, the tragedy hit home as FIU is my alma mater.
When the unexpected happens, how do we cope? Can we pick up the pieces and move on?
In this season of Lent, we may do well to read the account of what it must have been like for Jesus's disciples following His death. To say they were devastated is an understatement. Their Lord and Master had been taken from them and crucified. Executed in the most inhumane way possible. And, as far as they knew, Jesus had done nothing wrong. In fact, He'd only done good. Healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead. Why hadn't he raised himself? Or prevented the Roman soldiers from killing him?
The disciples could make no sense of this horrible tragedy.
But that day on the road to Emmaus, two of them did what should be done when we experience a tragedy:
1. They talked about it. "Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;" Luke 24: 13 - 15
2. They reached out to Jesus. "As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them" (v 28- 30).
In our grief and pain we may not think of the needs of others, but these men extended their hospitality to Jesus - even though they didn't recognize Him - and invited Him to stay with them as it was late in the day.
3. They took care of themselves. Jesus joined the disciples at their dinner table.
When he was at the table with them, he
took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them(v 30).
During a tragedy, we may find it difficult to eat, but we must make the effort. Going without food and drink can cause your body to weaken and collapse under the strain.
4. They stayed together. "They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together" (v 33). When you are going through the stress of a loss or any form of tragedy, you may be tempted to isolate yourself, but this is the time when you need the companionship of trusted friends and relatives.
5. Pray. We don't see the disciples praying in this chapter, but we know that they prayed a lot.
"They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers" (Acts 1: 14). Prayer, Bible reading and fellowshiping with others will give you the encouragement to get through this trying period.
We all experience tragedy at some time, but when this occurs, we can draw on the resources that God has given us and look to Him who is "our strength and refuge."
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