[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Thursday October 13, 2005

[Barry Ludwig]

Daily Devotions Thursday October 13, 2005

The devotions this week are written by Pastor Hendricks who will be
exploring the theme of Jesus as our Great High Priest as described in the
New Testament letter to the Hebrew Christians.

 

Hebrews 5:8-9

"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and
having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal life for all who
obey him."

 

In a few short weeks tragedy has struck throughout the world. Thousands have
been killed in India and Pakistan, hundreds have died in South America, and
the United States is still experiencing the impact of a mighty hurricane.
Suffering upon suffering upon suffering goes on in the midst of catastrophic
events and in the solitude of our own isolation.  Logic tells me that I am
limited in what I can do about all this suffering. My heart insists that I
do something. What can we do?

 

The first thing we can do is to be still.  The next thing we can do is to
turn to the one who hung on the cross and remember that he still bears the
wounds of that cross.  Far too often our goal in ending suffering is our
deep desire to avoid it.  We want a pleasant life and one which will stop
the anguishing voices of a world in pain.

 

Jesus entered into our suffering world.  He called his disciples to follow
him and to enter into the suffering world. We need to recognize that there
are times that suffering can not be avoided if healing is to come about in
our lives and in the world.  James Fenhagen points out in Mutual Ministry,
"One of the fruits of solitude is an increased capacity for compassion - the
ability 'to suffer with' another's pain. It comes about as the result of an
increased sense of solidarity with the human family of which we are a part.
When Paul talks about 'suffering with those who suffer,' he is talking about
compassion, that supreme gift without which we are less than fully human.For
Christians, the cross stands as an ever-present reminder that love and
compassion are two sides of the same coin."

 

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