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Listen while you read: "Near To The Heart Of God"1 (Lyrics) |
On Easter Sunday, my wife, our pianist, and I had planned for quite some time to go to the local Long Term Care Centre. A good number of residents always enjoy coming to the worship services, especially on Christian holy days.
While we were having our breakfast, we heard that there had been a coordinated bombing of three Christian churches in Sri Lanka, and that at first report, over one hundred people were killed and more than two hundred injured.
Greta went to the nursing home early to bring the residents from their rooms to the activity room where the services are held. Many of the residents were anxious to be able to celebrate the events of the day when Jesus rose from the grave. I went somewhat later and with a heavy heart, and shortly after 10:00, we started the service. We sang some Easter hymns, we had some prayers, and we enjoyed the truth of the gospel. We had a good time of worship together. During the service, I was able to put the disturbing events aside. At the end of the service we sang:
- I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He's always near.
– Alfred Ackley
I imagine that the Christians in Colombo, Sri Lanka, went to church on Easter Sunday with joy in their hearts. For them, too, it was a great time to celebrate the risen Lord. I can imagine that they greeted each other with those familiar words, "The Lord is risen", and then the reply, "The Lord is risen indeed." I don't know at what point in the service the suicide bombers detonated their devices, but perhaps they had already had some prayers and had sung some Easter hymns, and suddenly there was death and destruction all around them.
Since then, we have heard that there were six separate attacks at three churches and three luxury hotels, with 359 people killed and over 500 injured. We weep for all those who are affected, and it is so difficult, even impossible, to comprehend what motivates people to do this to other people. Why are Christians hated so much, to the point that our brothers and sisters in Christ are brutally murdered for their faith in Jesus, the risen Lord?
Jesus warned us that this would happen. It's not about us — it's all about Him!
John 15:18 – If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (NKJV)
Luke 21:17 – And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. (NKJV)
John 17:14 – I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (NKJV)
The important thing is that Jesus loved us so much that He has given His life to forgive our sin. We owe Him our eternal life! Love so amazing demands our unswerving loyalty, even to the point of death!
Prayer: Our Father in heaven, it is with heavy hearts that we pray that You would bless all those who have lost loved ones. May they experience the peace of Christ in their hearts. Prepare all of us to be hated by the world because we love You, who first loved us. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
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Amen.
Yes, amen!
Amen, Joel.
Thank you for your email devotional. I needed the reminder that He loves us in this crazy world!
Thanks for writing this devotion, Joel. Indeed, Christians are weeping! It’s hard to wrap our minds around the horrific things that keep happening. May the peace of Christ be with you and your wife as you continue to minister to those around you.
Our hearts broke at the terrible news from Sri Lanka. May our Lord Jesus Christ’s loving Presence abide with the churches, families, and support workers dealing with this awful tragedy! The passage from Revelation 6:9-11 came to mind. Praying. Blessings.
Hi Joel, Thank you for sharing this devotional with us today. It is indeed an incident that is lying heavy on our hearts as Christians and we mourn the loss of life as a spiritual family. Thank you that your devotionals reflect the struggles and needs of others. Blessings.
Matthew 10:28 is another passage containing the words of our Saviour.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. – Matthew 10:28
Blessings.
Thank you for the thoughtful devotion. How true that it is impossible to imagine what motivates the killers! Then we remember that their leader is the Satan who hated Jesus and hates His followers. The horror of loss of lives is beyond comprehension. May the people involved be comforted by Our Lord!
Yes, Joel. You say it for me and for all of us! Grateful for the information your devotional carries as well as its inspired message. I didn’t know ALL of that about where and what exactly went on. Thank you for focusing on our life today. We Christians Do Know He is coming back and Do watch for the signs but ‘no man knows the day or the hour.’ Blessings.
Hello Joel,
Thank you for this morning devotional. I feel deeply for those in Sri Lanka dealing with such a horrific ordeal and the loss of so many loved ones. Our prayer groups have been remembering them in many heartfelt prayers that the Lord’s grace and mercy carry them thru this devastating time.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
Amen Joel. We are indeed living in very difficult times. Praise God though for our hope in Him, for if we believe that He is risen indeed we can rejoice at the many new souls who are now continuing their Easter worship in heaven. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Blessings enough to see us through the hatred of this world to the glory of His kingdom.
Blessings.
“I will not leave you nor forsake you” (I do not know the Bible reference.)
PRAISE HIM.
Thank you for your daily devotional. I start my day with it every morning.
Blessings.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for loving us each as though we were the only ones You had to love.
Thank you, Joel, for writing. Over the Easter weekend we had ALL our children and grandchildren here and the news of Sri Lanka while heard, was lost in the “noise” and happiness of having our family together. SO, today, in reading your devotional I could reflect and pray about those events… and others that will come. Your thoughtful words made an impression.
(Texas)
Hello Joel,
Wow, it is sad what is going on in the world!!! I think it is fear. They do not understand what Jesus is all about and they must feel threatened somehow.
I guess they must find it easier to try to get rid of the problem than to try to understand it. so sad!!
Have a great day and thank you for this devotional.
God bless.
Dear Joel,
Thank you for the devotional. We are with you in sympathy for those who have lost loved ones.
May those who have done the evil be converted and repent.
And I pray, “Lord please cause people to love you and your people and spread good news, and not do evil.
For Jesus sake, Amen
Dear Pastor Joel,
I read your devotional this morning. Wow, So deeply touching I could feel your heavy heart aching!
It is so devastating to hear and see how Christians are sought out, persecuted, and hated, but like Christ told us ‘the world hated Him before it hated us.’
May we pray indeed for those who have lost loved ones and those being tortured and imprisoned for their faith in Jesus. Thank you for your writing, so much to ponder, Amen.