He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say it’s going to rain, and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret the present time? (Luke 12:54-56)
Before coronavirus, my son and his girlfriend faithfully attended the same Episcopal church as his grandparents. Feeling the love of Jesus and his grandfather, my son sits in the same spot his grandfather did. He plans to marry in that church next year. The church has a wonderful priest with a relevant message, but I don’t think the music and service have changed since the time of my son’s grandparent’s grandparents. I realize that the old church music is comforting to many people, even to myself because I grew up with it. That’s why I like a blended service. If my son doesn’t step up to be a pillar of the church like his grandfather was and help interpret the present time, his children will sit alone in their Sunday school classes.
Jesus is human. He wants another to understand His pain. He’s focused on his upcoming crucifixion. Who can he talk to about His anxiety? His disciples are able to interpret the appearance of the sky, but they can’t interpret how Jesus is feeling. And the leaders of the synagogue are hypocrites. They won’t even acknowledge Him as the Son of God. Since no one understands, Jesus worships alone.
Dearest Heavenly Father, thank you for understanding me when no one else does. You know me more intimately than I know myself. Help me to interpret the present time and understand what others are feeling so I can be empathetic and offer Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
If you’re going through pain from a recent death of a loved one, I recommend: https://prayerfullypam.com/2019/02/12/god-is-in-the-pain/ Pam is 33 and has recently suffered the death of two brothers. Her blog and prayers will be helpful. You will benefit from her encouragement, and she, yours. God answered my prayer on Day 284. He gave me someone to encourage.
I am the old fashioned one who does not like change. Actually, that is not entirely true. I do enjoy change in somethings. There are somethings in life that are critical to change. Education being one of them. But somethings I want to stay the same because that is what comforts me, and that is what I tried to explain in devotion 287. Yes, I do believe God understands our pain, better than anyone else ever could. There are times that I felt God was crying with me.
Although the old music comforts me, we need to minister to younger people and unfortunately the old music doesn’t seem to comfort them. My son is an exception and like I said he will have to decide in the future if he wants his children to sit alone in Sunday school. Although with coronavirus home churches might make the most sense. One of my favorite Bible verses is “Jesus wept.” He does cry with us.