Today's Soul Food — April 10
 

April 10

"The Lord replied, `My Presence will go with you..." Exodus 33:14.

God's Presence gives:

1) rest: "...I will give you rest" Exodus 33:14;
2) joy: "...You fill me with joy in your presence" Psalm 16:11b;
3) courage in life's battles: "When you go to war against your enemies...and see an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God...will be with you" Deuteronomy 20:1;
4) a comfort in trials: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze" Isaiah 43:2;
5) safety: "In the shelter of your presence you hide [us] from the intrigues of men..." Psalm 31:20.

We yearn for God's presence, but there was a time when Jesus wanted indeed, in His humanity needed His friends' presence. "Could you...not keep watch with me for one hour?" Matthew 26:40. This surely is one of the saddest passages in the entire Bible. O what a tender and sorrowful rebuke! He found His beloved friends asleep in His greatest need of their nurture. O My watchmen, what of the night of this My anguish how far gone is this night of My grief and sorrow, and you sleep on!

Throughout the Bible we meet the humanliness of Jesus as well as His Godliness. He pleads, "O My intimate earthly angels, could you not keep watch with me...?" His human heart was breaking with loneliness in the solitude of the Garden, with His friends so near and yet so far. Jesus understood that these precious simple men would not understand His agony; what hurt was their seeming indifference to it. Yes, Jesus needs our presence, too, for He came to earth to be our Friend. re through His forgiveness of their sins. These are beautiful stories of the exquisite love and understanding of a lovely Savior!

Pat Nordman ©

Today's Bible Question ?

What Assyrian king attacked the Philistines,  leading Isaiah to walk around naked for three years?

Previous question and Answer: Who was the runaway slave that went back to his master? Answer: Onesimus I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels. Philemon  10-12 (KJV)

T H I N K A B O U T I T

I Belong to the King   "I belong to the King." So read the legend on the collar of a little terrier which followed King Edward's bier. He was a mere dog, and not beautiful at that. But he had been loved by the king, had lain on a king's knee, and had entree to royal apartments where courtiers and princes might not enter. Many were the affectionate glances he received as he trotted soberly in the funeral cortege, bearing this legend: "I am Caesar; I belong to the King." Thus many a lowly disciple has found himself exalted. Even humble service is worth while when one belongs to the King. Christ came to create this sense of relationship in us, to help us know ourselves and our privileges in Him. What temptations would be mastered; what bitterness accepted without complaint, what harsh words checked, what defilement indignantly repudiated, if in moments of stress we could say: "I belong to the King!" -- GEORGE C. PECK  "Christmas is the Promise, and Easter is the Proof."

 

Today's  Devotion

Small Things   For who has despised the day of small things?  Zechariah 4:10a NKJV

Dr. Richard Carlson wrote a book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff. Since I sometimes let molehills materialize into mountains, thereby wasting a lot of emotional and mental energy, I decided to read and mark it. One paragraph has been particularly helpful: Whenever we hold on to our anger, we turn "small stuff" into really "big stuff" in our minds. We start to believe that our positions are more important than our happiness. They are not. If you want to be a more peaceful person you must understand that being right is almost never more important than allowing yourself to be happy. The way to be happy is to let go, and reach out. Let other people be right. This doesn't mean that you're wrong. Everything will be fine. You'll experience the peace of letting go, as well as the joy of letting others be right. You'll also notice that, as you reach out and let others be "right," they will become less defensive and more loving toward you. They might even reach back. But, if for some reason they don't, that's okay too. You'll have the inner satisfaction of knowing that you have done your part to create a more loving world, and certainly you'll be more peaceful yourself. It is amazing what we do for our mental and emotional health when we decide, yes, it's all right for the other person to be right. Of course I realize that this is quite a sacrifice when it is our spouse or child! But -- let's face it, a lot of it is "small things," small stuff, small petties of life. Years ago I started asking myself, "Is this going to matter ten years down the road? Who is even going to remember it?" This has been a great yardstick. The small stuff that really matters is our small jobs each day and how well we perform them and our small generosities that mean so much to God. The little cup of cold water given in His name means a lot more than a big title. Every time I read the Gospels I am again reminded that Jesus simply went about doing good -- doing little things that meant so much to those He helped. What better Example could we have? © Pat Nordman

It is amazing what we do for our mental and emotional health when we decide, yes, it's all right for the other person to be right.

More Walking Through the Darkness

All the Rest April 10

Today in History April 10