SUNDAY
Jesus Took Care Of His Mother - A Thought For Mother's Day
Jesus took care of His mother. John 19:28 begins, "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,..." The last thing He did on the cross was to make sure His mother would be taken care of. How hard it must have been for these three women and John, standing at the cross, knowing the agony and pain that Jesus bore. But even in His final hour Jesus was thinking of others, as He remembered His mother. Don't forget your mother. It is important to let your mother know that you love her, not only on Mother's Day, but all through the year. Your mother took care of you when you were small and helpless. Remember to take care of your mother.
“25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19:25-30)
MONDAY
Hannah's Prayer Was Answered
The book of I Samuel opens with the story of how Hannah wanted a son. She wept and prayed to the Lord and promised that if He would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. "So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore... Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. And she said Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad." (I Samuel 1:9, 10, & 17-19) Hannah had faith that the Lord would answer her prayer. God gave her a son and she named him Samuel and took him to the temple to help Eli, the priest. "And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there." (I Samuel 1:26-28) We are reminded in this story to take our petitions to the Lord. We see this in the Old Testament in Psalm 37:3-5, "Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." And in the New Testament Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" (Matthew 7:7) God wants us to pray. We also see that Hannah remembered her vow and gave her son back to the Lord. We need to dedicate our children to the Lord. God has blessed us and we need to give back to God what He has given to us, as our time, our resources, and our talents. Because Hannah gave her son to God, God was able to use Samuel in a mighty way. God can use us when we yield ourselves to Him.
TUESDAY
Naomi Came Back Empty
I had heard a lot about "empty nest syndrome", but I wasn’t prepared for it. I experienced it little by little as my children went off to college, and got married. I went from having the joyful noise of five children at home, to the quiet ways of just Michael and me. It was hard to prepare dinner for two when I had enjoyed cooking for seven, eight, or even more at times. The house, and my life felt empty. Naomi returned from the land of Moab where she buried her husband and two sons, and she said, "...I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty..." Do you feel empty? Maybe you have buried loved ones just as Naomi did. Maybe your children have grown up and you feel forgotten. Maybe your friends and family have moved on and left you behind. There are many times in our lives when we feel alone and empty. Later in Naomi's life we see a ray of hope, as Boaz, a kinsman redeemer, married Ruth and they had a son. "And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel... And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David." (Ruth 4:14 & 17) Don't get discouraged. Turn to the Lord to find help and comfort. After several years of our empty nest, we enjoy visits from our families and grandchildren, but with our increasing years, we really like our quiet lives.
WEDNESDAY
Companionship Of A Daughter-In-Law
"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." (Ruth 1:16) Many times we hear these words in wedding ceremonies, but these lovely words were spoken by a daughter-in-law to her mother-in-law. After ten years in a foreign land Naomi was going back home. She felt alone and empty, but Ruth clave to her. Ruth was determined to go with her and take care of her. We hear many jokes about mother-in-laws, but this is a beautiful picture of how sweet these relationships can be. I am thankful for my mother-in-law and my daughters-in-law, just as I am thankful for my mother and my daughter. We meet many people throughout our lifetime. Countless times our paths cross so briefly, as we each go in our separate directions. But, sometimes we meet someone special. Sometimes a person comes into our life and becomes a lifetime companion. Don't take those people for granted. Love and cherish the time you spend with them. God had special plans for Ruth and Naomi and they were in the lineage of King David. God has given you special friends and family members for a reason. Love them. Be a true friend and companion.
THURSDAY
The Hospitality Of A Great Woman
Today we are looking at a great woman. "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick; and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there." ( II Kings 4:8-11) We all want to be great. Why has this woman from Shunem been called a "great woman"? This is the only woman I can find complimented like this in the Bible. We don't know of all the great things she might have accomplished in her life. We are not told that she was extremely wealthy, or beautiful, or smart. But, the one thing we do see is her hospitality. She invited the man of God into her house. She fed him often as he journeyed by. She also made a small prophet's chamber for him to have a place to stay when he passed by. Many people today are afraid to invite the preacher over for a visit. Maybe they feel embarrassed by their humble home. Many times I have used the excuse that "I don't have time to clean up properly" to invite people over for a visit. We may feel that we can't prepare the perfect meal. Whatever the reason, we need to put the excuses aside and be hospitable to others. This was a "great woman". She may not have had many material things, but she welcomed Elisha into her home. In return, God gave her something she desired greatly... and He blessed her with a son.
FRIDAY
A Grandmother's Faith
We must be saved individually. Salvation is a personal matter. You can't depend on the salvation of your parents or grandparents to save you. The Bible tells us that we are children of God, not grandchildren. But we can be an example to our children and to those around us. Paul knew of the faith of Timothy's mother and grandmother. They were faithful in teaching Timothy about God. "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." (II Timothy 1:5) Acts 16:1 tells us that Timothy's mother was a Jewess, but his father was a Greek. We don't know if his father was a believer, but his mother was still faithful. You may be the only Christian in your family, but keep the faith. It may be hard to take your children to church, but keep the faith. We need to bring our children up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:4) We can't save our children, or our friends, or other family members. But, we can pray for them and be a Christian witness to them. Keep the faith.
SATURDAY
The Bottom Of The Barrel
There have been times in my life when I felt like I was scraping the bottom of the barrel. I exhausted all of my resources, just to end up, exhausted. But when I read this story the Lord sends conviction to my heart. This widow woman actually was scraping the bottom of the barrel. She was gathering two sticks to cook her last little bit of bread so that she and her son could eat and die. God has blessed me so much. I don't think I have ever gone to bed hungry. There has always been food in my cabinets and refrigerator. But, there are times when I feel like I am scraping the bottom of the financial barrel when bills come due. And physically, I sometimes feel like I am in the bottom of the barrel and don't have the energy to climb out. Even spiritually, we can feel like our cruse of oil is about empty and we need a touch from God. In all of our situations we need to turn to God and trust in Him. God is able to supply all our needs. This poor widow was willing to give the man of God all she had and God, through the miracle of His grace, supplied their needs. Trust in the Lord, and be thankful unto Him.
"So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruise: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah." (I Kings 17:10-16)
