John 16:19-33

(v.32)—Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

What of Today’s Verse…

We spend one last day looking at the issue of loneliness.  Our meditations on this subject have made one thing clear: it is in the periods of loneliness that we must abandon ourselves to God and learn how to depend upon Him utterly and completely.  The more I read the biographies of those who have achieved great things for God, the more I realize that their deep knowledge of Him came, in part, out of moments of profound loneliness.  It was in such moments that “the God of remarkable surprises” revealed Himself and gave them an understanding of His grace and power such as they could never otherwise have known.  Is it not true that God’s glory bursts through most powerfully when the sky is at its darkest?  Does not His strength uphold us most when we are feeling weak and inadequate?  And does not His love penetrate most deeply when we feel unloved or isolated from others?  When we are prepared to die to our own interests and are willing to follow our Lord fearlessly along the path, which He sees is best for us, we experience, not just temporal, but eternal rewards.  The seed that falls into the ground and dies is the one that yields a rich and bountiful harvest.  Many of us fail to be fruitful in our Christian life and experience because we are afraid or unwilling to face the issues, which demand a whole-hearted commitment to the will of God.  We save ourselves – and then what?  We finish up by not liking the self we have saved. Make no mistake about it — God’s way is best, even though a thousand hardships beset the path.

Let us Pray:

O God my Father, give me the courage of Jesus who, despite His loneliness and isolation, went on to achieve Your perfect will.  Quicken within me today the sense that when I am walking with You I may feel lonely, but I am never alone.  Amen.

Words of Wisdom

It Will Not Be Long

The last word in the Canticle of love is, “Make haste, my beloved,” and among the last words of the Apocalypse we read, “The Spirit and the Bride say, Come”; to which the heavenly Bridegroom answers, “Surely I come quickly.” Love longs for the glorious appearing of the Lord and enjoys this sweet promise —”The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”  This stays our minds as to the future.  We look out with hope through this window.

This sacred “window of agate” lets in a flood of light upon the present and puts us into fine condition for immediate work or suffering.  Are we tired?  Then the nearness of our joy whispers patience.  Are we growing weary because we do not see the harvest of our seed sowing?  Again, this glorious truth cries to us, “Be patient.”  Do our multiplied temptations cause us in the least to waver?  Then the assurance that before long the Lord will be here preaches to us from this text, “Establish your hearts.”  Be firm, be stable, be constant, “steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”  Soon will you hear the silver trumpet, which announces the coming of your King. Be not in the least afraid.  Hold the fort, for He is coming; yea, He may appear this very day.

Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. -James 5:8