Read John 9:1-7
In reflecting on his deteriorating health, John Donne (1572-1631) described his feelings as physicians examined him to find "the root and occasion" of a serious illness. In hushed tones, they discussed their conclusions outside his room.
At first Donne was afraid, but in time he saw compassion in their faces and began to trust them. Their concern reminded Donne that he could trust the Great Physician. As he read the Gospels, he saw God the Father's face in the tender, compassionate face of Jesus.
Many of us struggle with our thoughts about God, especially during illness. Perhaps we grew up attending a church that portrayed an angry God who inflicted sickness on us. Can we trust Him? Like Donne, we turn to the gospels for our reason to trust God. And we find it in His Son Jesus, who was unfailingly compassionate toward those who were inflicted, regardless of the reason.
So we pray as Donne prayed, "Deliver me, therefore, O my God, from these vain imaginations"- the belief that by our sin we have forfeited God's goodness and mercy. As Donne wisely said, the Great Physician "knows our natural infirmities, for He had them, and knows the weight of our sins, for He paid a dear price for them - David Roper
Devo taken from Our Daily Bread
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4 comments:
from one song that i am currently playing on my ipod on full repeat is Broken by Lifehouse.
The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though I still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for purpose, they're still looking for life
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain is there healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
I'm hanging on another day just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be ok
The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home
I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
I'm holdin' on
I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you
-kim
I am posting to indicate that I have read the devo.
-richard
P.S. Where's Jacky in all of this?
- Jono
sorry for the delay, been passing out
I always sometimes feel that God's gonna make my next day awful because of a sin i did the previous day. I dont know why. I know for myself that I need to stop thinking God's going to bring wrath unto me because of my sin. Jesus forgave my sin when he died on the cross for me. By ALL MEANS I am not saying God is not a vengeful God.
I love the story a pastor told me.
Everyone loves to tell of Noah's Ark story in sunday school. Its always like "cutesy" with 2 of each animal going on the boat, everyone's smiling. My pastor then adds in, in a Loud Voice, "AND GOD KILLED EVERYONE BY FLOODING THE EARTH"
That God hasn't changed. Our sin now does not affect him that way. His wrath was paid unto his own son.
I need to know my guilt is going to lead me nowhere, but down. I need to learn from my mistakes and sins, and don't do them anymore! :D
-jacky
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