Christian Reflection and Prayer

"Home Where We Belong"

 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal
puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is
written: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your
victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the Law. But thanks be to God, who gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Occasionally, I have run into a Christian who is afraid of dying.
To assist them I have shared these stories.

Years ago, a young boy was dying, and he also was afraid. To calm
his fears, his mother explained: "Dear, do you remember when you
were a little boy how you used to play so hard that when night came
you would fall asleep on the couch, or on the floor, or on the back
seat of the car?"

Yes, he remembered that.

Mother continued, "Those places were not your bed. They were not
where you belonged. In the morning, much to your surprise, you
would wake up and find yourself in your own bed and in your own
room. You were there because your father had come and taken you
to where you belonged."

"Honey," mom continued, "death is just like that. We are tired and
we fall asleep in a place that isn't home. Then we wake up and find
ourselves in another place, a place where we belong. That's because
Jesus has come, and with hands that were once pierced by nails,
has taken us to our own room."

The boy's shining, trusting face showed he understood, and the fear
was gone. He never questioned again, and several weeks later he
fell asleep just as his mother had said. At that moment Jesus came
and took him home where he belonged. There was no one else who
could have done that -- no one else.

That story lets us know that, in Jesus, there is hope: certain hope.
We no longer need to mark the passing of the years with wistful
sighs and wishes that something might happen to delay our dying.
That's because something has already happened to abolish death.

That is why I can tell you that as surely as Christ is risen from the
dead, your loved ones in the Lord will also rise; as will you. The
miracle of life has happened. Recovery has been complete. This is
the glory of the resurrection Gospel that when the earthly outlook
is dimmest, heavenly hope is brightest, and where defeat seems
most final, the victory of Christ is most glorious.

All of this means our thinking and our talking can be changed. And
if you're wondering how it's changed, let me tell you about a little
girl whose baby brother had just died. She asked her mother where
the baby had gone.

"To be with Jesus," replied the mother. A few days later, talking to
a friend, the mother said, "I am so empty without my lost baby."

The little girl heard and, remembering what her mother had told her,
came over and asked, "Mother, is a thing lost when you know
where it is?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, then how can the baby be lost when we know he is with
Jesus?"

Her mother never forgot; nor should you. Our loved ones, and
someday we, ourselves, will not be lost. We all will be with Jesus.

THE PRAYER:

 Dear Lord, because of Jesus, the sting of death has been removed.
Grant that my fears of death may be eliminated, and I may always
enjoy the peace of mind and heart that comes from believing in
Jesus as my Savior and Lord. In His Name I pray. Amen

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Matthew 11:7-15.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven
has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

Kids can be cruel-so can reindeer. It always bothered me as a kid
when we got to that part about "all of the other reindeer used to laugh
and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer
games."

Children love to play games, especially when they can make up the
rules. That's the kind of world Jesus Christ lived in and the kind of
world we live in. The Jewish leaders were like children. They didn't
like the way John the Baptist was so strong and fiery. When he ate
locusts and wild honey and abstained from drinking wine it made
them look bad. But they didn't like what Jesus was doing either.
That was because He was preaching the Good News. He was also
feasting, drinking, and celebrating with sinners who came to
repentance-sinners they had pushed away.

But Jesus wasn't going to play their game. He played by God's rules
the same way John did. John's deeds were from God. They showed
us that we must turn from our sins and put our trust in Jesus Christ
alone. And Jesus' deeds were from God too. They showed us God's
mercy and love for all those devastated by sin and death.

The things Jesus did, especially in His suffering, death, and glorious
resurrection, proved He was the mighty Son of God. When we live
according to God's design-repenting of our sins, trusting in His
forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and sharing His love with the world-
we will be misjudged, mocked, and ridiculed by the children around
us. But God knows, and in the end He will prove us right through
Jesus Christ our Lord.

God has helped us see this world as adults, so just like the prophets
and John and Jesus we can remain calm and strong even when we
are falsely accused and viciously attacked. We know in His good
time God will vindicate us from all false accusations.

THE PRAYER:

 Lord God, comfort and uphold us when those around us play their
children's games. Help us be strong and mature in Jesus Christ our
Savior so that we may keep showing the world Your love and grace.
In Jesus' Name.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Read Matthew 11:2-6.
Jesus replied, "Tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive
sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the
dead are raised and good news is preached to the poor. Blessed
is he who is not offended by Me." Matthew 11:4-5

One of my Dad's worst Christmases was in 1976. On the 21st of
December he was on a step-ladder at church, trying to close a
window that was stuck open. As he tugged on the window the
ladder gave way; he smashed into the wall fracturing his shoulder
in three places and cutting a deep gash into his shin. He spent
that Christmas in agony sitting day and night in a chair in the living
room, waiting for his shoulder to heal.

Do circumstances in your life ever steal away the joy of your
Christmas? Do they raise doubts in your mind about the Child of
Christmas-if He is really God's Son? Do you ever wonder why there
is still so much suffering in our lives and in our world if Jesus came
to save the world? This Christmas many of you will find or still find
yourself unemployed. Others have lost loved ones whose absence
is keenly felt this time of year. Some have lost marriages. Some
may even be facing the prospect that this will be their last
Christmas on earth.

Similar thoughts darkened John the Baptist's mind. He was locked
in a dungeon because he had done exactly what the Lord
commanded him to do: he had warned the wicked ruler Herod
Antipas to repent. Like the prophets before him, he preached of
 judgment, but now John was the only one facing the judgment!
There in the dark, gloomy dungeon John couldn't see Jesus very
clearly. He sent word to ask if Jesus was the One or should the
people of Israel be looking for another.

Jesus reminded John of the very things He came into this world
to do: giving sight to the blind, restoring the lame and the
paralyzed, cleansing those with leprosy, restoring hearing to the
deaf, raising the dead, and preaching good news to the poor. All
of these were signs to prove Jesus was God's Son. And at the
same time they pointed ahead to the future when Jesus Christ
will raise all the dead and change every living believer to enjoy
perfect health in a perfect creation in God's wonderful presence
forever.

The Child of Christmas is here to comfort and help you through
all your struggles, your doubts, your darkness, and your pain.
He knows how hard it is when you are misunderstood, judged,
and condemned. He was nailed to the cross because of the
jealous rage of His enemies. But He rose again on the third day
to remind us that God is the victor, and through faith in Jesus
Christ, God will share that great victory with each of us.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in those times when my spirit is in the darkness
of despair lift me up. Forgive my sins, restore my joy, and
strengthen my faith and trust in You. Give me patience until
You bring relief. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)