Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful Easter! We went to Easter breakfast at Mark’s church and then to the Easter service to worship and hear a great sermon. Andrea’s mom joined us for a T-bone steak dinner that was scrumptious! We spent the day with games, sharing, popcorn and a movie etc. We have been shown such wonderful hospitality!! Today we start our long trip home and appreciate prayers for a safe journey.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Isn’t wonderful that Jesus has promised to always, always be with us? Before He left our world to go back to the Father, He told His disciples to go and make disciples, baptize them and teach them. And then promised in Matt. 28:20, “And look: I am with you, every single day, to the very end of the age.” These words are especially comforting when others speak against us and even hate us because we are Christ followers. But we shouldn’t be surprised for they hated Jesus. He said in John 15:18-19, “If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world’s terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God’s terms and no longer on the world’s terms the world is going to hate you.”
One day a friend told me she had invited her daughter-in-law over to spend some time together. Her answer surprised my friend as she answered, “As long as there is no Jesus talk!” Up to this time, my friend had not known that talk of Jesus was offensive to her, and she said she rarely mentioned the name of Jesus when she was with her. But her life must have been a witness in itself, for her daughter-in-law was aware that she was a Jesus person and must have caused her heart’s conviction.
We might think what have I done to cause a negative reaction from others and how have I offended them? If there is something specific that we did that was wrong or unkind, we need to be humble and ask their forgiveness. But if we have done nothing wrong and simply lived out our life with Jesus, then it could be for those that don’t know Him yet it becomes an offense. No need to be apologetic but simply continue to show His love, even when spoken against. But all the while let us not forget that Jesus is with us and understands fully what that is like as He endured so much, even to the point of death although He never once sinned. Maybe we should rejoice when others hate us and not react but draw closer to the Lord.
Challenge for today: Thank the Lord that He counts you worthy to suffer for Him.
Blessing on your week and prayers and love, Judy