Thought for January 16, 2024

•  1604: Puritan John Rainolds suggests to James I that a new translation of the Bible be prepared as close to the Hebrew and Greek as possible. King James version published 7 years later.
• 1605: Cervantes publishes book one of "Don Quixote"
• 1777: Vermont declares independence from NY
• 1786: Virginia adopts statute granting freedom of religion drafted by Thomas Jefferson
• 1919: 18th Amendment ratified--prohibition
• 1920: First assembly of the League of Nations
• 1938: Benny Goodman leads the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall
• 1939: Superman comic strip premiers
• 1974: "Jaws" published by Peter Benchley
• 2005: Adriana Illescu has a baby at age 66 and said to be oldest birth mother--we know Sarah was much older
• 2020: First impeachment trial of Donald Trump begins
• Born: Andre Michelin, Frank Zamboni, Eric Liddell ["Chariots of Fire"], Ethel Merman, David McCampbell [Medal of Honor for downing 34 Japanese planes], Dizzy Dean, Dian Fossey [gorillas], AJ Foyt, Ronnie Milsap, Carol Thrailkill, Esther Doherty
• Died: Edward Gibbon [historian], Carole Lombard, Bob Jones [University], Ted Cassidy [Lurch], Andrew Wyeth, Abigail Van Buren [Dear Abby]

Thought:

Today, I am still in Luke 7 thinking about the widow from Nain. Think about this lady's day--she was already a widow and now she was walking to bury her only son. Think about how she must have felt--beaten, defeated, alone. Questions about an uncertain future. Maybe asking why me? She is accompanied by a multitude from the city. The day that she may have thought was the worst ever was about to change to the best ever. Have you been there? The day began with darkness, sadness, doubt, fear. the future looked dim at best. then something changed everything.

Walking toward Nain was another crowd following Jesus. What happens when Jesus meets our hurts, doubts, and fears?

• He has compassion. Just think about that. The Lord sees us in our troubles, worries, burdens, fears and He cares about us--He sees with eyes of compassion--with feeling, deep feelings that meet us where we hurt. Maybe if I learn nothing else from this story I need to know that Jesus loves me and He feels for me in my hurt---and He expects me to look at others with compassion in their hurt.
• He said do not weep. I have said that to my children and grandchildren when they were hurt, confused or afraid. The difference is I could not usually change what was hurting or scaring them. When Jesus tells us not to cry He has the power to change things. And one day there will be no weeping and He will wipe away every tear.
• Jesus commands the dead man to arise. I wonder what Jesus was thinking about here. An only son dead. Laying in the grave. Stone covering the entry. And then the word came--arise. Death was defeated. Satan was defeated. The debt was paid and the door was opened to all who believe. This boy was not raised to eternal life, but death was defeated temporarily. A second chance was given. Maybe I should think about this every morning--Jesus says arise, you have been given another day. Arise and shine--be light and salt.
• God gets the glory. The people are in awe. They left town to bury the boy, they return to town with the boy alive and talking. And the widow's day has turned from darkness to light. 
• The report went out. Think about how the report was received. Some were skeptical--he wasn't really dead; it's just a myth. Some believed. But what if you met the boy who told you he had died and was raised by a voice that he heard while dead saying "arise." Would you believe?

How would you respond to someone who saved your life or the life of a loved one. Three days ago, one of the historical events mentioned was the creash of Florida Air flight 90 into the 14th Street bridge in Washington DC. For some reason, I was at home, watching on television. I recall passenger in the icy water. He kept giving up the flotation devices to someone else as they were pulled from the river. Several were saved, but he drowned. What would you say to him or his family? 

Today, we are like the boy from Nain.  We were dead in sin. Jesus raised us to walk in newness of life. Does my walk demonstrate the reality of what happened? Do I spread the news about the one who transformed me from death to life? Is God getting the glory? You have raised us Lord, help us shine.

Blessings

Larry