9/11

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

How could God allow tragedy?  The answer is simple.  Sometimes people choose to do things outside of God’s plan.   They disregard the scripture... and plot to bring destruction, chaos, and hurt.  People have disobeyed God since the first two in the Garden of Eden...and for thousands of years thereafter.  It isn’t new or exclusive to this generation.  Freewill is wonderful.  It allows us to love God because we WANT to...not because we are forced to.  It’s genuine.  But this same freedom has a potentially dangerous side.  People can choose the other way.  Bombs are set.  Lives are taken.  Families are broken forever.  

But God tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  Will bad things happen here?  Yes.  Will God be here with us through it?  Definitely.  

- Through His servants doing whatever it takes to comfort the mourning.  God is there.

- Through area churches providing counseling to the grieving. God is there.

- Through Christ-followers around the world that will spend a few extra minutes on their knees in deep prayer.  God is there.

We serve a God that knows anguish firsthand.  He has felt what you feel.  May His grace and strength continue to be with you as you persevere on the journey back to health. Take heart and know that you aren’t alone...  God is there.... He has overcome this world... and He loves you more than you’ll ever know.   

To the families of those directly affected by the events of 9/11… you will never be forgotten.  As we commemorate that dark chapter in our history today, may we never allow the acts of a few cloud our view of the love and power of our Lord.  

He Has Overcome the World

It’s easy to read the headlines and believe that the world is going the way of the enemy.  From the tragedy in Boston, to 9/11, to Sandy Hook Elementary, to wars or threats of wars around the globe.... the devil appears to have taken control of the way our planet spins.  But as I prayed for the affected, John 16:33 came to mind....

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

How could God allow tragedy?  The answer is simple.  Sometimes people choose to do things outside of God’s plan.   They disregard the scripture... and plot to bring destruction, chaos, and hurt.  People have disobeyed God since the first two in the Garden of Eden...and for thousands of years thereafter.  It isn’t new or exclusive to this generation.  Freewill is wonderful.  It allows us to love God because we WANT to...not because we are forced to.  It’s genuine.  But this same freedom has a potentially dangerous side.  People can choose the other way.  Bombs are set.  Lives are taken.  Families are broken forever.  

But God tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world.  Will bad things happen here?  Yes.  Will God be here with us through it?  Definitely.  

- Through His servants doing whatever it takes to comfort the mourning.  God is there.

- Through area churches providing counseling to the grieving. God is there.

- Through Christ-followers around the world that will spend a few extra minutes on their knees in deep prayer.  God is there.

To the people that have been directly affected by acts of violence... the prayers of Potential Church are with you.  We serve a God that knows anguish firsthand.  He has felt what you feel.  May His grace and strength continue to be with you as you persevere on the journey back to health. Take heart and know that you aren’t alone...  God is there.... He has overcome this world... and He loves you more than you’ll ever know.   

The Machine

A man named Dan Chen has created a machine.  A device so outlandish that you will struggle to believe it exists.  What is it?  It’s called an “End of Life Care Machine.”  Essentially it is a robotic arm that gently moves back and forth along the forearm of a patient in a hospital who is dying.  As it does so, it says “Hello [name of patient], I am the last moment robot. I am here to help you and guide you through your last moment on earth. I am sorry that (pause) your family and friends can’t be with you right now, but don’t be afraid. I am here to comfort you. (pause) You are not alone, you are with me. (pause) Your family and friends love you very much, they will remember you after you are gone. (pause).”

It’s hard to come up with the right words for this machine… but for the sake of today’s devotional… We’ll use the word: tragic.

Tragic that whatever person this is used on is left alone in their final moments… and even more tragic that someone thinks a heartless robotic arm can replace the tender touch of another person.  

I was thinking about this device as I read Hebrews 2:17-18 

"For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" 

Hebrews 2:17-18

The truth is… before Christ came…all of us were dying.  Bound for eternal separation from God because of our sin.   Taking the punishment for missing the mark that we deserve.  And then God sent His Son.  His glorious loving Son to pay the price for what we had done.    God didn’t send a note… or a statue… or a robotic arm to comfort us… Jesus put on our flesh.  He became a human being.   A person who we could recognize and One that could suffer pain.  Today as you spend time praying, thank God that He loved us so much that He sent His only Son… His compassionate and merciful Son… so that we would know how valuable we are to Him during our time here on the Earth.