HomeWord - Apr. 19, 2007
Lonely, but not Alone
This devotional was written by Elizabeth Cole
the emphasis of the Bible is not on what we are supposed to do for God. Rather, it is on what God has done for us
When I watch Spiderman II, I’m touched by the loneliness Peter Parker feels day after day. He’s not like those around him. While his childhood friends chase financial and theatrical success, Peter’s busy chasing bad guys. While his peers enjoy fame, he hides in the night’s shadows with a strange-looking mask over his head and no money to pay the rent. He has very little in common with those around him. He thinks thoughts no one can understand. He chooses a lifestyle others find odd at best, or freakish at worst.
Not so far off from the life of a Christ-follower, is it? Becoming a citizen of God’s heavenly Kingdom turns everything upside-down, making us “aliens and strangers” no longer of this world. He calls us to spend our time differently, to spend our money differently, to fill our thoughts differently, to care about others selflessly, to step out beyond our own comfort, to take daring risks for His sake and for His glory…the list goes on. It can be a place where we’re misunderstood, mistaken and subtly maligned. Have you ever spent time with old friends from years ago and find you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand? Have you ever sat at a family Christmas gathering wondering if anyone even knows it’s Someone’s birthday? Have you ever been surrounded by a crowd of people and felt completely, utterly alone?
Praise God, we are not alone in our loneliness. Most importantly, praise Him as He makes it clear that His presence is with us “forever.” There is nowhere we go that He is not present. There is no cry of our hearts that He does not hear. There is no point at which He doesn’t understand our thoughts before they’re formed. We are not alone.
In His precious generosity, God goes even further and gives us His people, the other citizens of His Kingdom, as our encouragers. Listen to Paul in his letter to the Romans, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” And to the Thessalonians, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” You are not alone…We are not alone.
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GOING DEEPER:
1. What could you do today to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Spirit?
2. Who, in your life, needs your spiritual encouragement today?
FURTHER READING:
II Corinthians 1:22; I Peter 2:11; John 15:19; John 17:16
Encouraging Parents…Building Families |
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