Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
I think it's interesting to couple those words with the Gospel reading from today's service...
"Do not let your hearts be troubled..." (John 14:1)
(I'm not going to post all of John 14- but I strongly encourage you to read it if you have time! It's amazing!)
Today's Gospel sort of took a step back- we just recently celebrated Easter, and now we're going back to Maundy Thursday. (That's when the Gospel lesson takes place).
What does it mean to have a troubled heart? We all have troubles, and sometimes it's not easy to think or talk about them. We can pretend they don't exist, but we all have them.
Disappointments- in our selves and in others.
Circumstances- things that are out of our control.
Health problems- issues and unknowns.
Persecutions- from those who seek to harm us.
Difficulties- in any walk of life.
Spiritual Troubles- God's Truth and struggle of sin in our lives.
Or phrases we hear the world shouting at us-
"Nobody cares about you."
"You'll never amount to anything."
"You were never my friend."
"I will never forgive or reconcile with you."
"You are worthless."
No matter what problem troubles your heart, no matter what kinds of words the world throws at you, hear these words...
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. In my Father's house are many mansions. I go there and prepare a place for you."
"Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."
But those mansions seem so far away, don't they? It's nice to hear that, but what about our troubles right now? God, what are you going to do about my troubled heart?
Jesus takes His staff and His rod and He shows us He is the "way and the Truth and the life."
He takes His rod and staff and points the way to MY mansion. And to YOUR mansion. Where He has prepared a place for you.
Isn't that amazing? There is a room waiting for you up in heaven! Your name is written in the Book of Life, and God is waiting for you!
Troubled hearts? I think that's comfort enough to still my troubled heart.
What happens when you take the rod and the staff, and lay one on top of the other, vertically and horizontally?
You get a cross. The cross changed our lives. Troubled hearts? Look to the cross.
Another favorite Easter hymn comes to mind..
I know that my Redeemer lives...
What comfort this sweet sentence gives.
He lives, He lives who once was dead.
He lives my ever-living head!
He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.
The promise of today's Gospel lesson still echoes: "I am the Way and the TRUTH and the Life."
Blessings:
-Played in a new church today on a nice organ!
-Many compliments after the service!
-Crab rangoon for lunch
-Safe travels back to school
-Solution for a problem
-Got some unpacking and organizing done
-Time to read
I LOVED the reading from John! Such a great one! And we also looked at the Psalms this week, including this one.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason my church doesn't seem to be doing the "1st after Easter..2nd after Easter" etc - our services seem to be back to normal. Today we sang this & I had completely forgotten it existed but it is GREAT!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtWVWoqIOe0
(AND - there are not many things more amazing or beautiful than male voice choirs. This video is AWESOME)