Saturday August 24, 2013

Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11

A young girl fresh out of school sits on the ledge of a balcony 3 storeys high and threatens to jump. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and she wonders if she’ll ever be loved again. She wonders if death would be the best option for her.  In another place, in another time, a family man drives into the bush. With tears streaming down his face, he parks the car and draws the sawn-off shot gun from under the seat.  He holds the barrel to his head, sobbing. He asks himself over and over, ’What’s the point of it all?’ He debates with himself whether or not to pull the trigger.

 

Would you have an answer to share with these two desperate people? Would you be able to give them some meaning and value to life? Would you be able to inspire some hope in them that would cause them to choose life instead of death? The answer is “Yes”. In Jesus, the answer is “Yes.”

 

In Jesus we know that we are eternally loved and that God, our Creator, likes us, loves us and wants to be our best friend. Through the work of Jesus at Calvary’s mountain we know that life has eternal purpose, even through the pain and heartache of rejection and loss. Through Jesus  we know that victory is ours and that the best is yet to come.

 

When you have Jesus in your life you have the answer to all of life’s issues. You don’t need to a counsellor or a psychologist (though these people may come in handy at different stages of our lives) to help people see their value and importance in Christ Jesus. You don’t need to be a preacher or a pastor to show people the way to Jesus. You need to be ready and willing to share your faith, to speak of Jesus and to show people what Christ has done for them at the cross.

 

Both that young lady and the family man were blessed to have at least one Christian friend. In each case, that Christian friend spoke up and shared Christ. Both the lady and the family man chose life over death and gave themselves into the Lord’s service.

 

Prayer:

Write down at least one prayer point in each of the following categories based on the following verse.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28.

Adoration:

 

 

Confession:

 

 

Thanks:

 

Supplication:

¥ Ask the Lord to increase the understanding and appreciation of salvation that each and every member of your congregation. Pray that as they grow in this, they would love God more and reflect that love more in the way they live, talk and think.

¥ Pray that God would bless the work of Mustard Seed Orphanage in Myanmar. Pray that they would have the resources needed to continue serving orphans, widows and the disabled.

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. If Donald were in a similar situation to either the young lady or family man in today’s devotion, do you think the gospel is the most important thing to share with Him? Explain your answer.

2. What hope does the gospel give to those who despair of life?