Psalm 25:16: "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted."
The Memphis Flyer on December 22, 1998, ran the following story: "In November, a landlord entered the Bonn, Germany, apartment of Wolfgang Dircks when rent invoices to Dircks bank stopped being paid. The landlord found a skeleton in a chair in front of a television set (in the "on" position, but now out of order) and beside, still twinkling Christmas lights and a TV program guide from December 5, 1993. Since no one had seen Dircks in years, authorities declared that to be his date of his death."
As you read the above story, you must have been struck as I was with the idea of the absence of any intimate relationships in his life. There was a sense that he didnt belong, or that he was detached, separated from any other human life. We have those times in life when we believe we are afflicted and all alone. Gods remedy is to first turn to Him, and then a second area called fellowship of the believers.
Meditate On This!
As a result of our hectic pace and the agenda of our world system to remove relationship, do you find yourself further away from intimacy with God and others? Even though you are surrounded by many people, do you feel all alone at times? Or perhaps you have cut ties with people. Do you find yourself at night sitting in your recliner with your remote control while life just keeps ticking away?
Today, I ask you to consider two things:
1) realize that solitude is what you need, not loneliness. A time of getting away occasionally, not to be with yourself or the remote, but rather with God!
2) actively seek out those other believers in your community and them know you need a friend.
I Corinthians 11:23-24: "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus,on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
While in Florida, I was having dinner with some veteran baseball players. During the conversation we discussed how other veteran players look out for those rookies in the locker room at their first Spring Training. Sometimes they would treat them to a meal, or take them aside and give them insights into the game at the Major League level.
It is just as exciting to see men get together and remember the deeds and qualities of a past generation, player or team. Discussions happen at coffee shops and restaurants around the world, talking about what it "used to be like".
Meditate On This!
I know we are reminded of this when we take communion, but are we in the habit of remembering weekly what Christ did on the cross? The Jews remembered their deliverance from Egypt in their annual Passover Festival. Jesus died at Passover time as the new Passover Lamb. He ate the Last Supper during the Passover just before His death. He instituted this memorial of His death.
I am not into written prayers, but maybe now you need to just bow and say, "Dear Lord, I realize again today that you died for me, and I am showing my response to your death. I am relying upon you to save me. I renew my vowed obedience to you. I love you."
We can get caught up in the "rat race" of our profession. Today, lets stop and remember the most significant week in the life of mankind, when Jesus gave up His life and then rose from the dead.
