Allow Jesus to be your Lord

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die …

Jesus was a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. He did not shy away from sickness or death. Rather, He brought hope, healing, and encouragement to others.

Recently, my in-laws lost their middle son to a heart attack. Twelve years ago, they lost their first born son to a heart attack.

The pain in people’s lives when they lose a loved one is real. They think about the loss of their loved one daily. People say that you should not have to bury your child. Yet I am reminded of One who had to bury His Child.

God so loved you and me that He sent His son Jesus to pay for our sins, die our death, and give us an example of how to live through the power of the Holy Spirit.

He provided for Mary, who watched as her Son was crucified. In John 19: 26-27, Jesus said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Caring for a loved one can be difficult. It is even more difficult when you are grieving the loss of someone. The Bible does not seem to tell us a lot about how this disciple took care of Mary. I am guessing that his care did not always measure up to the care that Jesus would have given His mother. How could it? The disciple John was competing with Jesus.

You and I are not asked to be someone whom we are not. We are commanded to love God and love one another.

If you are caring for a loved one or if your job or ministry is in the field of service, I hope that you will keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He will give you the strength and grace to continue to do the next right thing even though you might not feel like serving in a position that does not appear to be valued too highly by our society.

The value or worth of your work to the Kingdom of God is known by God. Jesus was One who wrapped Himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet.

You and I are encouraged to allow Jesus to be the Lord of our lives. Giving our lives away in the service of the King will be rewarded one day.

My hope for all who choose to continue to obey the Holy Spirit and who consider others better than themselves is to one day hear these words, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

May God continue to bless you and our area.

(Kevin Barsotti is with the Ark Church in Havre.)