Devotion John 14:1 Safe And Sound With Him

On Monday night, while driving my Mom to the Bible Study at my house, I was talking and joking with her.  I asked her about a Spanish word that means “lazy.”  Then she said I hope no one called you that.  I said no, and then jokingly said to her (and she understood I was joking) “what should I do if they do?  Should I punch them in the nose or actually stop being lazy?”  I started to laugh and expected her also do so (as she normally would do).  Instead of her usual comedic return she said to me “No, you don’t act badly to people who say mean things.  You stay above that.  You stay yourself.  Let God deal with them.”  She stopped me cold.  Though she would normally joke with me (knowing that I don’t really want to hurt anyone) and say “yeah, sock them in the nose.”  It is her usual humor (which has a not so veiled “don’t hurt my son” sentiment behind it).  Her words were a reminder of our Lord’s words to do good to those who do us wrong.  I thank God for my Mom!

So we don’t get lash out at people who hurt us and then try to claim that it was their fault and not ours.  We are responsible for our own actions, all of them.  I’ve learned many a hard lesson about that.  It is also true that when hard times come, when the sucker punches of life give us a good one, we are responsible for how we will react.  Will we react with our own thoughts and will, or we will react as Jesus called us to.  Let us pray for ourselves and for each other that we will respond as Jesus called us to.  To have confidence, to have faith in Him.  That when hard times come we don’t deny that hard times have come, but we seek out the eternal peace and comfort that comes from knowing that nothing on this earth can change the fact that Jesus is our Savior and Lord and He will bring us home “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.” (John 14:3)

Jesus is right.  My Momma is right because she believes Jesus.  I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, heck, even my Momma is not perfect.  But Jesus was and is.  He has given Himself to us as an eternal gift that no-one can take from us.  So, trouble may overwhelm me like a tidal wave, but my eyes are on eternity where I will always be with God.  And that will keep me in peace now, and forever.  Praise God!