Do Not Weep

Daily Reading: Luke 7

Scripture Focus: Do not weep. (Luke 7.13)

Devotional Thought: As he entered a town called Nain, a funeral procession was coming out. A widow was now twice aggrieved. Having already lost her husband, she was now burying her only son. Jesus was moved with compassion for her and said, “Do not weep.”

"What? Do not weep? You’re kidding, right?" No. Jesus meant what he said. You see, he had plans for this woman and her dead son:

· The immediate plans were to raise her son from the dead. Jesus saw her circumstances and her broken heart. Jesus did not do this for everybody, but for a reason known only to him, he decided that he would do it for her: “Young man, I say to you, arise.” Those words changed everything. Do not weep!

· There was also an intermediate plan, not explicitly stated in the story. When her husband had died, God had given her grace and resources through family and friends. She had survived that ordeal. She would survive this ordeal, too. God, who had helped her in the past, was with her to help her now. The support of family and friends was a testament to that. Do not weep!

· And finally there was the ultimate plan. Later, Jesus would say, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11.25-26). For the countless broken hearts from that time to this, there is hope. Do not weep!

You may feel that your sun is setting, but remember there is a dawn awaiting all those who trust in God. "Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning!" (Psalm 30.5)

Prayer: Thank you, Father in heaven, for your grace to help us in our time of need. Help me to trust your immediate, intermediate, and ultimate plan. In Jesus' name, amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 136.1-9

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 7 to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 8 the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 9 the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;