Hope Comes When Someone Cares: Voice
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes when Someone Cares”.
Consider this piece of research:
To help promote peace in the Middle East, many organizations have established “peace camps” or similar conflict-resolution programs that bring Israelis and Palestinians together to foster greater understanding of the opposing group.
One common feature of such programs is the opportunity for members of each group to share stories about their lives with members of the other group. Now, a new study from MIT neuroscientists shows that the benefits from this exchange are much greater when members of the less empowered group share their stories with the traditionally dominant group than when the reverse occurs.
The finding, published online in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, supports the idea that for the disempowered group, the biggest barrier to reconciliation is the belief that their concerns are being ignored, says Rebecca Saxe, senior author of the study.
“If that sense of being neglected and disregarded and taken advantage of is the biggest obstacle to progress, from their perspective, then you can partly address that by providing an experience of being heard,” says Saxe, an associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences and associate member of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120315110151.htm)
“Peace camps” are hard to find in our culture today. Polarized view points are solidified in the echo chambers of logarithms of social media that continue to feed us like minded feeds. We move from a position of curiosity to a position of confidence. So my position is right and the other is wrong. What happens is I want people to listen to my voice, but I am unwilling to listen to their voice which keeps us at odds and the chasm widening.
So how can things be different? When we fail, we have to turn to Jesus in repentance and for redirection.
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Here’s what James teaches my heart. When I fail to stop and listen, I am more interested in listening to my own message, my own story. When I fail to listen to others and become arrogant that I am unwilling to listen to another, it is more than likely I am also having trouble listening the voice of Jesus and his words. The law condemns my pride and Jesus calls it to be replaced with humility that is a) willing to listen first to the voice of Jesus and b) willing to listen to the voice of others.
Listening to the voice of Jesus is our orientation point. John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
When I take time to listen to Jesus’ voice, I begin to learn from him and see life from his perspective. Listening draws me closer to Jesus.
As my pride fades and I practice humility by first listening to Jesus, I can be “quick to listen” to others. Curiosity overcomes closed minds. Listening closes chasms. Being heard heals hearts.
And when we first take time to give another person a voice, you may be surprised that the voice you were so concerned everyone needed to hear…that other person might just give you a voice and listen to you.
Apply: Do you have someone who you keep at arm’s length because you disagree vehemently with them? Ask the Lord for courage to reach out and set up a time to connect and listen to their voice. How can God use you to create a “Peace Camp”?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Forgive us when we fail. Empower us to be good listeners to you and your Word and to others. Amen.
Hope Comes when Someone Cares…Visibility!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes when Someone Cares”.
Take a moment to read this article entitled “Why You Need to Be Seen.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-leaders-code/201409/why-you-need-be-seen
This intriguing study points out that what matters more than being paid money for work being done is being acknowledged for the work they are doing.
True confession. I can do better at this.
It’s so easy to work to enroll people to get a project done, but then fail to acknowledge and appreciate all the hard energy and effort and resources individuals contributed. We just move on, asking, “What’s next?” It happens at church as well. We expect people to be involved and give of their time, energy and resources, but then don’t do well to acknowledge and thank them. So, let me apologize for not acknowledging you, and say your gifts, your time, your contributions ARE appreciated!
Another reality…CoVID has given us an “excuse” to stay away from people. We haven’t been able to see their mouth. Our mask makes it easier to stay quiet and move on. We walk by people and move into the store, through the aisles, past the cashier, and back out to our car. We possibly walk past 10-20 people or more…but not one acknowledgement that any of them are there.
True confession. I can do better at this.
People want to be seen. We all want to be seen. We want to be acknowledged for who we are…or perhaps just acknowledged that we exist! A simple “Hello,” smile or “Good morning” can go along way to say, “I see you and you matter in this moment.”
We can all do better.
So why don’t we? It’s easy to get busy, be self-focused, or just so intent on getting the task done, that we fail to see the “human” side of people and just go through life as if they are part of the machine called life. Perhaps this isn’t your challenge, but I know we all need forgiveness for at some point or another failing just to “see” people and acknowledge them.
We have one who does…who forgives us, acknowledges us, and knows us.
Jesus.
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also.
Each of us matter to Jesus. He knows us – not just as a number or a cog in the wheel called life, but a person whom he loves and for whom he laid down his life. He also acknowledges those not yet part of his family…those are important to.
Some days it seems like no one sees us. Remember Jesus sees you and loves you dearly.
Some days Jesus may put a person in your life for you to “see” and let them know they matter…today might be the day.
Apply: Take time today to engage someone you don’t know with a “Hello,” “Good morning” or word of appreciation for what they are doing that is a blessing to you and the community around you.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the way you know us and see us. You know us personally and love us enough to lay down your life for us. Help us to “see” the people around us the same way you do, as people who matter. AMEN.
Hope Comes when Someone Cares: Valued!
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes when Someone Cares”.
People want to be valued.
Most of the time it doesn’t have to be much. A small gift. A note of appreciation. Asking a person for help because they have a skill set that you don’t have. Referring a person’s work to another. Expressing a positive review.
But sometimes the ultimate test for how much we value another person is if we are willing to give up our life for that individual. At times we hear stories like this one:
It was winter time when I was 10; my father and I were walking across the ice covering the canal across from his house, I believe we were going for lunch. Before I realized what was going on, the ice broke from under us, and after some time of struggling to stay afloat, someone had finally noticed us in the water, encircled with ice. The guy threw an extension cord out to us, my dad told me to grab hold of it, and he pushed hard on me to get me up on the ice so the guy could pull me to shore. As he pushed up on me, I looked back to see his face disappear under the water. That was the last time I ever saw him.
The ultimate expression of value is a willingness to give up our life for another. That’s a big deal. That’s a big expression of love.
But that’s what separates Jesus from others. He was willing to give up his life for his sheep. No matter how big the danger was or how challenging it was to face, he doesn’t run but embraces death, even death on the cross.
John 10: 15 says, “…and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Perhaps we take this statement for granted, especially if you have been a Christian for many years. It seems pretty “neutral” to say, “Jesus died for me.” We perhaps don’t have the same emotional and memory connection if you were the child who’s last memory of your father was seeing his face disappear under the frigid water not to appear again.
He died so I could live…eternally.
Many stories of survival at the cost of another’s life leads the one who was saved to dedicate their life to the one who saved him or her. In essence, they are so appreciative of the value they were given that someone was willing to give up their life, they in turn desire to show value to the one who died for them by living their life fully to honor them. Same is true for our relationship with Christ. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
If you are every wondering if someone cares, look no further than the cross. For Jesus’ death on the cross shows you personally how much God values you, he had his Son die for you. When we understand the value God has placed on us, we can in turn share that value with others.
Apply: Give someone hope today…let them know how valuable they are to you and to God!
Prayer: Lord thank you for caring so much for me that you would give up your life for me. AMEN.
Hope Comes when Someone Cares
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes when Someone Cares”.
Rarely does someone say it.
Often they just show it.
And we can see it and feel it.
What are they communicating? They don’t care.
We all want to have someone care about us. It hurts when we feel like someone doesn’t care. It hurts even more when they show us they don’t care.
We want someone to care.
Jesus knew there would be people who didn’t care. He said this in John 10:12-13
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
The hired hand is only in it for a paycheck. When danger comes he thinks, “These sheep aren’t worth enough for me to put my life on the line for them.” Bottom line? The hired hand cares more about himself than he does about the sheep. We and everyone else wants to be cared for. Because we have that need we seek out someone who cares. But then we get burned because they were only caring long enough to get what they want.
We expect imperfect people to care for us in a perfect way. Some will come close, but now one will care like Jesus. That’s why we need the Good Shepherd. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
We’ll see this week how Jesus cares for us as the Good shepherd. But perhaps the question to start the week is this, “Who are the shepherds I am relying on to care for me?” I pray everyone of you has a special someone in your life that truly cares. But there may be someone or someone we think cares but is only setting us up to be used and disappointed. It’s these situations that Jesus reminds us that he is the Good Shepherd and he cares.
Apply: When it feels like “no one cares” remember to turn to Jesus. Perhaps this week every day read through Psalm 23.
Prayer: Jesus thank you for being my Good Shepherd and caring for me like no one else can. AMEN.
Secure Relationship: Forgiveness
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Hope Comes with Secure Relationships”.
Everyone needs forgiveness.
Everyone.
But here’s the challenge:
- I know everyone needs forgiveness, but I’m not willing to forgive the people that wronged me.
- I know everyone needs forgiveness…but hesitate to admit I do.
Our own pride gets in the way of our relationship with others. Even in our marriages, we want our spouse to forgive us and move on, but when we are wronged, we are more willing to remember and bring up the wrong at an appropriate time. We know how amazing it is when our spouse forgives us for wrong that we have done, yet we forget to return the gift when we are wronged.
Perhaps its because we struggle in our own hearts to recognize and admit our sin.
The Apostle John was inspired by God’s Spirit to write this truth:
1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Everyone needs forgiveness because everyone is sinful. Everyone. You and me included.
Sin breaks the security of a relationship between us and God and us and others. Yet forgiveness is a powerful restoring act that God is willing to give to us. John continues in verse 9.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiveness is given for EVERY sin.
Every one.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus has been applied to your account as a gift of God’s grace. God willingly gave up the right to punish you for your sins by punishing Jesus for us. As a result, we are credited with the perfection Jesus obtained and the payment Jesus gave on the cross. God no longer treats us as our sins deserve.
So we don’t have to treat others as their sin deserves.
Consider this,
1 John 2:2 Jesus Christ, the Righteous One is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
If Jesus did this for the world, he did it for me. If he did it for me, I can pass that on to others.
When we realize God’s full and complete forgiveness, we can, with God’s help, forgive as we have been forgiven.
Everyone?
Everyone.
Apply: Is there someone who has wronged you in your life? Ask the Lord for power to forgive that person. (Remember forgiving doesn’t mean you will not remember the act, or that the relationship returns to normal…it does mean you give up the right to get even, removing the barrier that sin caused in your relationship. God willing, the relationship can be made secure once again.)
Prayer: Father, forgive us for all our sins. Every one of them. Amen.
Well everyone needs compassion
A love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior, he can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave
Hillsong “Mighty to Save”