DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2023-01-03
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 7:12-14
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹²As he approached the village, he met a multitude of people in a funeral procession, who were mourning as they carried the body of a young man to the cemetery. The boy was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. ¹³When the Lord saw the grieving mother, his heart broke for her.  With great tenderness he said to her, “Please don’t cry.” ¹⁴Then he stepped up to the coffin and touched it. When the pallbearers came to a halt, Jesus spoke directly to the corpse, “Young man, I say to you, arise and live!”

APPLICATION: Research shows that Jesus, and the crowd following Him, went out of their way by 25 miles for Him to be available for this poor widow in her time of loss. That tells me that the Father had a very important appointment for His Son, Jesus. In our minds, I believe I can safely say that we would do anything to avoid a detour of 25 miles by automobile today. For as little walking as many do today, I believe we would squirm if we were asked to go an extra city block to get to our destination! So, imagine walking an extra 25 miles, and then to meet up with a funeral procession. But, I don’t believe there was any coincidence to Jesus meeting the procession just outside the gate of Nain. The Prince of Life was about to enter the gate of the city when death came out. There at the gates where life and death meet, life wins and death is defeated. Just outside of Jerusalem one day, death and life met again, and life won forevermore – praise the Lord! But why was it important for Jesus to console this poor widow and help to rectify her position of losing her last relative? You know, I believe it was not only for the purpose of winning the heart of that mother, but can you even imagine the awe and excitement of the crowd when the saw something that had, no doubt, never happened before in their lifetime – a young man being carried to his gravesite just sat up and began talking after an encounter with the King of all kings? Furthermore, how many times have you given up hope because you just couldn’t imagine Jesus finding time to respond to your prayer request or to feel your pain? Is it not clear that Jesus wants us to see that He not only gave up His life for us on Calvary, but because He rose again, He is forever available to us for whatever needs we may bring to Him? Please don’t confuse your trivial requests for things that might align you with the rich guy down the road, I’m talking about the things of the heart. To the saved, let me assure you that as you endeavor to live each day more closely aligned with your Master – Jesus Christ, you will want to do those things that He exampled for you while He was here on earth, and you will want to learn more about God’s Word so that you can validate that you are following His will for your life. To love someone and desire to live life pleasing to them, then you are more than willing to do what they say – plus some, and you will want to do what they ask of you, because you know that pleases them. You will love them unconditionally, which means that you will love them, even if it seems like they may not always return that love in the ways you demand or wish, but because you know they love you. That’s Jesus, my friend! To the unsaved – I’m not so sure that You could appreciate the grace and mercy of my Lord, but I hope that you have experienced one more example of how He has unbelievable compassion for His children, as he did for the grieving mother in our story today. You won’t find this kind of compassion in your circle of unsaved loved ones, but this may be perhaps this might just be the right opportunity for you to meet my Savior, accept Him as your Lord, and commit your life to Him for all eternity. Please read my Footnote carefully, as I have shared with you several avenues for help, should you need it in turning your back on the world and instead accepting Jesus as Lord.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus went a long way out of His way to comfort a grieving widow. I am reassured that He would do the same for me!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for showing us how to love. Thanks for helping us to see how Your heart was broken when You saw the broken heart of the grieving widow, and how You brought life back into her son. These are all things that are beyond our understanding, but Lord You alone are merciful and loving in such an unconditional manner. Teach us Lord to follow in Your example, so that people will see Jesus, understand Your love, and know that You will overcome many obstacles, if need be, to show Your love towards them. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!