Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

THURSDAY JUNE 4


MY FATHER IS WITH ME

READ:
John 16:32
________________________________________________________________
You will be
scattered, each to
his own, and will
leave Me alone.
And yet I am not
alone, because the
Father is with Me.
_______________________________________________________________

A friend struggling with loneliness posted these words on her Facebook page: "It's not that I feel alone because I have no friends. I have lots of friends. I know that I have people who can hold me and reassure me and talk to me and care for me and think of me. But they can't be with me all the time for all time."

Jesus understands that kind of loneliness. I imagine that during His earthly ministry He saw loneliness in the eyes of lepers and heard it in the voices of the blind. But above all, He must have experienced it when His close friends deserted Him (MARK 14:50).

However, as He foretold the disciples' desertion, He also confessed His unshaken confidence in His Father's presence. He said to His disciples: "[You] will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me' (JOHN 16:32). Shortly after Jesus said these words, He took up the cross for us. He made it possible for you and me to have a restored relationship with God and to be a member of his family.

Being humans, we will all experience times of loneliness. But Jesus helps us understand that we always have the presence of the Father with us. God is omnipresent and eternal. Only He can be with us all the time, for all time. __POH FANG CHIA

** Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that You will never
leave me or forsake me. When I feel lonely, help me to remember
You are always with me.

*******************************TODAY'S BIBLE READING __ MARK 14:32-50****************************
32 Then they came to a place which was named
Gethsemane; and He said to his disciples, "Sit here
while I pray." 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with
Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.
34 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful,
even to death. Stay here and watch."...

37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to peter,
"Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?

38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

39 Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same
words. 40 And when He returned He found them asleep again,
for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to
answer Him.

41 Then he came the third time and said to them, "Are you
still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come;
behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

43 And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one
of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs,
came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying,
"Whomever I kiss, he is the One; seize him and lead Him.

46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took him. 47 and one
of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant
of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

48 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come
out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take me?

49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not
seize me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 Then they all
forsook Him and fled.