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December Devotional – The Good Shepherd
The nocturnal evening was clear, cold, and quiet. Except for tiny specks of twinkling light, nothing else disturbed the patent leathered sky. Bleats filled the air as shepherds made their way to hillsides to begin their watch. Just before darkness consumed the earth, shepherds inspected the herds one last time then resumed their position. With a staff firmly placed in one hand, each shepherd wore a turban and a long robe, along with a scarf tucked close to their neck to shield from the cold.
Their only job: guard and protect the sheep.
The life of a shepherd isn’t easy. He must be alert, ready at all times to ward off the enemy. And with certainty, he must place the sheep above himself.
Long before his birth, the Good Shepherd made careful preparation to protect his flock. Through Abraham he promised a nation, not of Israelites, but of aliens, the children of promise(1). As he carefully laid out his plan, he gave us a set of rules to live by so we would neither die before our appointed time, or give into temptation. He warned us to worship him in spirit and in truth, not with the aid of objects we can see and touch.
If you’re not in the habit of studying biblical history, it may seem as though some events happened by chance, or that others had complete control. But upon further examination and meditation on the scriptures, we find that the seemingly meaningless rule to impose a census by Caesar Augustus was all orchestrated by God to move Joseph and Mary from Nazareth in Galiee to Bethlehem where our savior was born.
For centuries, God had his people kill a sacrificial lamb, knowing full well that it was a foreshadow of what was to come. When the true lamb arrived through the womb of a virgin, who were the first to hear of it? The shepherds. God didn’t choose the religious (Sadducees or Pharisees), or kings and statesmen. He chose men who worked for a minimum wage.
From the beginning, God planned for Jesus to live so he might die. Instead of sending him as an angel or as a full grown human being, he reduced Jesus Christ to that of a baby. This lamb had to drink milk first before allowed to eat meat. He lived among us and had his patience tested. He endured ridicule, bullying, and slander. He was called an imposter. They talked behind his back and said he performed miracles because he was of Satan(2). For forty days and nights, he wandered the wilderness hungry, listening to the evil one tempt him in every way.
Like the shepherds, Jesus Christ had options. To stand ready to fight the enemy in order to protect his sheep, or cry out and be rescued by God, leaving his flock to fend for themselves.
Jesus Christ chose to live among a chaotic people. Then he drank the bitter cup of death.
The closest I can come to that kind of love is the love I have for my children. I’d do anything for them. But can I? I can’t rescue them from sin, though I want to. I can’t forgive their sins and wash them clean, though I want to. I can hold them. Rock them. Sing them a song. Read scriptures with them. Pray endlessly for them. But I can’t save them.
I’m not the Good Shepherd.
Sometimes when I reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, I find that I get so caught up in the manger that I don’t see the tortuous ordeal our Lord and Savior lived through. I’d be angry if someone tried to bait me into an argument like the Pharisees and Saducees did Jesus. I’d definitely not spare my wrath when the disciples wanted to know who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom. And to have fed the five thousand and the disciples turn around and not be able to heal the sick boy(3) after witnessing such a miracle, I’d be furious.
He specifically chose the twelve. Lived with them day and night until he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He revealed himself to them in ways he never shared with the world. Such faithlessness had to weigh on him. To come down to earth and show himself in the form of a man and witness such humanity had to cause him concern.
Then again, hadn’t Jesus witnessed such weakness since man’s fall from grace in the Garden of Eden?
We greive our Holy Father today with the same worldly way of thinking. I, for one, constantly beat myself up for not reaching my goals, or consume myself with my inabilities rather than devoting myself to prayer for all that I need.
Many of us have the tendency to separate his birth from his death, compartmentalizing Jesus Christ in tiny Christmas wrappings and silly Easter bunnies then have the audacity to call it a Passover celebration.
God Almighty is Holy! We can in no way contain him in pretty wrappings than we can restrain him to particular times of year. God is forever. God is here and now. He’s not someone to be worshipped only on a festive holiday. He’s not someone to be worshipped only when we decide we need him. He’s not an insurance policy to be pulled out only in disastrous times. HE IS forever. Amen!
We don’t have the right to live frightened, doubtful lives. Jesus Christ freed us with his death. No matter how much I love my children, or my family, I could never give them that kind of freedom.
After examining the story of baby Jesus, I find that I can no longer look at Christmas as a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord. I’m drawn to the life in his death. Hidden beneath the downpour of blood and water is my life. I’ve been made clean by his death and given hope through his resurrection. The manger isn’t the beginning of Jesus Christ. He has and always will be the Alpha and Omega. Time can’t contain him. Death can’t hold him. Holidays can’t resurrect him.
I see how Jesus Christ puts up with my foolishness every single day. How he endures my doubts, my fears, my carelessness, my struggles to worship him in spirit and in truth. Every day I’m repenting. And every moment of the day he is forgiving.
When you serve a God who loves you as deeply as he does, is it really possible to wait for a festive time of year to fall on your knees and worship him? I can’t contain myself that long. His love is too overwhelming.
How about you? Can you wait?
Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Poet, Novelist
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1 Romans 8:9-18 – “(8)That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. (9)For this is the word of promise: ‘AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.’ (10)And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; (11)for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, (12)it was said to her, ‘THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.’ (13)Just as it is written, ‘JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.’ (14)What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! (15)For He says to Moses, ‘I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.’ (16)So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. (17)For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.’ (18)So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”
2 Matthew 12:22-28 – Jesus and Beelzebub – The Pharisees Rebuked – “(22)Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. (23)All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’ (24)But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.’ (25)And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.’ (26)’If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?’ (27)’If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.’ (28)’But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ (29)’Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.'”
3 Matthew 17:18-21 – Healing of Boy with a demon – “(18)And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. (19)Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not drive it out?’ (20)And He said to them, ‘Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.’ (21)[‘But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’]”
May Devotional – I AM WHAT I THINK
I don’t care what anyone tells you, there’s a special bond between a mother and her son. I have been blessed with two of them. And like any mother, I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. Don’t dare ask me how God gave up Jesus. There isn’t a word in our vocabulary or an expression within our English language that will ever come close to describing the well-thought out plan God developed to save a bunch of disobedient scoundrels. Then God had to endure watching his son die knowing full-well we’d fail him all over again. What love! Our son, Aris Joseph, phoned at a time I least expected and he left me with enough of God’s manna to feed on until I’m old and feeble. In turn, I want to share this enlightening sermon with you and pray, like me, you will continue to feed off this until God sees fit to move you on to something more. Graham Cooke is the speaker and he does so with clarity, humor, and a focus on the Father like none other. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard such depth. It moves me to be more like Christ. It moves me to be a better mother. Above all, it moves me to mimic God’s love. To change your way of thinking can be a daunting task. For me, I must have an outlet. That’s why I became a writer. My mind is turning and twisting, scheming and planning, never ever sleeping. I can sit down and write a romance novel with four subplots, include one too many in my family saga, and two damaging twists and turns in my crime novel and never get to the point of the story. To get to the main point, I’d have to slow down and think logically. Who wants to do that? Especially about something much more important like our lives. When it comes to our souls, logic isn’t the answer. God is! For the life of me, I can’t get through one day without him. He is my source of strength, my energy, my backbone, the quench for my thirst. Pitfalls that come my way can’t be worked through logic. They must be surrendered to God, and I must understand that if I’m in Christ then Christ has a plan already worked out for my problem. Graham Cooke explains this so well in his sermon. I have attached the link below. It is not a video, but an audio and well worth your time. It lasts for approximately 54 minutes. My son, Aris Joseph, blessed me beyond measure when he shared this with me today. I hope, in turn, I have blessed you, too. May the bond and love between you and God tighten and become unbreakable. Enjoy the sermon. Know this: I am what I think. Think another thought, a better thought, a godly thought, if the last thought is leading you into destruction.
You can find more of Graham Cooke’s sermons on Youtube. Donna B. Comeaux Freelance Writer, Poet, Author
April Devotional – THE LOVE OF CHRIST – For Easter
I’m sitting here in my office chair pausing until I can come up with a tighter plot to my next short story when I remember I haven’t written my April Devotional. The devotional reminds me that Easter is only days away. That brings to my remembrance the Lord’s Resurrection.
I can’t help but think of the visual aid Mel Gibson gave us when he produced The Passion of the Christ. For so many years, it never dawned on me the severity of Christ’s suffering until I had this visual aid. I read scripture the other day and I did some research and found out that the whips they beat Jesus with had metal in it. Sometimes sheep bones and glass was also embedded in these whips so that as you pulled the whip off the person’s body it would rip the flesh.
Can you imagine the loss of blood? Can you imagine the misery? His painful cries?
You can get so engrossed in Christ’s misery that you miss the main focus.
Every single thing we go through in life Christ went through it, bore it all then had the love and kindness to also leave us hope for a future . . . a spiritual future. Everlasting Life.
Just what could I mean by that?
Jesus reduced himself to a man, leaving a place of peace and rest, and came down to this pitiful place called “earth” to live with a bunch of wicked and sinful, dull-hearing individuals. But Christ went far beyond that. He lived as we lived. He withstood the abuse, trappings, and accusations of the Pharisees and Saducees, and even the people’s chants to kill him.
Imagine you and your best friend of 30 years end your relationship in a horrible fight. That’s what Christ endured when he stood before the Jews late one night listening to one allegation after another. He’s tired. Hungry. Defenseless. Alone. And he knows he did nothing wrong. His disciples, his best friends, his only friends, desert him. All the people in the region who were healed are nowhere to be found. Where did everyone go?
Ever felt that way?
I can’t help but interject and jar your memory about the many men who have been hauled off to prison, sometimes serving over 20 years in these cages, for crimes they didn’t commit. And no one believed them. Their parents’, families’, and friends’ voices can’t be heard over screaming false witnesses, neighbors, and media outlets who are chanting “He did it!” If and when these men are released, what a mountainous task it is for them to attempt to make a living, not to mention the burden of trying to integrate themselves back into society.
Back to our Lord . . .
I look at the disciples and see all too clearly how their weaknesses mimic my own. I won’t lie, I might have easily fallen asleep too if I had been in the garden. My faith would have been much too weak to drive out demons. In no way my belief would raise anyone from the dead.
Not only did Jesus reduce himself from a heavenly perfect being to become a lowly man like us and subject himself to such cruel treatment, he also had the heart and love to demonstrate what comes after. He endured all that pain just to prove to us that (1) you and I can’t go through a thing on this earth that he himself did not endure; and (2) that after the pain and suffering for his sake is over then comes the good stuff—heaven, peace, happiness.
I can’t resist the temptation to share one of my favorite sayings I came up with a few years back: “God won’t let you fall any farther than he can reach.” Of course, that’s providing that your heart is focused on God, in spite of your shortcomings.
Jesus healed so many different diseases and human infirmities that if each account were written down there wouldn’t be enough books to contain them.
And here you and I sit with all this knowledge under our belts and we still can’t believe enough or have enough faith. We toss a prayer at God like an insurance policy, or stumble through a prayer when someone we love is on their deathbed, failing miserably with our stammered words because we’ve had little practice with praying. Some men are too manly to become weak enough to yield to the King and ask for help. But isn’t that what it took for Jesus to endure his sacrifice? And is that not what you and I are called to do?
Do you not understand that Jesus left us a blueprint as to how to live our lives?
See, Jesus has become a mythical character we groan over during the holidays because we promised momma or daddy we’d go to church next year.
I pose a hard question that only you and I, and any individual with an ounce of concern about his soul, would have to answer. If Jesus Christ is who he says he is, and you believe he is, then what if he had treated you like you’re treating him?
Let me take that down a notch. What if you saw that friend you lost, that one you were friends with for over 30 years, and you decided to treat him as he did you? Or what if she treated you as you treated her?
Where does the madness end?
I don’t care what they threw at Jesus, he stood firm. And let’s not forget the human side of our Savior. Let’s not make light of it. Even he, while in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweat blood during his plea with God to remove the bitter cup from him. That was his way of asking God: “Must I do this? Is there not another way?” He didn’t want to die. He didn’t want to suffer.
But Jesus didn’t come to please himself. He came at the pleasure and will of our God. And he fulfilled his purpose. Even to the point of death!
Tell me something—what does this Easter mean to you? Is it just another holiday? Another time of year to give you a three-day weekend, buy too much candy, and eat too much food? Will you sit still and remember the sacrifice that was paid for your life?
Jesus wants us to pause and reflect on his love. He loved you and me through the agony of pain and death.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Don’t put Jesus off another year or show up at church or at holiday gatherings to pacify one of your relatives. Think about the gifts he gives you day after day . . .
Love and Everlasting Life.
Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Poet, Author
NOTE: To help you remember how powerful our God is, read about the many miracles Jesus Christ performed while he was with us. Let’s not forget how his power still works in our lives today. Listed below are the many miracles Jesus performed along with the scriptures associated with those miracles.
MIRACLES OF JESUS
Jesus turns water into wine. (John 2:1-11)
Healing of royal official’s son. (John 4:46-54)
Healing a demonic possessed man at Capernaum. (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:33-37)
Healing Peter’s mother-in-law. (Matthew 8:-14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)
Healing of many during the evening hours. (Matt 8:16, Mark 1:32, Luke 4:40)
Catching of large number of fish. (Luke 5:3-10)
Healing the leper. (Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-15)
Healing of a centurion’s servant. (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10)
Healing of a paralyzed man. (Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:18-26)
Healing of a withered hand. (Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 3:1-6, Luke 6:6-10)
Raising a widow’s son. (Luke 7:11-17)
Calming the storm. (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25)
Healing the Gerasene man possessed by demons. (Matthew 8:28-32, Mark 5:1-13, Luke 8:26-33)
Healing woman with issue of blood. (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48)
Raising Jarius’ daughter. (Matthew 9:18-19, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:41-42, 49-56)
Healing two blind men. (Matthew 9:27-31)
Healing a mute man possessed by a demon. (Matthew 9:32-33)
Healing a man who was crippled for 38 years. (John 5:1-17)
The feeding of 5,000 plus women and children. (Matthew 14:16-21, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:5-14)
Jesus walks on the water. (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21)
Healing of many in Gennesaret. (Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56)
Healing a girl possessed by a demon. (Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30)
Healing of a man with a speech impediment. (Mark 7:31-37)
Healing of 4,000 plus women and children. (Matthew 15:29-39, Mark 8:1-10)
Healing a blind man. (Mark 8:22-26)
Healing a man born blind. (John 9:1-41)
Healing a demon possessed boy. (Matthew 17:14-20, Mark 9:17-29, Luke 9:37-43)
Catching a fish with coin in its mouth. (Matthew 17:24-27)
Healing a blind and mute man who demon possessed. (Matthew 12:22-23, Luke 11:14)
Healing a woman with an 18-year infirmity (who probably couldn’t stand). (Luke 13:10-13)
Healing a man with dropsy. (Luke 14:1-6)
Healing of 10 lepers. (Luke 17:11-19)
Raising of Lazarus. (John 11:1-44)
Healing Bartimaeus’ blindness. (Matthew 20:29-34, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43)
The curse of the fig tree. (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25)
Restoring a severed ear at Gethsamene. (Luke 22:45-54)
The resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15, Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20)
Catching 153 fish. (John 21:4-11)
Jesus’ ascension. (Acts 1:1-11)
Miracles of Jesus in Chronological Order, http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/miracles.htm
To Be Close To You – For Easter
Should I be cloth soaked in your blood
Or thorns sunk deep in your brow
Dare I wish to be splintered wood
Suspending you before a woeful crowd
Should I be the tomb in a garden plot
Or heavy stone to hide your pain
Maybe costly spices to slow the rot
Of my endless guilt and horrid shame
If I were all those things
And much more besides
I still couldn’t bear the sting
And be the one crucified
I can’t replace thorns upon your head
For thorns of my own
Make you rise from the dead
Or restrict breakage of your bones
Unworthy though I am
Unworthy when I leave
I thank you for the Lamb
For granting reprieve
For love and compassion
Patience and tolerance
Amidst ungodly reactions
And spiritual imbalance
How could you die
For the wretched man that I am
My tongue full of lies
My soul should be damned
To experience such gloom
Anguish and grief
Refuse my impending doom
Not seek your relief
I’ll never understand
The stretch of your love
How it penetrates man
How you love us above
All that exists
From the largest to least
To have nailed down your wrist
Though I’m a brutal beast
I can’t cry enough tears
Pray enough prayers
To render myself clear
And free from all snares
Your crimson has cleaned, brightened
The foulest of me
Pinned all my sins, lightened
Freed me indeed
Let me say before I close
Though I scarcely know how
I love that you rose
And gave hope to us now
I love you dear Lord
From the moment I wake
Fearless I soar
To the end of my fate
May I live out my days
In awe, in reverence of you
To gaze on your glory, I pray
From a room with a view.
Donna B. Comeaux
Freelance Writer, Author, Poet
March 27, 2014
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