BBD 03.04.04 The Hopeless and Helpless
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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03.04.04
The Hopeless and Helpless
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two
sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground
apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. -
Matthew 10:28-31.
A man in California bought a painting at a garage sale for $5.00 because he
like the way it looked. He hung it in his kitchen where it stayed for two
years. It stayed there until the 29-year-old actor decided to check out the
painting on the Internet. To his great surprise, the painting is the work of
Joseph Decker a well-known 19th Century artist. The National Gallery of Art
in Washington purchased the painting for one million dollars!
What is the value of a human soul? Most likely, more than any of us can
imagine. I like the way the Message translates Matthew 10:31 saying that we
are worth more than a million canaries. I’m not sure how much a canary is
worth but they are bought and sold and have financial worth. We are
important enough that our Heavenly Father knows how many hairs we have or
don’t have on our head. We are important enough that our Heavenly Father has
thought about us and has plans for us. In fact, He knew us before we were in
the womb of our mother. We are of so much value in His eyes that Jesus had
to leave the glories of Heaven taking human form to walk among us, suffer,
and die for our sins. Your value, my value is incomprehensible - it is
beyond our understanding.
Knowing our own value at least some idea that we are of much value in His
eyes - what do we see when we look at those around us. When we see the
homeless in this country, do we only see a $5.00 painting when in the eyes
of the Father they are priceless? My heart has recently been saddened by
learning of the horrible living conditions that some endure across the
world. In the Philippines there appear to be frequent situations where those
living in almost unbearable conditions have experienced fires which have
destroyed their tiny crude homes and few possessions that they have. Now
they are in a mud field at the mercy of the elements although some have
plastic sheeting and some are trying to provide some meals. That is just one
sad horrible situation, which could be multiplied, thousands of times across
this world.
What are those people worth living in such unbearable miserable hopeless
conditions? They are invaluable in the eyes of the Father. Yes, it is true
that we will always have the poor with us as Jesus said. But He also died
for them and they are of just as much value to the Father as any other
person on this earth.
The next time you encounter someone who seems utterly devoid of value in
terms of the thinking of contemporary society remember your Heavenly Father
cares for them. Is there something that you can do in the Name of Jesus to
help just one person out of the helpless and hopeless millions across this
world? No, you can never help them all but, for the one you help it may very
well make an eternal difference.
Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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