|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Take Time To Be Holy"1 (Lyrics) |
Genesis 2:18a – And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone. (KJV)
From the earliest record that we have, it is plainly shown that we have been created with a need for companionship. With that need comes a responsibility to meet that need with love and compassion.
From the moment a child is born, that child craves the love and support given by its mother. The best results come when the loving mother is supported by a loving father, and together, they nurture and raise that child with love.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 – Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. (KJV)
There are few things more heart-wrenching than seeing pictures of young children who are orphans who appear to have no one to care for them.
Schoolchildren can often feel alone and succumb to bullying. I live in a large city, and unfortunately, there are too many incidents of people feeling alone.
On a Monday afternoon in April 2018, a van drove down the sidewalk opposite the residence where I live, killing ten people and injuring sixteen others. While the investigation into the driver's motives continues, there has been speculation that he felt alone and isolated, and thus was driven to commit a terrible act.
The following Sunday evening, hundreds of people walked slowly down the street, following the path taken by the disturbed driver. I stood on my balcony, and as they passed my building, I heard hundreds of the marchers singing the words by Kristin Chenoweth, made famous by Bill Gaither:
- Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives.
Would those innocent lives not have been killed if that young driver had not felt alone?
I am privileged to live in a beautiful residence. Many of us who live here have lost a spouse or close friend. It is interesting to observe how the majority reach out to others and gain the significant benefits of not being alone.
God designed us not to be alone. It takes effort to reach out in love to others, but we are created to lift up others. We have no better example than Jesus Himself, who reached out to others, even when He was being persecuted and dying on the cross.
Prayer: Dear Father, help us continually to strive to reach others in love. In so doing, we know that we will receive more in return than we give, and we will honour You by following the example that Jesus gave. In His name, we pray. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Thursday, April 18, 2024 – In East Asia — Pray for more partners who become trainers in our house church planting network in East Asia. We are asking God for around ten of these trainers for each district in our region. May the Lord grant them courage in their next step of faith.
stressful travel ahead: "April 17, 2024: Please pray that our upcoming travel will be okay. A few problems have arisen with..." 
Thanks for sharing these important thoughts.
Thank you, Vincent, for sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.
I used to live in that area. How wonderful to know the mourners sang that hymn. Thank you for writing.
Amen Vincent, thank you for a good word today.
Blessings.
Thank you, Mr. Walter, for the very true and helpful devotional.
Keep writing.
Hello
Thank you for this devotional. What a terrible sight that must have been but so good to hear others singing that song!!! I sing that chorus quite often too.
Thankful God is faithful no matter the storm.
God bless you.
Hi Walter,
You know we read about these things in the paper, but it is wonderful the way you described the events after that terrible act.
It is so hard to figure out why these things happen.
God bless you for writing this wonderful devotional.
Thank you.
Hi Vincent,
Thank you for your devotion ‘alone’. I know a bit about this after taking longer than usual to find the Right Girl. But she was a devoted and much loved mother and grandmother to our children, now married with children of their own.
Keep up your fine writing!
(Ont.)
Yes, being alone is an adjustment after living with others but know Jesus is always with us even if we cannot feel his presence. The incident you mention is one of many that happen daily throughout the world that rob us of our peace of mind but our faith gives us gratitude and hope for the good that we have near us as well and that it will bring more in the future. Peace, hope, and love to you.
Amen. The lie we have believed is that someone can fill the emptiness in in our soul. NOBODY can be in our own skin to know what is going on and how we feel. Only God. But people believe God is “out there”, another lie. Realizing the potential for soul peace in a relationship with God is our only hope for not being alone. He will never leave, never die, never stop loving us, never give up on us. Wow.
Dear Mr. Walter: My mother, died last year at 98. Many moving tributes were paid to her at her funeral. So many, in fact, that one of the congregation remarked to me: “There is a lot of love in this room today.” I felt that love and knew I was not alone. Friends sent me a note in a card stating how blessed I had been to have had a Mother who loved me! Love is essential to human beings and it is a gift from God! Love the Bill Gaither song “Because He Lives!”
Hi Vincent,
Last weekend, which was Memorial Day in the United States, we had friends visit our ranch for the weekend. One of them was widowed last year. Your devotional made me think of her. Although we shed some tears over the weekend, she is reaching out. I am going to forward you devotional to her.
Thank you,
(Texas)
Hello Vincent,
Your devotional is describing an incident which took place where I used to live.
Once the initial feelings of horror passed, a thought struck me “It could have been me”. I used to walk that street every day.
Why such things happen no-one knows, but I believe they are wakeup calls to everyone reading the story, asking each one of us if it were us would we know for sure where we were going after our death. Life is unpredictable and there are no second chances.
This is my heart’s cry for so many of my friends and I ask the Lord to provide me with open doors and words to tell them that Jesus loves them and asks for their love in return.Then they will know where they are going.
Thank you for this reminder.