Stumbling

Monday, June 8, 2009
Listen to this devotional:

John 11:9-10 – Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." (ESV)

One winter's evening, I arrived to collect my mother-in-law from where she had arrived at the coach station. I was a few minutes late, so, like a gun dog, I feverishly scanned the horizon for my target. There in the gloom of the streetlights and a telephone kiosk, I just caught a glimpse of an old lady as she tripped, fell, and banged her head on the corner of the telephone box.

I rushed over to reassure her, to see how she was, and to help her up from the ground. She was stunned and a little confused, but mostly okay. Women of this ilk are made of sterner stuff and don't bleed easily. With the help of another who arrived, we telephoned her niece, whom she had come to visit, and alerted her to the lady's arrival. In truth, I think there was a deal of confusion, hence the reason the niece was not there. As I helped her to the seat, I could see that her ability to walk was severely impaired. No wonder she had faltered! Oh, the unfairness! This very senior citizen with poor mobility and even poorer night vision had had no chance to perceive the uneven tarmac repair upon which she had tripped.

We got her under cover. At some point, I had rushed off to find my mother-in-law, and asked her to come and see the lady. When I was reassured that my co-helper was going to sit with her until her lift arrived, I decided it was time to depart.

What has lodged in my spirit is not just the plight of this lady, but that hers is ours too, potentially. If Christ is not leading us today, we are likewise — with poor vision, confused, and vulnerable — to be tripped up by the pitfalls of the world.

John 8:12 – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, we rejoice that You know each one of us intimately. Please watch over the vulnerable and fallen in our world. If they are we today, please lift us up, put us on Your shoulder, and lead us to safe pasture once more. Lord, for those who have no one to keep them safe or to watch over them, please stand guard and shine Your light on them. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Rod Marshall <roderickhenrymarshall@gmail.com>
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

Send your feedback to the author

Comments are closed.

Previous Post
«
Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.