John 13:33 "I will be with you only a little longer."
On different occasions Christ told His disciples that He would be with them only a little while longer. During that little while that was still left, He instructed them in His Word, in the purpose of His ministry, and in the method of their testimony about Him. At the very end of His ministry Christ told them that He was now leaving them for a little while and that they would see Him no more. He was going to the Father by way of the cross.
Life is full of "little whiles." Sometimes they seem very short because their moments are filled with joy and contentment. We have our friends and our loved ones around us for a little while, and we enjoy their companionship. But they are taken away, and we see them no more.
On the other hand, there are the "little whiles" that seem like eternities. There is discomfort and pain, disappointment and tension. We think these moments are eternities. The night of pain is endlessly long, and the morning never seems to dawn. We toss and we turn, but there is no relief.
But it is only a little while. "For a brief moment I abandoned you... . In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment." The promise is added, "'But with deep compassion I will bring you back... with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,' says the Lord your Redeemer" (Isaiah 54:7-8).
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, help me to accept all the "little whiles" of my life and continue to praise and thank You. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 27-29 John 11:1-29
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select "Save Link As" or "Save Target As" or "Download Linked File As"