The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:9-13

In the early part of the 1900s, outside a brick tenement in New York City, a boy dressed in ragged clothes was seen with a small piece of broken mirror in his hand.

Holding it high above his head, he moved it slowly back and forth so it reflected on the building above.

A policeman slowly approached, watched for a while, and finally said, "Lad, what are you doing with that mirror?"

A bystander suggested, "Like most boys in this neighborhood, he's probably up to no good."

The boy gave a dirty glance to the man who had made the comment, and then gave this answer: "Do ya' see that window up there? Well, I have a liddle brudder who's in that room on that floor. He's a crippled and can't move around. The only sunlight he ever sees is what I shines up ta him with this mirrer."

That, my friends, is what Jesus has done to us in our suffering.

Our divine Brother came into this world to live for us, to die for us, to rise for us. Now, the Holy Spirit comes to send the light of the risen Redeemer into the darkness of our lives.

He brings light to us who have been crippled by sin and suffering.

Now I don't know why a particular suffering has come to you. Nobody can give you a better answer than to say, "All suffering comes because we are sinners who live in a sinful world." No, I don't know why a particular suffering has come, but I do know what the Savior can do for all who suffer.

Jesus, the world's Savior, can help you by

* carrying your suffering, or

* conquering your suffering, or

* casting aside your suffering, or

* helping you endure your suffering.

Even now, the Lord Jesus wishes to bring His light to your personal darkness. In doing so, He demonstrates just one more of the many ways the risen Redeemer has tried to better the lives of those whom the Holy Spirit has called to discipleship.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks for the Savior whose life was spent winning forgiveness from sin, the devil, and death. For the eternal life He has bestowed, I praise His Name. But I also give thanks that Jesus cares for me in my suffering, hurts and pains. He cares and does that which is necessary to help me with those problems. For His ongoing caring, I praise Him. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 68, 72, 86    John 14

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