Alone: February 12, 2014

TODAYS WORD FOR WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2014.

ALONE

DEFINITION:

Apart from or the exclusion of others or things; solitary; separate.

SCRIPTURE:

I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop. Psalm 102:7

I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Almost every day we receive either an email, meet a person, read about someone in the newspapers or see on television a person that is devastated, frustrated or simply feeling helpless all because he or she is alone. Loneliness brings on depression and self-pity. This can be devastating for most people because they have literally no support in life.

The Hebrew word for alone is Badad and is used in Leviticus 13:46. In this verse it is recorded that the Lord was speaking to Moses and Aaron about health regulations to deal with leprosy. Down through history people with leprosy were separated to some location alone (badad). They were isolated from their family and all who did not have leprosy. Being a leper and cut off from the support and love from those you love must be one of the loneliest situations that a person could be in.

Take yourself back to the day that Jesus was crucified on the cross. When Jesus took our sins upon Himself while on the cross, our sin completely separated Him from His Father. Just think how alone Jesus was as He hung on that cross. He cried out to God. “Why hast thou forsaken Me? It is not humanly possible for any of us to understand just how alone Jesus felt on the cross. Just the anticipation of being separated from His Father brought Jesus to His knees in the Garden of Gethsemane and caused Him to pray asking the Father, “If possible let this cup pass from Me.” He asked not once, but three times. God’s great love for all of us made it impossible for the Father to let the cup pass from Jesus. In obedience Jesus went to the cross carrying on His shoulders all of the sins of the world. He died, carrying our sins, but the good news is that He rose again and is now in heaven preparing a place for us to spend an eternity with Him

When one who knows Jesus begins to feel alone he or she has the comfort to know that being a child of God we have Him right by our side to comfort and encourage us. The bad news is that all those who have not received Christ’s great gift of salvation are separated from God our heavenly Father. They are alone unless they come to God through Jesus Christ receiving forgiveness for their sins; they will remain separated from God for all eternity.

Do you lie awake at night feeling like a sparrow all alone on the rooftop? Or do you lie down and sleep in peace because you have put your trust in the Lord? It is the Lord alone who brings peace and makes us dwell in safety. 

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Hebrews 11:6.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

PRAYER:

Help me to remember that as a child of God that You are with me at all times. Today may I be an encouragement and be able to comfort someone who is alone and feeling no one cares. May the joy of Jesus shine out through my actions and in my words.