Devotional for Day 30, April 3, 2014
Rev. Clenard Childress, LEARN (Life Education and Resource Network)
Intention: Let us pray that pastors may not be dis- tracted from the priority of caring for human lives.
Scripture: In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. — Acts 6:1
Reflection: More folks learning left some yearning. It is the dawning of a new day. There is much excitement in Jerusalem. Many who dedicated themselves to the faith became disciples (the word disciple means “learner”. The unprecedented church growth was miraculous and undoubtedly brought much satisfaction to the new leader- ship. The apostles, however, were about to experience growing pains in their master plan of evangelism. Projects that engage the community, especially those that are evangelistic in nature, are high on the list of priorities for every duty-bound pastor. Church attendance is a constant con- cern for every pastor and often his or her worth is measured by it.
Unfortunately, just as the original twelve pastors in Acts, they can be so focused on getting people in that they inadvertently end up pushing some people out. Murmuring is a deplorable deterrent to a harmonious fellowship, yet God used it to get the disciples attention. Those that needed daily attention due to their age and social status were being neglected. This neglect of the Hellenist widows during the daily distribution of food was causing undue grief and needed to be corrected by the leadership. By God’s grace the problem was dealt with, but the lesson remains. And during these 40 days, let us pray that today’s church not make the same mistake of forgetting the contributions of our seniors, or the needs of the weakest among us, the unborn.
Prayer: rather, in the church’s desire to engage our communities with the gospel let her not disengage from those who need their care and company the most. Let us gain wisdom from those who have gone before us and cherish their experiences and perspectives. Help us to appreciate every soul in the body of Christ and minister properly to every- body. Amen.
Jesus said whenever two or three are gathered in His name, He is with them. Lately, it’s been whenever two or three with umbrellas are gathered.
Sometimes it's rain. Sometimes it's snow. And sometimes ... bright sunshine! But just as surely as the umbrellas and their owners are gathered at the 40 Days for Life vigils ... so is Christ present.
Orange, California
Anita said she and several other women were praying at the 40 Days for Life vigil in front of Planned Parenthood in Orange. As a van pulled into the driveway, the driver looked at them – but kept on going.
A man and woman got out of the van and walked towards the building. The prayer volunteers again tried to get their attention ... but they kept walking.
After a while, though, they came out … got into their van … and drove towards the exit.
“I could see the passenger side window was rolled down,” Anita said, “so I walked towards them, said good morning and smiled, and then asked if they were here for an abortion.”
“No,” the woman said. “We changed our mind.” The man driving leaned over and said, “We decided to keep our baby because of you people praying on the sidewalk.” They were both smiling.
He said they would pray for the volunteers … and he kept saying, “Thank you!”
Richmond, Virginia
Ann worried that the rainy weather might keep people away from the 40 Days for Life vigil in Richmond.
But as she approached the abortion center from a few blocks away, she saw umbrellas in the distance and wondered what was going on. As she got closer, she quickly found out. The umbrellas belonged to people who were peacefully praying for an end to abortions.
“It turns out this was designated ‘Life Saturday’ by Mt. Gilead Church,” she said. “These wonderful people come from about 8 am to 1 pm for this special ministry. And what a beautiful sight it was to have 19 people around the clinic praying and witnessing to Christ … in the rain!”
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
“While the weather for much of the last week has been cold with snow or rain,” said Bob in Lancaster, “we still had the opportunity to talk with a surprising number of pedestrians and even people in passing cars.”
A woman who lives in the neighborhood and walks her two dogs several times a day stopped to say “thanks” for the vigil. “She told of how she adopted her son from a woman who had sought an abortion,” Bob said, “but was too far along in her pregnancy to receive one.”
The woman beamed as she told the volunteers about her son, who is now married and just became the father of the woman’s first grandchild.