Daily Devotional for September 1

 

September 1                                                   Mark 14:27-42

     "You will fall away; for it is written, 'I will strike the
shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 'But after I am
            raised up, I will go before you to Galilee."

Jesus' love for the disciples never faltered. Even while
prophesying that the disciples would desert and deny him,
Jesus promised to return to them. Jesus kept the promise, retur-
ning and bringing the Holy Spirit to be a comfort and a
counselor.

As Christ loved the disciples, so Christ loves us, and that love
is alive today. We can say with assurance, "Christ has died,
Christ has risen, Christ will come again." Christ keeps promises
to us, too.

In the hustle and bustle of each day, it is easy to become
flustered and unfocused. We can become unfocused by big
things: a close friend's illness, conflicts with one's spouse,
turmoil within ourselves. We can be flustered by small things:
a forgotten grocery list, a chore left undone, a work project
thrust on us suddenly.

On another level, we can be shaken when we read and hear
each day of death, destruction, and violence - evidence of
a broken world that seems beyond hope. Yet God, our source
of light, is present in the midst of all darkness. Focusing on
God's redeeming love helps us to deal with the ups and downs
of our lives. Remembering that God keeps promises gives us
something to anchor ourselves to in a world gone topsy-turvy.

Draw strength from the depth of God's love for you. In a world
that is often unfaithful, God is always faithful. In a world that
is always changing, God never changes. God's love for each
of us is everlasting.

​

From The Road to Emmaus - An inclusive devotional Edited by Joseph W. Houle

Emmaus House of Prayer - Washington D.C.1989