A Devotion for WED 5/24

My Heart Is Heavy

Devotional thoughts

Earlier this year my Aunt Dolores died. Earlier this year my brother-in-law Jerry's mother died. Just a few weeks ago my Uncle Harold died. His funeral is this FRI 5/26. Lois & I will leave for the funeral on THU 5/25. Last weekend our good friend's Aaron & Laura Liess suffered the loss of their baby, stillborn at full-term. I think the funeral is also on FRI 2/26.

How to fathom all this tragedy? The Bible tells us that the Lord never tests us with more than our faith can handle. We are also told that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. I also know that everyone grieves in his or her own way, so I won't pretend to know how those who mourn the loss of these loved ones are grieving. I can only share what I hang my grief on.

Truth from Scripture

Last Sunday this was part of the Epistle read in our church. "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him." 1 Peter 3:12-22

More devotional thoughts

Lois & I lost an unborn baby boy just past the date when he could have been declared viable. A nurse at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln, NE, offered to baptize him. We thanked her for her kind offer but declined. We explained that as Lutherans, we did not believe in baptizing the dead. What do I believe based on the scripture I included?

• Jesus Christ conquered death & sits on the right hand of God.
• Our Savior is a God of mercy.
• We commend our loved ones into His care, including our babies who died before they were baptized.

Hymns that spoke to me

Here are some hymns that also spoke to me during last Sunday's worship. *

Long before the World Is Waking (LSB #485)

(St 4) "Christ is risen! Grief and sighing, Sins and sorrows, fall behind;

Fear and failure, doubt, denying, Full and free forgiveness find.

All the soul's dark night is past, Morning breaks in joy at last.

(St 5) "Morning breaks, and Jesus meets us, Feeds and comforts, pardons still;

As His faithful friends He greets us, Partners of His work and will.

All our days, on ev'ry shore, Christ is ours forevermore!"

God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It (LSB #594)

(St 4) "Death, you cannot end my gladness:  I am baptized into Christ!

When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise!

Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith's assurance brightly flashes;

Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine.

(St. 5) "There is nothing worth comparing To this life-long comfort sure! 

Open-eyed my grave is staring; Even there I'll sleep secure. 

Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my soul continues praising:

I am baptized into Christ; I'm a child of paradise!"

* Source:  Lutheran Service Book, copyright 2006

A Prayer in a Time of Bereavement *

Heavenly Father, into whose keeping we entrust our loved ones, help us to look to You in our times of sorrow, remembering the cloud of faithful witnesses with which we are surrounded. Grant that we may one day share in the joys of those who now rest in Your presence; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

* Source:  Lutheran Service Book, copyright 2006