DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 2018
Good Shepherd, comfort us with the assurance that you will be by our side in each season of our lives. Amen.
Jesus said, “I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20 (NIV))
I once took a train from the airport in Philadelphia to my sister’s town 35 miles north. Though it was late at night, the train was crowded with people and more boarded as we approached downtown. As we proceeded north, more people exited than boarded and more and more seats became available. My destination was the last stop before the end of the line, and when the conductor called out the name of my stop, I was the only one left in my coach.
I liken this train ride to life’s journey. During our childhood, we are surrounded by our family and friends. As the years pass, our family grows and our number of friends increases. But sooner or later, we begin to experience loss. One by one, family and friends pass away. As we travel through our senior years, more and more people dear to us exit our lives. If we live long enough, we may find ourselves the only remaining family member and with few, if any, close friends. But we have someone who will never leave us during life’s journey: Jesus Christ. He has promised that he will always be by our side. (See Matt. 28:20.) He goes with us all the way to the end of the line, until we reach our heavenly home.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
I once took a train from the airport in Philadelphia to my sister’s town 35 miles north. Though it was late at night, the train was crowded with people and more boarded as we approached downtown. As we proceeded north, more people exited than boarded and more and more seats became available. My destination was the last stop before the end of the line, and when the conductor called out the name of my stop, I was the only one left in my coach.
I liken this train ride to life’s journey. During our childhood, we are surrounded by our family and friends. As the years pass, our family grows and our number of friends increases. But sooner or later, we begin to experience loss. One by one, family and friends pass away. As we travel through our senior years, more and more people dear to us exit our lives. If we live long enough, we may find ourselves the only remaining family member and with few, if any, close friends. But we have someone who will never leave us during life’s journey: Jesus Christ. He has promised that he will always be by our side. (See Matt. 28:20.) He goes with us all the way to the end of the line, until we reach our heavenly home.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
* * *
Psalm 23:1 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Jesus is with us at every stop on life’s journey.
PRAYER FOCUS:
Those who are elderly
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(1) Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.
2 He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
he leads me by quiet water,
3 he restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths
for the sake of his own name.
4 Even if I pass through death-dark ravines,
I will fear no disaster; for you are with me;
your rod and staff reassure me.
5 You prepare a table for me,
even as my enemies watch;
you anoint my head with oil
from an overflowing cup.
6 Goodness and grace will pursue me
every day of my life;
and I will live in the house of Adonai
for years and years to come.
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Jesus is with us at every stop on life’s journey.
Those who are elderly
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Copyright © The Upper Room 2017, All rights reserved.
Header Photo Credit: "Harvested Land," Beth Shumate. August 15, 2014. (link)
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