READING: Revelation 21
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 21:4
I miss pastoring a local church, but I don’t miss bearing the tears of pain that church members often share with their pastors. I think today, for example, about:
- The young couple that watched their baby die in a hospital crib
- The wounded wife who had learned about her husband’s affair
- The family that lost their home to a natural disaster
- The congregation that did not know how to respond when a beloved staff member fell morally
- The parents who had no idea their son was addicted to alcohol and drugs
- The church member who formerly pastored, but who still carried wounds from that ministry
- The many, many families who buried loved ones during the years of my pastoral ministry
I could go on and on, of course. Life is about people, and life just hurts sometimes.
But, then I read these words in Revelation 21: ”He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away” (21:4). All of the anguish I’m recalling today will be gone – and God Himself will dry the tears of hurting people. While I have loved ones that I want to follow Christ—and thus I want Him to delay His coming until they turn to Him—still I look forward to the days of no tears.
ACTION STEPS:
- If you are grieving something today, let God be your comfort. Turn to Him in your pain.
- Thank God for the way He has comforted you in the past.
PRAYER: “Father, I look forward to the day when tears will be gone. Thank You for that hope.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Tomorrow we begin a new year of reading through the Bible, focusing on both an Old Testament and New Testament reading each day. For the devotions, my plan is to focus as much as possible on how to live a holy and disciplined life. I want to provide some practical applications as we work together to follow Christ. For tomorrow, read: Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1.