Day #23
Larry Trotter
Words
of Love
4 “I tell you, my friends, do
not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 6 Are
not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by
God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t
be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:4, 6-7 NIV
Overcoming the Barrier
I have been spending
a week each summer at Camp Wesley Woods as a Minister-In-Residence since 2002.
I look forward to the time with kids from our church as well as from other
churches in the Holston Conference. Their joy and enthusiasm are contagious and
remind me that we are to enter the kingdom as children. One particular week a
few years ago I met a boy who was eight or so and had lived most of his life in
a succession of foster homes. Understandably he had grown wary of people after
being abandoned by his parents and, according to the caseworker who brought him
to camp, grew more withdrawn and more aggressively acted out his frustration
with each placement. The first couple of days were rough as he refused to
participate in camp activities and wanted nothing to do with the other kids in
his group. By Wednesday you could see him loosening up a little as he seemed to
enjoy some of the more physical challenges and actually mouthed the words to
some of the songs at worship. Thursday night is the spiritual climax of the
week when we have a longer worship gathering including Holy Communion. That
particular week the theme was God Rocks so I asked the support staff to bring
paint rocks (ask any CWW camper about them) from the waterfall and asked the
counselors make a cross on each camper’s forehead. My talk was about our
identity in Christ and how God knows and loves each child and wants them for
his own. I told a story from my youth when I was going away for the first time
on my own and my dad said to me, “Remember who you are,” meaning you are mine
and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Somehow, it all clicked for the
boy, and in the single most beautiful moment of the 15 weeks I’ve served there
this little guy let the others kids shower him with the love of God. He sobbed
as they hugged him into the kingdom and he gave his life to Christ. The next
day at morning worship he showed up arm-in-arm with his group, his paint rock
cross still in tact. The counselors usually try to get the kids to shower on
Thursday night before going home on Friday as an act of mercy to anyone who has
to ride home in the car with them. The boy wouldn’t allow any water on his face
for fear of marring his cross. When I caught his eye before worship he smiled
and yelled,” I know who I am, preacher! Jesus loves me!”
This week our
devotions will explore fear and how it can become a barrier by directing our
life away from the fullness God intends. Moreover, fear can cause us to act in
in ways that are harmful to others and ourselves. In the passage Jesus is
warning the disciples that not everyone will welcome them and they could find
themselves in harm’s way because they are following him. But along with the
warning comes the reminder that God knows them intimately and they are worth
everything to him. When we find ourselves being challenged because of choices
we’ve made or circumstances beyond our control it’s good to know that when we feel afraid due to threats and
criticism there is One who always loves us and always has our back. When that
kind of fear creeps in, go look in the mirror, imagine a cross on your forehead, and remember the sacrifice the cross represents. He did that for you. Remember
who you are.
Prayer
Almighty God, it is so affirming to know
that as busy as you must be, you think of me, know who I am, and care deeply
about my life. Help me to live that reality each day by trusting you with my
fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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