The Way We Were

Sunday, ‎September ‎11, ‎2022

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Memory verse: Romans 12:1: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

Today's reading: PROVERBS 10-12 2 CORINTHIANS 4

The Way We Were

21 years ago, our country was attacked and the whole world, not just our nation, will never be the same.

When we remember, we should always be respectful of those lost and their families and friends-yes, this goes without saying. We never know who has been affected. A few days ago, a new football coach was asked in a press conference, since they are playing on September 11, what this day means to Him. It seemed that the reporter might have been trying to find something askew in the new coach's character and he replied,

"I lost a cousin in one of the towers, so it has some great significance to me."

It was like the air had been sucked out of the room for a second and then they went on.

The atmosphere changed and suddenly all in that room had a new way of looking at the man-because he had lost family in this tragedy.

We will never know how many this event actually touched on the family level. Then there were the circles of friends and work associates-it goes on and on until it reaches all of us on some level. We all grieved then but the event will never leave us. Those born a little before and all after live in a world shaped by that one event.

These events have tragically happened through history, always changing things.

There was one change that is obvious to us who are believers. The death and resurrection of Christ is the one event that brings the biggest change. This is the one change, however, that is never to change. What?

Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

The world suffers tragedy and the world makes adjustments-people grieve, institutions change, laws change, opinions change...

The word of God never changes. The heart of God never changes. His love for us is perfect and never changing. The blood that was shed on Calvary will forever cover the sins of a lost soul who confesses Jesus as Lord and believes God raised Him from the dead. The Holy Spirit never changes-never leaves us-never will...

I know we all have our stories of the way we were 'back then' and how much we treasure the good times. The truth is that the 'ole days' had plenty of problems but somehow, we reach for the best and happiest memories and that's not a bad thing. But I hope we have grown in our hearts and souls since then.

How has Christ changed your life since the last tragedy? If we have been listening--if we have allowed God to teach us, we should be at peace in our hearts right where we are. That is easy for one man to say-but there is so much more to the story. God never intended for us to stay 'just like we are'. There is so much to learn about learning God's strength and using it in hard times-as well as the good times.

Consider the great athletes: they will tell you that what you see in the competition is the end result of weeks, months, sometimes years of preparation and repetition to get where they are. They know the cost of their disciplines and some pay dearly.

Consider the great people of faith and prayer and how they know the 'lessons of learning'. They know humility before God's throne. They remember the 'way we were' and how we cannot stay still. This life of faith must be lived in constant change brought on little by little as we live through and learn victory in tough and tragic times.

The faithful seek God all the time and when the tragic happens God leads us through it.

The 'way were were' is nice to remember but the way we are should be stronger, wiser, and more in love with our Master.

21 years after 9/11, what have you learned and how do you handle yourself in tragedy? What have you learned from your latest tragedy? Yes, we can all grow more and must.

We all have the next chance called 'today'. Hebrews, chapter 3 says: "Then while it is [still] called Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts....

Today, we must take up our cross and follow Him.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess I am not focused enough on what You are trying to teach me. Have mercy on me. I seek You and Your love and wisdom.

Holy and great God!

In Christ Jesus' name,

Amen