By Pastor Don Schatz

What a Friend We Have

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”
Luke 13:34b New International Version

It was raining very hard.  I looked out a window to see a sparrow huddled up to a larger mourning dove.  The picture of needing shelter, finding shelter and giving shelter was powerful.  It was touching.  It brought a smile of wonder to my face.

We all find ourselves in need to shelter at times.  I feel pretty safe in that assumption.  It might be shelter from the rain.  It might be shelter from a storm.  It might be from a metaphorical but still very real ‘rain’ or ‘storm’.  When that ‘shelter’ comes from friend or family or fellow Christian, what a blessing it is!

If you find yourself there today or another season, what a friend we have in Jesus!  He spoke the words of today’s Bible verse to the city of Jerusalem.  How he loved the city.  Even though that city represented his opposition.  How much more does he love us, love you.  He is your comforting shelter.

In Jesus we find shelter.  Because he found us first and came alongside us.  Which bird in the picture was there first?  I don’t know.  But I know that Jesus sought me first.  I know that he longs to shelter you today.  Because he says so.

I also know that Jesus wants nothing more than to give us shelter.   Because he says so.  But Jesus wasn’t just talk.  He came among us, for us, though he didn’t have to.  His life, death, resurrection and ascension shelter us from sin, from death itself, and destroyed the power of Satan in our lives.  He so willingly shelters us.

Do you not need such shelter today?  You have it anyway!  Jesus is always Immanuel, God With Us.  Perhaps someone you know does need shelter.  You get to be Christ’s shelter in their storm.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado