By Chuck Reber

Devotional #1 -- Seeing that Moves the Heart

Scripture: Matt 9:35 – 10:1

Meditation:

Jesus had been on a ministry trip visiting all the cities and villages in the region. Matthew records the astounding results of Jesus’ teaching of the gospel of the kingdom: Jesus was “healing every disease and every affliction” (v.35). Can you imagine watching as every kind of sickness and disease is being healed?

Then, as Jesus is looking at the great crowds, Matthew records that Jesus was “moved with compassion” because of what He saw. He “saw” the people not as they looked outwardly, but with a depth of insight given by the Spirit. We might say, He saw them with the eyes of His heart.

This seeing by the Spirit caused a deep moving in the heart of our Lord. Compassion filled His heart because of their condition – they were like totally helpless sheep without a shepherd. The Lord called his disciples together and instructed them to pray for laborers to be sent into the vast harvest of human suffering. Then Jesus ends the prayer meeting and has a commissioning service. He gives his disciples both power and authority to go and do the same ministry He has been doing, “…to heal every disease and every affliction” (10:1).

Application:

When was the last time that you really saw the people that you were looking at? Did you feel God’s compassion for them and how did you respond? 

As you think about disaster relief scenarios, ask the Lord to help you to see people as He sees them. Ask the Lord for a heart that is moved with compassion for people. Realize that the Father has equipped you with power and authority to heal every disease and every affliction by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Devotional #2 – When First Aid is Not Enough

Scripture: Luke 10:25-37

Meditation:

We are all familiar with this story. Jesus told it to answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?” However, let’s look at it through the eyes of a disaster responder.

When the Samaritan reaches the site and sees the survivor, his heart is moved with compassion. He applies first aid by bandaging the wounds, pouring on oil and wine (v.34). Next, following his first aid training, we see him taking the survivor to an inn where he can receive further care. As far as job descriptions go, he has done his job. He found a survivor, applied first aid, and got him to a secure location for further care. Good job Mr. Samaritan.

Only this guy doesn’t stop there. His heart has been touched by God’s compassion, which always causes us to go the extra mile out of love. The next day he reaches deep into his wallet and gives the innkeeper some extra money to make sure the survivor is properly cared for until he can recover. Then compassion moves him to go even further – he offers to cover any other expenses involved in caring for the survivor!

Application:

Sometimes disaster relief situations may demand you to do more than just meet the need and then move on to the next person. How do you know when to go the extra mile?

Again, what part did compassion play in the Samaritan doing more than just administrating first aid? Imagine what the survivor felt when the innkeeper told them that the Samaritan checked-in on him to make sure he was being cared for?

How can you apply this example to yourself as a local responder in your neighborhood, city or state?

Devotional #3 – Healing Broken Hearts in the Midst of Disaster

Scripture: Luke 4:18-19 (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Meditation:

Jesus is quoting from the prophet Isaiah as He announces the beginning of His ministry. Someone has said that Jesus was reading His job description, outlining what His ministry would look like:

1. •Salvation for the lost through the preaching of the gospel
   

2. •Ministry to the poor
   

3. •Deliverance to those who are captive to the enemy
   

4. •Physical healing to the blind and sick
   

5. •Healing of damaged emotions for those who are oppressed
   

6. •Resulting in a life lived in the Lord’s favor
   

Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:23). This means that Jesus’ job description is our job description. Just as the Father sent Jesus to carry out the above ministry mandates, Jesus has commissioned us with His authority, power, and Presence to do His works. Not only that, He promised, “Whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

Application:

As you read the above verses, think of how they describe your role as a Christian responder. This simple list covers most of the needs that survivors will have as you serve them a meal and ask them, “What’s your story? How can I pray with you?”

Can you think of situations where you might apply the above ministry? Does this describe any areas where you need to get ministry yourself? Ask the Lord to open His Word to you in each of these areas of ministry and equip you to do the “greater works than these.”

Devotional #4 – Hope in the Midst of Disaster

Scripture: Lamentations 3:19-33

Meditation:

Where is God in the midst of this disaster? That is a question on the lips of both survivors and responders. Jeremiah, in the context of these verses, is standing in the midst of the rubble of his beloved city Jerusalem. His heart is overcome with emotion and his mind reeling as he looks at the devastation and the plight of the survivors. For over twenty years, through his preaching, he had warned the people of Israel that destruction was coming if they didn’t turn back to the Lord. They refused to listen. Now this.

Did this mean God was finished with them? Was something even worse coming? Is there any hope? It is in the midst of the deep anguish of his soul and his questions that the answer comes to him.

“This I call to mind and therefore have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies are never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (vv.21-22). 

God had not abandoned them. His mercy triumphs over judgment. Jeremiah needs to silence his thoughts and set his heart on the merciful goodness of the Lord and wait upon Him. God will meet him.

Application:

What can you learn from Jeremiah’s response to the Lord as he stands in the midst of devastation that he himself had prophesied? What does this passage teach us about the mercy and faithfulness of God?

Is your church a place where, like Jeremiah, people can come and encounter the presence of the “God of Hope” (Rom 15:13) as they process their grief, their loss, and their questions, before Him?

Using the above passage of Scripture, how would you help a survivor come to grips with the nearness of God in the midst of their pain and loss? What other verses would you use to bring comfort?

Devotional #5 – When You Only Have A Drop In A Bucket

Scripture: John 6:1-14

Meditation:

One thing that seems common to all disaster scenarios is the need is always greater than the supply. When you stand in the midst of the ruined homes and over-turned vehicles with your mind reeling, not only at the amount of destruction, but wondering what to do first and where are you’re going get the money and resources to help all these people?

I think the disciples of Jesus felt the pressure of overwhelming need and lack of supply when Jesus, after a long day of teaching, asks Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” Jesus was referring to the 5000 people scattered across the hillside. Philip quickly does the math in his head and fires a figure back to Jesus that communicates, it’s not happening on our budget. Then Andrew points out, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.” Did he say that in faith or did he say it tongue-in-cheek, to add a little humor to Philip’s remarks? Evidently he received some castigating glances, because he quickly adds, “But what are they for so many?”

Just when they see the overwhelming need and the impossibility of human intervention, Jesus steps in with the solution. He uses the little boys lunch, which is a drop in a bucket compared to what they need, prays over it, and orders his disciples to begin to distribute it to the crowd. A miracle of food multiplication occurs as they freely give away the little they have.

Application:

This account is meant to be more than simply a historical record of Jesus’ miracles. It is meant to inspire the faith of Christ-followers through the centuries that encounter needs that are far beyond the ability of human wisdom and power. They are meant to be a platform for the display of God’s glory and His compassion for people.

Was the miracle dependent upon the faith of Philip or Andrew? The account makes it clear that Jesus already had a plan and he was using the situation to test them. How about the needs before you? The Lord already knows them and has a plan to meet them. Will you offer him your mere “drop in the bucket” and see what he will do with it?

Devotional #6 – Guided By His Eyes

Scripture: Psalm 32:8-9

Meditation:

I have a friend who grew up in church as a pastor’s son. He told us lots of funny stories about the escapades of he and his brothers during the church services. One statement I remember him saying in a number of stories was, “Man, my mom could pick us up and move us to the front pew with her eyes.” You know what he meant: his mom could give him “the look” and communicate through her eyes that he was doing wrong, he better stop right now, he needs to move to the front pew, because you are in trouble!

We’ve all experienced communication with others just by a glance of the eyes. Well, God promises to instruct us and teach us which direction to go with His eye upon us. Of course for Him to guide us that way means we need to be gazing at Him, watching His eyes. If we get focused on the circumstances or what others are doing too long we’ll miss His directions.

So we need to learn to glance at the problems and gaze on Him. The glance is momentary; it helps us stay aware of our surroundings. The gaze is lingering; it communicates not merely direction, but love, courage and affirmation.

Application:

In verse 9, the Lord gives an alterative method of leading us if we refuse to be guided by His eye upon us. How does the warning of verse 9 contrast with the promises of verse 8? What does it mean for God to have to lead us like a horse with a bit and a bridle? Can you remember times of being lead by God’s eye being upon you?

Devotional #7 – Remembering the Character of God in Crisis

Scripture: Joel 2:12-14

Meditation:

This passage of scripture is spoken in the context of a massive natural disaster that had depleted the food supply, crippled the economy, and caused incredible hardship and suffering for the people of Israel. The prophet Joel calls the people to assemble together to seek the Lord with all their hearts. He realizes that people may be reluctant to return to the Lord because they don’t understand why God would let something this devastating happen to them.

So when he issues his call to seek the Lord, he reminds them of the character and nature of the God they are in covenant with. He sites five aspects of God’s character as the basis of why they should gather and pray to Him:

1.God is gracious – He is not harsh and angry in His leadership. He understands our frailty
         and weakness and will make a way of deliverance for us.

2.God is merciful – He delights in showing mercy and His mercies are new every morning.

3.God is slow to anger – God is not easy provoked by our weakness. He takes no pleasure
         in the death of the wicked. He longs to forgive all who ask for forgiveness.

4.God is abounding in steadfast love – God is rich in kindness as we rend our hearts giving
         us confidence to press into His heart with full repentance.

5.God relents from doing harm – He desires to cancel the judgment that the nation deserves.

Application:

Even when we cannot explain to people why the disaster came and why God allowed it, we may still call them to seek the Lord based on the above five aspects of God’s character. God prefers to transform a would-be disaster zone into a revival center. He waits to see the response of His people.

How can you use this passage to encourage others to seek God rather than accuse Him and turn away from Him? When Joel says, “Who knows whether He will not turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him,” what does he mean? What response is the Lord looking for in His people? How can you help facilitate that response?