August 17: Jeremiah 23-25; John 19

Scripture: John 19:26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,”
27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

Observation: Ed Cole taught that a man takes responsibility not only for himself, but also for others. Earlier in this chapter after enduring the Roman whipping Pilate had introduced Jesus as “the man.” (Verse 5.) Here Jesus, during the intense suffering of the cross, takes responsibility for his mother. He sets aside His pain to provide care for His mother.

Application: There are times when the pressure of life and the pain of the circumstances have an iron grip on my thoughts. Maturity brings me to a level where I can control my thoughts instead of letting them control me. Maturity helps me set aside that which is screaming for attention and applying my thoughts to more important matters.

Prayer: Lord, you hold me responsible as a man, to reach out and care for those around me. Make me an instrument of your love. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!