Comfort In BereavementSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: Our gracious Lord Jesus will have compassion on you when you are anguished in adverse situations. He will comfort you. He will make you a fruitful tree and a comfort to many broken-hearted people. Joseph's first bitter experience in life was a sad bereavement. When he was seventeen years old, he lost his beloved mother. His heart must have broken to smithereens. The Lord said "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1). The words used in original Hebrew version are "El-Shaddai". They mean that our Lord is One who is remarkably strong; Yet with His heart as tender and soft as that of a feeding mother toward her child. The Lord desired to comfort young Joseph who was bereaved of his mother. He spoke to him through dreams: "My son, be not dismayed that you do not have a mother. I shall raise you above the stars. I shall make the sun and moon and the stars bow down before you" (Genesis 37:5-10). God also gave him the power of interpreting dreams.
The Bible says that if one has with him 'the word of wisdom through the Spirit' and 'the word of knowledge through the same Spirit' there is no mystery which he cannot understand or unfold. The Lord was with Joseph as a beloved mother to him, and to cheer him up He gave him spiritual gifts. Even when he was in prison, and when one of Pharaoh's officers was confused by a dream he had, Joseph told him, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please." (Genesis 40:8)
Similarly, when the Pharaoh had been confused by a dream, Joseph interpreted it for him and turned his fear into joy (Genesis 41:16-67). The Pharaoh then said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" (Genesis 41:38). He also testified to Joseph, "In as much as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you" (Genesis 41:39).
My dear friend, if you want this blessing in your life, if you want joy and peace through these spiritual gifts operating in your life, ask the Lord and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31)
"Desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1)
The Bible says, "Ask, and it will be given to you for everyone who asks receives." (Luke 11:9-13)
Why not we too ask our Lord and receive them? Just two Gifts could raise Joseph to be the Prime Minister of Egypt.
We have all heard much about the saintly Sadhu Sunder Singh. It was his mother who led him to God. When she died, Sunder Singh lamented in great anguish. He even strayed into some evil ways. But Jesus, in His compassion for him, appeared to him in a vision and said, "My dear son, I am Jesus whom you are searching for." Sunder Singh's life was transformed on that day itself. Many elders who were privileged to see him have told me, "If you look at his face, the peace of God seen in it will comfort and cheer any broken heart." The divine gift of 'peace' (Galatians 5:2,28) had filled him to that extent.
Dear friend, perhaps you might have lost someone dear to you. Jesus knows very well the pain of separation. Even when He was hanging on the Cross in bitter pain, He was heart-broken at the sight of his mother. Pitying her, He told her, "Mother, there is My beloved disciple John. Accept him as your son and derive some comfort" (John 19:25-27). Even today, He will have compassion on you who may be anguished in similar situations. He will comfort you. He will make you a fruitful tree to be of comfort to many broken-hearted people.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
I come to Your throne of grace with all humility. Bless me with the gifts of the Holy Spirit just as You blessed Joseph. Lord, give me the wisdom to understand the sufferings of those who are undergoing various kinds of trials and tribulations. Help me to comfort them and to share in their sufferings. Make me like a tree that gives good fruits and make me useful to others. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |