Everlasting Father: Loves and Nurtures
Luke 7:11-17 (emphasis added)
Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman’s only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, “Don’t cry.” Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, “Young man, I tell you: Get up.” The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother. They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, “God is back, looking to the needs of his people!” The news of Jesus spread all through the country.
Psalm 131
My heart is not proud, LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.
In Psalm 131 the image is of a child who is no longer tied to his mother purely for sustenance, but is content to be quietly in his mother’s arms – to be near her and with her in a close relationship. Take a few moments to sit quietly in the contentment and care of God.
Questions for Reflection:
- In what ways do you see God’s nurture and love for the widow and her son in
- Luke 7 above?
- In what ways do you see his nurture and love for the disciples?
- Where do you need the Father’s nurture (the process of caring for and encouraging growth) in your life today?
- How can you imitate aspects of the Father’s nurturing in the lives of those around you?
