BIND USSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: Let us remember all those who are bound or are in captivity. Remember those who are bound or are in captivity. (Hebrews 13:3) The reason as to why you should remember such people is that the same captivity may also come to you. St. Paul writes remember, “ I have done much for you; but now I am in jail bound in chains. I am unable to preach the gospel being a prisoner in Rome” (Colossians 4:18)
My Friend, all of us are one body because we partake by breaking the same bread and drinking of the blood of Jesus Christ in the Holy Communion. (1 Corinthians 10:17).
During my visit to Iraq, I stayed in a Muslim friend’s home. A group of people warmly received me. At lunch-time, the members of that family sat down together.
Food was served in a single bowl and water in a single mug. It was an embarrassing sight when I found that all the members ate from a same bowl and drank water from the same mug that was being passed around. The members of that family had such love for one and another and they also inducted the same to me. I was not an alien but a member of that family.
When one member of the body of Christ suffers then we must consider it as our own problem (1 Corinthians 10:17).
Several years ago, the following episode was published in the Reader’s Digest. “In a particular city in the United States of America the evening church service was being conducted. The pastor stepped on the podium to preach. Suddenly his eyes fell on a particular family, a woman along with her children seated in the front and his heart broke within him. We need pastors who have such virtues. For several months, her husband - the head of that family was lying in coma stage in a hospital. There may be ten thousand preachers and teachers telling us what to do. But it is only the heart of a pastor that takes the burden of the people in his fold and makes it known to the Father (1 Corinthians 4:15). He prayed, ‘Lord! Please deliver them.’ When the pastor, (the Levite) pray, their supplications go straight to the throne of God. This is the difference between the prayers offered by a pastor and that of others for you.
Before beginning to preach, the pastor announced, ‘Let us unite our hearts together for our beloved brother who is in the hospital in coma stage for several months and then hear God’s Word.’ Then he uttered a child like prayer somewhat like this: “Lord please come with us to this hospital to such and such a ward number and room number 503. Here is our beloved brother lying down in the bed for several months. I cannot bear to see the agony of his dear wife and children. Hiding all their agony they are seated in Your house. (Church) Master! Please be moved with compassion and heal him’ (James 5:11).
Then the sermon and benediction was pronounced. Immediately on reaching the vestry, the pastor received a phone call. He picked the receiver and the man at the other end said, ‘This is from room number 503, in this particular ward at such and such a hospital.’ The pastor asked, ‘What is the matter?’ His first impulse had been, ‘Could it be that our beloved brother had breathed his last?’ On the contrary, the man who gave the information said, ‘We do not know as to how and in what manner this had happened. But the man in this ward who had been in coma for several months is sitting in his bed and enquires about his wife and children. We understand that they are in the church. Could you please let them know of this matter.’ The pastor although bewildered, out of curiosity asked, ‘When did he recover?’ The man said, ‘At 7:32’ It was exactly at that time the pastor had said, ‘Lord! Please heal him.’ Honouring the words of the pastor, the Master had healed him. Hallelujah.
We are bound together and therefore would also rejoice together because we are one in the body of Christ. Hence let us remember all those who are bound or are in captivity.
Prayer
Loving Lord,
Help me to remember those who are in captivity. May I stretch forth my hands to my fellowmen who are in need acknowledging the fact that they are one in the body of Christ. Enable us to carry one another’s burden making it disappear by sending their supplications to you and thereby fulfill the commandment that you have entrusted to us this day. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. |