Thursday, December 22
Psalm 62:5-6
In September, I had the privilege of traveling to Lebanon and Egypt with colleagues following the events of the Arab Spring. We heard from and prayed with pastors (from Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt) and visited Near East School of Theology, Hamli Hospital, Ramses College, the Egyptian Bible Society, and the Evangelical Christian Church of Heliopolis, sites that our denomination has had the joy of initiating and being highly engaged. It was a powerful and humbling experience to be asked to speak at the Heliopolis church on the tenth anniversary of September 11th.
Following the service, I met a remarkable woman who grabbed my arm, looked me square in the eye, and said, “When I read my daily devotions, it is not out of routine nor pious guilt. Rather, I read God’s Word daily because in the context of all that we are going through here, I am desperate for the encouragement, guidance, comfort, and challenge to remain steadfast that it offers.” This older woman, just over five feet tall, is standing courageously in the midst of a terrible storm, daily meeting with her Savior, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ our Lord. I was
deeply moved.
This Advent season, if your daily devotions need a kick start, then spend some time placing yourself in the context of our Middle Eastern Christian brothers and sisters, who long for time spent in God’s word as the deer pants for the water brook.
PRAYER
Gracious God, may we continue to grow in partnership and humbly bear witness to the powerful examples of faithfulness shared by those we meet along our journey. Amen.
Rev. Roger A Dermody, deputy executive Director for Mission, PC(USA)
Louisville, Kentucky