Devotion for Today: Devotion for Today "For Whom the Bells Toll"

Monday, September 17, 2007

Devotion for Today "For Whom the Bells Toll"

Lamentations 2:11   (from 14 Sept ’01)

"My eyes fail with tears, my heart is troubled; my bile is poured out

on the ground because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.,

because the children and the infants faint in the streets of the city."

Yesterday my wife and I ventured out from the confines of our home

to visit with church members.  Our hearts are still heavy after this

horrible series of incidents in the United States and we are still

in a great deal of grief.  Yet as we approached the military community

of Gelnhausen, my eyes flooded with tears as I watched German nationals

getting out by the carload and carrying flowers, candles, and gifts to

lay at the front gate of the compound.  In my ears, were the ringing

of church bells throughout the city in memory of the thousands of

people- many citizens of other nations-including Germany.  It reminded

me of the somber words of Ernest Hemmingway: "You may ask, 'for whom

the bell tolls...It tolls for thee."

Stirring in my heart was the resounding ring of God saying to me, "I am still in

control, I am still on My throne!"  But the affection and outpouring of

love from the German people has been wonderful.  There may have been

times when the two cultures clash and get on one another's nerves, but

a situation like this demonstrates who stands with you and who does not.

May God bless the German people, and other peoples of the world-even peoples

of the Arab and Muslim world, who have stood with my country in deep

consulation and have loved us in our time of grief.

As others stand with you in this time of tragedy and grief, may you

also draw from the Lord His strength to stand with others who are in

similiar need.  Have a blessed day.

Rev. Jeffery C. Russell
Salem Baptist Church
Elizabeth City, NC
jefferyrussell@embarqmail.com

jcrussell@liberty.edu

Devotion for Today