Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Rachel and I greatly appreciate your desire and commitment to pray for the prodigals and for revival. Please don’t give up!
It is very comforting to know that our God understands our humanity since he took on himself our nature.
Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every respect so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:17-18
Perhaps you know the story of Joseph Damien. I read about it in an article by Dr. Jim Dennison. In 1873, a Belgian named Mr. Damien went to minister to lepers who lived on a leper colony in Molokai, Hawaii. Despite all his efforts to establish friendships with the residents there, they rejected him. He built a little chapel and had regular services, but very few lepers attended.
Year after year, he worked, but finally after twelve long years, he decided that there wasn’t any point in continuing. He prepared to leave and was standing on the pier waiting to board his ship when he noticed the white spots on his hands; he had leprosy. So, instead of sailing home, he went back to the leper colony.
The news of his condition was soon known by the entire community, and hundreds of lepers came to support him, sharing in his pain and sorrow. The next Sunday, Joseph Damien’s chapel was filled to overflowing with lepers who had come to hear him preach. This was the beginning of his long and fruitful ministry.
What made the difference? The lepers understood that this man understood their condition. They knew that he cared about them, that he could identify with them, that he was one of them. Our verse reminds us that our God became one with us by taking on humanity, and because of this, He is a merciful, compassionate high priest. While remaining sinless and holy, He entered our world of pain and experienced the fullness of our suffering on every level.
As we seek His face today, let’s pray with the confidence that He really understands and cares for us.
Lovingly in Christ,
Bryan and Rachel
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