“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

 

Mark 5: 19

King James Version

 

When I answered the call of God on my life to be a missionary in 1998, I told my pastor about my decision.  I told him that I wasn’t sure if God was calling me to be a home missionary or a foreign missionary.  My pastor was so wise.  He told me to wait for God to speak to my heart about what He wanted me to do.  My pastor also told me to start serving Jesus right away.  So I began telling people about my precious Saviour and His unconditional love for them.

 

It wasn’t until January 24, 2005 that God spoke to my heart and gave me the mission assignment.  He said that He did not want me to be a foreign missionary.  He said “I want you to be a home missionary.  Go to your family and friends and tell them what I did for you and tell them how much I love them.”  Later that day while reading my Bible, one of the Scripture references for the chapter I was reading was our Scripture verse for today. 

 

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”  Many people have asked me if it is difficult for me to share my personal life in my devotions.  The answer to that question is, yes, it is very difficult but this is the mission that God has given me and I will do anything for Him as He has done everything for me. 

 

On the day that God told me that He wanted me to be a home missionary, He also gave me the privilege and entrusted me with the ministries of encouraging pastors and writing devotions.  I was only writing devotions occasionally but one day I received an email from a pastor who said “My prayer is that one day these devotions will become a daily devotional ministry.”  The pastor sent me an email several times a week with the same prayer until one day God spoke to my heart and told me to start writing devotions daily.  I told God that I was willing to do it but He would have to help me. 

 

If you have been receiving my devotions for a while, then you know that I experienced a devastating crippling depression for over forty years.  There was not one day that went by that I did not try to think of a way to kill myself.  I really didn’t want to die but I could not take the emotional pain any longer.  Thank God that He stopped me from taking my life several times.  He knew that one day I would serve Him.

 

On the worse day of my life, the day that I was determined to commit suicide; my precious Saviour came to me, lifted me up, put His tender compassionate arms around me and sat me on His lap of love and He told me that He loved me.  That was the first time that anyone had ever told me that I was loved. 

 

That wonderful day was August 14, 1980, the day that I asked Him to forgive me for my sins and come into my heart to be my personal Saviour.  I have never been the same since that day.  Yes, I do have heartaches and problems and face challenging and difficult situations just like everybody else does but I know that the Saviour of the world loves me unconditionally and that is all that I need.  Jesus is more than enough for every heartache and for every problem.  He is all that we need to face tomorrow. 

 

What a precious Saviour, companion and friend is He, this tender understanding and compassionate Jesus of Nazareth!  No matter what kind of pain you are experiencing, physical or emotional, Jesus is the answer.  He is the only one who can remove the pain that is hidden deep in our hearts and replace it with His peace, His comfort and His understanding.  Reach out to Jesus today.  He is waiting for you with open arms and a heart full of compassion, tenderness and unconditional love.

 

Joanne Lowe

July 5, 2008