James 4:12 "But you-who are you to judge your neighbor?" NIV
Following the tragic deaths of their four daughters on the Ville du Havre,
Horatio and Anna Spafford were blessed with two other children, Horatio Goertner
Spafford and Bertha Hedges Spafford. Once again the Spafford home rang of the
cooing and ahhing of little children. How blessed the parents felt, and how
carefully they cared for their new little ones.
When Horatio Jr. Was four and Bertha two, they went with their mother to visit
some relatives while their father was away on business. A few days into his
trip, Horatio Sr. Received a telegram at his hotel. As soon as he had read it,
he checked out of the hotel and headed for the nearest train station. The news?
Both of his children had contracted scarlet fever!
Once back home, Horatio Sr. Was happy to hear from the doctors that little
Bertha was doing better. Unfortunately, however, Horatio Jr. Was struggling to
stay alive. He could hardly breathe and the medication wasn't helping. Both Anna
and Horatio Sr. Were holding his hands when, from his nursery bed, he breathed
his last. Devastation had once again struck the Spafford home.
Hardly anyone attended the funeral. Besides having to take care of her
bed-ridden daughter, Anna was too grief-stricken to attend. "How selfish for a
mother not to attend her own son's funeral," was the comment most-often directed
her way. Horatio, who conducted the ceremony himself, took criticism as well:
"How unfeeling for a dad to conduct his own son's funeral," they said. But worse
yet, many were also saying, "if the Spaffords were truly Christians, God would
not have permitted the death of most of their children."
After the funeral, a good friend and fellow church member with his wife joined
the Spaffords at their home. "We want to adopt your daughter," they announced.
"You want to do what?" Cried Horatio in horror.
"Think about what is best for her!" They insisted. "You only have one child left
out of six! Let us adopt her and give her a chance!"
Anna and Horatio were so confounded by this suggestions that they couldn't speak
for a few moments. Then, with a voice filled with emotion Horatio uttered:
"Please leave. Please leave now."
"Pray about it." Their so-called friend suggested.
Attending church was even more horrifying. They overheard someone say: "They
must be terrible sinners to have five of their children die!" These words were
received like a deathblow, hurting them even deeper that the catastrophe they
had just experienced. In the time that they needed comfort from their own church
family, they were confronted by glares and accusations.
This didn't stop them from worshipping their Heavenly Father, however, and
continuing to have a close relationship with the One who made the real
difference in their lives. Unlike their fellow human beings, He comforted them.
Nothing would make them wander away from a God like that, not even their own
church members!
Jesus had to confront the same mentality in His days: Matt 27:40 "You who are
going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down
from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" NIV John 9:2 "His disciples asked
him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" NIV
Job, too faced the same accusations, as well as many other saints throughout the
Bible. Why is it that we love to accuse and condemn? Why are we not more eager
to love like Jesus did and share the Good News that brings hope and salvation to
anyone who believes? Where are we when someone needs comfort? Where are we when
someone needs help? Where are the true Christians who follow Jesus' command:
John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so
you must love one another." NIV Who are we to change this command into "Judge
one another and make sure to put anyone around you down." Who are we truly
serving?
"Please help me!"
How will you respond next time YOU hear this cry?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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