I’m old enough that I watched the Beatles debut on the “Ed Sullivan Show”. My older sister actually lost her mind. She was on the phone with her best friend and they were crazy people. However, it was then that I became a fan of the Beatles’ music; not necessarily of the individuals. Nevertheless, their music gave a voice to good things and the problems young people were facing. For me, this was especially true with John Lennon’s self-referencing song “Help!”.
The opening stanza says:
Help! I need somebody.
Help! Not just anybody.
Help! You know I need someone. Help!
We’ve all felt that way at one time or another. I fact, you may be feeling that right now. No doubt the prophet Jeremiah wanted to yell for help when he realized what God was asking of him. So, God said to him, “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” (Jeremiah 1:19)
Now that we are on the other side of the Cross, the good news is that Jesus didn’t leave us as orphans in this world. (John 14:18). We’re not down and out like B.B. King sang, “Even the air I breathe is used.”
For Christians, Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. (John 14:15-18) So, when we cry out, “Help! You know I need someone.”, God is right there with us but we do need to ask. We need to pray continually.
We are not orphans in this world. (John 14:18) and Jesus is our mediator with God (1 Timothy 2:5). He intercedes on our behalf to God the Father, and we have God the Father, “Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.”(Nicene Creed) caring for us. This is why, instead of yelling, “help! I need someone,” we can sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God, Almighty
Early in the morning, our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty
God in three persons,blessed Trinity
God Almighty is our hope and our Deliverer. So, today, I pray:
Father God, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible, in the name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus, my Lord, and my Redeemer, I thank you that your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) and I am not without help “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7). Therefore, I ask now, that you would extend your mercies and grace to the people and their families that join me in these devotionals as we take time to learn from You and to be changed, advanced in our relationship with you, our God. Amen.