Abandonment can rear its head in a number of ways. It can be experienced in grade school when you are the last one picked for the kickball game. It can show up for an executive in the corporate world who may find his “friends” in the workplace abandon him when he leaves the company. It certainly defines the first several years of a Chinese girl’s life after she was left on a train by her parents. Merriam-Webster defines abandoned as: left without needed protection, or care; given up, forsaken. Have you experienced abandonment physically, emotionally or spiritually?
Abandoned is a word that is tied to one side of Easter – Many followers abandoned Jesus when His teachings challenged them; Judas abandoned the disciples as he betrayed Jesus; Jesus was abandoned by His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane as they failed to stay awake; Most of the disciples abandoned Jesus after His arrest fearing they would be arrested as well; Jesus was abandoned or forsaken on the cross; and, All the disciples felt abandoned and went into hiding after Jesus’ death.
Abandoned Not: “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” – John 20:17. Abandoned and being brought Home by the Father. For Jesus to put death to the sin of man, His Father had to let go. For the disciples to embrace a life as “brothers”, they had to let go of their worldly perspective. Instead of a new kingdom that would conquer the Romans, they were to accept a Kingdom role in loving the Romans. Peter said, “I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.” (1Peter 2:11-12). Disciples today are to let go of worldly influences and embrace adoption into the Kingdom, to become brothers and sisters in Christ.
Abandoned not – He is risen! On this side of Easter, Christians embrace the power of the resurrected Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be His Light to a whole new level where He has us – individually as we live out a personal and passionate relationship with Him in marriage and family; and, corporately we are to reflect the Light of His Church in every situation, decision or discussion He puts before us.
Prayer guide: Lord, too often the noise of this world can be overwhelming. The shadows creep in and work to stifle the Light of my life. The enemy endeavors to isolate me and make me feel abandoned. But I am abandoned not! In the name of Jesus the Christ and the power granted through Your resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I rebuke the noise, the shadows and the darkness in this world. Help me individually, and the Church corporately to be Your Light to a whole new level, to blast through the shadows that pervade in this world. Amen.
A faithful father is abandoned not, but is His Light in marriage, family and beyond.
