Your daily devotional
"TAKE YE AWAY THE STONE!"
By: Leonardo Balberan, Jr.
Jesus said,"Move the stone away." John 11:39
After my father retired in 1981 from Cagayan Valley Sanitarium and Hospital where he worked as a medical aid, he ministered among the natives in the mountainous town of Quirino and Viscaya. The skills he learned in the hospital were vital in his service to the people. They opened the way for him to introduce Jesus as the Greatest Healer.
To build good rapport, Papa had to know their language and understand their beliefs. and in his daily contact with them, he slowly yet surely changed their perceptions regarding the exitence of God. "Their traditions and beliefs are like a big stone that blocked their way to Jesus," he said.
"But isn't it wrong for them to leave their traditions?" I reasoned with him.
"Son, its good to remove barriersto see Jesus clearly. Jesus resurrected Lazarus by strong word of command, 'Move the stone away...' He gave them permission to remove the stone for the sake of life. Lazarus was greatly favored to immediately witness the face of Jesus after being resurrected," he explained.
Nowadays, there are many things that tend to block my sight from seeing Jesus clearly. Sometimes I even lose sight of him. Whenever this happens, three words flash in my mind; Remove the barrier.
I always want to have a clear view of Jesus, and I thank Papa for the advise. Now I know what to do.
