Are You Lonesome Tonight?
As we move into short days and long nights, it becomes easier to feel discouraged. If we are increasingly secluded (by weather and, this year, by governmental edict), we can experience genuine loneliness. I enjoy being alone, but I have a choice in the matter; others do not. Solitude occurs when we want to be alone; loneliness happens when friends and family are taken from us. Solitude soothes, whereas loneliness looms. Because God knows all about us, His Word speaks to us about the painful subject of loneliness. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Years ago I preached a sermon from Mark 1:40-45, using the first person: I spoke the message from the perspective of the leper. I remember (without even looking it up!) one of my points: “He touched me! Jesus touched me!” To touch a leper was to become ceremonially unclean (unable to worship at the Temple) and to risk infection of this dreaded wasting disease. However, Jesus was unaffected by these concerns because He, being fully God, healed this man. It is compelling that Jesus actually laid His hand on this lonely leper, who had not been touched by another person since he had been diagnosed. Jesus understood that this man needed healing in all areas of his life – including physical, spiritual, and emotional. Jesus could have healed from a distance, as He did in Matthew 8:5-13. However, He did more for this solitary soul because he needed human interaction. We have a bit of insight into the lonely limitations of social distancing; it will be good to return to a hearty handshake or a heartfelt hug. As we wait, we can be certain that Jesus understands firsthand about our need for each other.