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Devotional for Day 8, March 12, 2014
Rev. Rob Schenck, President, Faith and Action
Intention: We pray for a renewal of our zeal to of- fer generous help to the unborn and their families.
Scripture: If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant when they com- plained against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? —Job 31:13-15
Reflection: The ground is level as we stand before God. Job lived with an awe provoking sense of God’s expectation of him, particular- ly regarding his obligation to care for the weak and needy. He knew that in God’s economy everyone stands on level ground when it comes to our sta- tus as God’s creatures. Because of that central truth, we must take care of each other. Job also knew that he didn’t deserve any of the good things God gave to him. Instead, those blessings came to Job from God’s benevolent heart.
As an extension of that knowledge, Job instinctively linked his obligation to be generous to others to God’s kindness toward him. As in Jesus’ parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:23-35), Job knew that it is an egregious sin to deny to others what we enjoy ourselves. He actually calls down on his own head severe condemnation and even punishment should he fail to share with others out of his own abundance (see verses 16-23). Proverbs 3:27 reads, “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so.” Some things are so obvious that we don’t even need to pray except to ask of God forgiveness and the power to do what so obviously needs doing.
Prayer: God, forgive us when we try to explain away the obligation we have to help others who need help. Enable us to not devalue them because they are in the circumstance that they are in, but to see them for what they are, those, who like us, were formed by your hand in their mother’s womb. Amen.
It’s cold in many 40 Days for Life locations during this second week of the campaign! But that’s not stopping the prayers outside one really cold Planned Parenthood center.
Before I share that story, here is a beautiful report about a saved baby that shows the power of prayer on the sidewalks … and the value of easily available ultrasounds offered by pro-life pregnancy centers.
Baltimore / Fullerton, Maryland
The third 40 Days for Life campaign is now under way outside Whole Women’s Health in Baltimore’s Fullerton section. Jody, the local director, wrote to say she was excited to share magnificent news.
“A baby’s life was saved,” she said, “thanks to the faithful, prayerful presence on the sidewalk!”
A young woman and her friend had arrived at the abortion center — and walked past the people quietly praying on the sidewalk. After a while, the two women came out to talk. The one who was thinking about abortion said the atmosphere inside the building was cold.
Her friend pointed to the life-affirming signs the volunteers were carrying and noted, “You can’t ignore that.”
With that, the two women left — on their way to a pro-life pregnancy center for an ultrasound exam. “I know that you are praising God with us right now,” Jody said.
Spring Valley, New York
“What joy there is in freezing for life!” Those words came from Eileen in Spring Valley, who added that “prayer power is surrounding Planned Parenthood.”
Temperatures were in the single digits as Spring Valley started its twelfth campaign, but prayer vigil participants were able to “stand tall knowing the truth: life is precious and each one of us is called to defend and protect the most innocent among us.”
The volunteers were warmed by God’s promise of protection in Psalm 91 — that God, in whom we trust, will be our refuge and our fortress.
El Paso, Texas
Volunteers arrived Saturday for what they thought would be a heart-wrenching day on the sidewalk, but there was unexpected good news — there would be no abortions that day!
But Gaby in El Paso says there was still non-stop prayer at the 40 Days for Life vigil. “Knights on Bikes showed up,” she said. These Knights of Columbus “prayed with all their hearts to end abortion.”