Anchor Devotional

See this and other editions of the Anchor Devotional online.

If someone forwarded this email to you, subscribe for yourself by signing up here.

Celebrate the Tears

“They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them the most was his statement that they would never see his face again.” Acts 20:37-38

My sister lives in a skilled nursing center in another state, and I hadn’t seen her in person for over three years. My present circumstances prevent me from making the trip to visit her, but we connected by way of FaceTime. How sweet the fellowship was! When she fretted about my tears, her daughter-in-law assured her that they were only tears of love.

Paul experienced this, too, with his dear friends in Ephesus. His spiritual children—brothers and sisters in Christ—meant a great deal to him. He’d shared not only the gospel with them, but also his life. This bond that stemmed from God’s love carried deep emotions expressed in words and tears. Paul’s history of hatred and violence was behind him. His tender heart, softened by knowing and walking with Jesus, was evident. We note this in other passages too (primarily Romans 16, but also in his epistles). He pours out personal comments to many he cherishes.

Our heavenly Father regards every tear we shed. He knows our sorrows and comforts us—often in this life, and most assuredly in the next.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Acts 20:25-38

INSIGHT
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Psalm 56:8,NLT)

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Song of Solomon 5-6
Psalm 71
John 11

Sign up to get the Know the Bible free email lesson series from Bible Gateway.