05 DECEMBER

THE OAK OF WEEPING

“Rebecca’s nurse Deborah died and

was buried beneath the oak south of Bethel.

So it was named Oak of Weeping.”

(Genesis 35:8, GNT)

Deborah was a nurse or maid servant given to Rebekah by her father when she got married to Isaac. Just as the meaning of her name, Bee, she was an industrious and diligent nurse.

It is very painful to lose a loved one, especially a relation. Deborah lived to a ripe old age of about 100 years but in spite of that she was buried with intense weeping and a sense of deep loss from the family she had committed her life to serving and caring for devotedly and faithfully.

 Even though attitude is more important than industry, Deborah exhibited excellence in both. She was probably never married but spent her whole life in service. She was not one to serve with grumbling and self-indulgent attitude to the difficulties and sacrifices of service. Through her faith in God and the grace of God upon her life, she transformed the bonds of servant-hood to joys of love, to God’s glory.

Whatever our hands find to do, we must do to the best of our ability, with joy, an attitude of thanksgiving and faith in God that He will vindicate us and work out His purpose in our lives. We should do our work with dignity, leaving good memories of the grace, truth and light of God.

ACTION: Ponder on the legacies you are leaving behind in your various areas of service.

PRAYER: Oh Lord, make me devoted to your service and the service of others to glorify your name. Amen.