But It Hurts!
There was a child that cut their finger and came running in to their mother crying. With sincere concern the mother consoled the child; "oh, what's the matter Johnny. Let me take a look at that. Are you ok? It's ah'right, it's ah'right. How did it happen? Oh, you'll be ok. It's just a little cut. Come over here to the sink and we'll wash it off and get you cleaned right up.".
But the child could hardly be consoled. The cut was such a devastating thing to the child even though the mother knew it was small. But to the child it was a breach in the very layer of their life. It was a penetration into the body that held who they were. Well, perhaps a child doesn't think about it that deeply but this stands as best as can be told to describe the trauma that such a little cut is to such a little child.
As adults we know so much more than children. Because we've lived through so much, we've been wounded so many times, we've experienced pain, and the healing that always comes after that pain. At least in small matters. Some of us have experienced larger matters and so we have an even broader more experienced understanding of pain and healing.
And then there is God. God understands more than we could possibly understand. To us, a small scratch is nothing now that we are older. And to God, life and death is nothing; they are but small cuts. He has consoled us by sending us a way of eternal life. But instead of accepting that way, we question it. We deny the truth for the excuse of "interpretation". When we hear several dozen men and women saying that this group is wrong or this group has the wrong idea, we use that as a way to excuse the consolation that God has given us.
We say to ourselves "If so many smart people can't agree, then there must only be interpretations." But that little voice is telling you that there is no interpretation, and that little voice is telling you what to do. "If that's true." you say, "then what is the truth that the quiet little voice is telling me?". To that all I can tell you is what the quiet little voice has told me. If you tell me that you don't understand, then that's ok. There are plenty of times that I don't understand as well. But you must strive to understand, this is too important of a matter. And God will give you the answer that you are looking for; eventually. However if you tell me that I am wrong then I already know that you are listening to the wrong voice. Because God's Spirit does not lead us to accuse anyone.
There 'are' two voices that are battling it out inside of us. Quite often there is one that is pointing fingers, getting angry, and accusing others. But there is another voice that is forgiving others, blaming itself, and taking responsible for every action that the body has done, and every thought the mind has had. For the blame, there is a simple solution. A solution of Grace, a payment for the wrong that has already been made. And all that has to be done is a sincere acceptance of that payment. A gift, an acceptance that if focused on every day will lead to a heart that is grateful. Then and only then is the blame shifted to what it should be.
But the moment that you consider a thought that says so and so has done such and such to me, then you can no longer consider the thought of the gift that has so unconditionally been given to you.
Life and death, freedom and pain, joy and sadness. Do not be fooled. God is the master of both of them. The fool says that he is suffering because the devil is doing this to him. The wise man endures hardship as discipline (1) . It is good to know that pain and hardship are good. No one who listens to the Spirit of God can blame any other man, woman, 'or' spirit for their suffering. Contrary to blame, the man with the Spirit of God considers it a joy when he suffers. (2) And it is good to be "at the end of your rope" (3)
(1) Heb 12:7
(2) James 1:2-4
(3) 2 Cor 12:9
But the child could hardly be consoled. The cut was such a devastating thing to the child even though the mother knew it was small. But to the child it was a breach in the very layer of their life. It was a penetration into the body that held who they were. Well, perhaps a child doesn't think about it that deeply but this stands as best as can be told to describe the trauma that such a little cut is to such a little child.
As adults we know so much more than children. Because we've lived through so much, we've been wounded so many times, we've experienced pain, and the healing that always comes after that pain. At least in small matters. Some of us have experienced larger matters and so we have an even broader more experienced understanding of pain and healing.
And then there is God. God understands more than we could possibly understand. To us, a small scratch is nothing now that we are older. And to God, life and death is nothing; they are but small cuts. He has consoled us by sending us a way of eternal life. But instead of accepting that way, we question it. We deny the truth for the excuse of "interpretation". When we hear several dozen men and women saying that this group is wrong or this group has the wrong idea, we use that as a way to excuse the consolation that God has given us.
We say to ourselves "If so many smart people can't agree, then there must only be interpretations." But that little voice is telling you that there is no interpretation, and that little voice is telling you what to do. "If that's true." you say, "then what is the truth that the quiet little voice is telling me?". To that all I can tell you is what the quiet little voice has told me. If you tell me that you don't understand, then that's ok. There are plenty of times that I don't understand as well. But you must strive to understand, this is too important of a matter. And God will give you the answer that you are looking for; eventually. However if you tell me that I am wrong then I already know that you are listening to the wrong voice. Because God's Spirit does not lead us to accuse anyone.
There 'are' two voices that are battling it out inside of us. Quite often there is one that is pointing fingers, getting angry, and accusing others. But there is another voice that is forgiving others, blaming itself, and taking responsible for every action that the body has done, and every thought the mind has had. For the blame, there is a simple solution. A solution of Grace, a payment for the wrong that has already been made. And all that has to be done is a sincere acceptance of that payment. A gift, an acceptance that if focused on every day will lead to a heart that is grateful. Then and only then is the blame shifted to what it should be.
But the moment that you consider a thought that says so and so has done such and such to me, then you can no longer consider the thought of the gift that has so unconditionally been given to you.
Life and death, freedom and pain, joy and sadness. Do not be fooled. God is the master of both of them. The fool says that he is suffering because the devil is doing this to him. The wise man endures hardship as discipline (1) . It is good to know that pain and hardship are good. No one who listens to the Spirit of God can blame any other man, woman, 'or' spirit for their suffering. Contrary to blame, the man with the Spirit of God considers it a joy when he suffers. (2) And it is good to be "at the end of your rope" (3)
(1) Heb 12:7
(2) James 1:2-4
(3) 2 Cor 12:9
posted by Timothy at 5/10/2006 06:42:00 AM
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