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Terrible Danger of a Blessing
A gentle caress, the whisper in your ear, a feeling - to awaken refreshed… To know that you are ready to face any trouble… To know there is no cost too great for your immediate accounting to be compromised… Is it only physical? Is that what serenity feels like? Is it just our senses that give us the feeling of ease? Or, is it that to many, this is only a “first world blessing” anyway, and unobtainable? Have our lack of challenges and loss of struggle made us lose touch? Because of our blessings, have we become desensitized to love?
When we read the Bible, do we REALLY understand? Growing up in the church, many of us may not have seen any other way. We always “knew” to read the Bible first. If the world was unfair, our parents would be there to offer a diplomatic Christian resolution, and we would find peace. Yet, for many, living in a world full of experts offering arbitrary “proven” advice, they may wander. Many are left, continually searching, sometimes frustratingly for an easier path, but in the end still find time wasted. Perhaps daily struggles of need warp one’s perspective. Does our own lack of discipline prevent us from the TRUE walk of our Lord?
Psalm 37:23-24: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
Self-consciously, assailed by doubt, do we release our grip from His surety? Escaping conceit, can we acknowledge His will is complete and our own lacking? While intelligence is measured from our first days of life, the Word speaks of eternal knowledge too uplifting to be confined to this world. Academic details are temporary, but when our time is past, so too will be our answers. We seek quick and easy understandings. But, those that ponder can revel in the greater understanding. Do we fill our time in fruitless mental pursuits, or do we value these moments that nourish our core? Even when tested, chased, and hated can we find the comfort of our Father?
Psalm 19:7-10: “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”
Do we seek the sweetness of His love? Do we even hesitate when it can fall from our lips? Do we take our worldly gifts as things we’re owed? While the sweat escapes from our pores and our brains strain in the heat, do we even take the time to thank our God for these sensations? When we have hands and a competent body, how do we use them? We have a brain to conceptualize harmony of earthly success. But as a proud creation, does our arrogance prevent us from glorifying Him in even the most minimal of roles?
Job 12:7-10: “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”
He is from the beginning. The desire for companionship He has never withheld. Though we find disobedience, He lovingly tolerates and corrects. With foresight, He joyfully promises. With disappointment, He has wept at our unbelief. With understanding, He suffers our ignorance, our hesitance, our trial. Through it all, though we endlessly question, our Lord feels, expresses, and receives with emotion. And always, He is ready to offer that salve of wisdom for the pains of our life. Though suffering trials, feeling life is unfair, do we receive this love that brings restoration?
Isaiah 38:16-17 “The Lord Most High is the one who gives life to every heart, who gives life to the spirit! Look, he indeed exchanged my bitterness for wholeness. You yourself have spared my whole being from the pit of destruction, because you have cast all my sins behind your back.”
When we have hit the lowest depths, do we reach out? Does vanity isolate us from remorse? Though so easy to cast aside, we must reflect. While living an existence in “good order,” do we consider all? True, we can never assume responsibility for the choices of others. But, if we play a role in others’ acting on misguided knowledge, in what part did we play the part of “savior?” He has promised, it will be worth it. And, we have a perfect example, one willing to face the ultimate burden. God sacrifices by moving beyond Himself. At the very least, should we be taking our own small steps that bring our brother to unity.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The words that we utter are meaningful. The actions we offer are felt. But the love we extend can grow... and with it the family of God. I pray we make our days noteworthy.
