The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Saturday
February 16, 2008
The wise are known for their understanding, and instruction is appreciated if it's well presented. Proverbs 16:21
There is something precious and sacred about being understood. Few things are more encouraging than talking with someone who understands us. When we find someone who truly understands us ¾ we want to spend more time with them. Such is the way with the Lord.
God wants us to understand Him; to trust His ways and walk in them. In order for this to happen we will need to spend time alone with Him in His Word receiving instruction. Just before Jesus sent out the twelve to do ministry without Him, He instructed them intensively. Matthew 10:1 says, "Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness."
Reading the entire chapter of Matthew 10 is an eye opener. Jesus didn't prepare his disciples for fluff and fun, He prepared them for persecution and rejection, and gave them explicit instructions on how to deal with each hurdle. He does the same for us.
Most people will not understand God's way of working in our lives. Yet, those who have been through the refiner's fire will. When we present the message of hope to hurting people by allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, His mercy and grace grants them understanding. They begin to see the light of love and their harden hearts are softened.
Oswald Chambers' writes, "Jesus doesn't take us aside and explain things to us all the time. He explains things to us as we are able to understand them . . . We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character." I have often heard that, "reputation is who people think we are, but character is who we are when we are alone with God." We must have understanding of ourselves before we are emptied enough to share Him.
When we receive God's discipline and instruction with humility, He reshapes our character into His. We show mercy because mercy was shown to us. We give people time because God gives us time. We speak the truth in love because God speaks His truth to us in love. We then sing: "I love you with the love of the Lord. Yes, I love you with the love of the Lord. I can see in you the glory of my King, and I love you with the love of the Lord." His love is patient and kind ¾ never puffed up.
Jesus could have claimed the rights of the Kingdom, but He chose to walk as a servant ¾ will you?
