March 2, 2018 Friday

“I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.” (Psalm 22:14-22 NKJV)

            Have you ever had the poor me’s?  Have you ever cried out God didn’t understand what you were going through?  Have you ever lied?  If you answered no to either of the first two questions than you are guilty of the third!

            Isn’t it amazing that if you want to understand the suffering of Jesus you must look in the Psalms rather than in the Gospels!  Here we have an amazing description of the suffering of Jesus presented from His own heart!

            Take time to list the many ways Jesus suffered and then write down how they affect you.  How do the sufferings of Jesus affect the suffering, loss and pain you go through?  Do these sufferings help you face your suffering?

            Isn’t it amazing God would come and suffer in your place?  All of our sin, suffering, sickness and pain were borne by Jesus through the suffering and loss He went through.  Jesus died for those who have been hurt by others and even more amazing for those who hurt others, even Himself!

            For those who even now suffer for their faith: being beheaded and having their children stolen to be sexual slaves by ISIS, paying high taxes in Islamic countries to not be killed for their faith, being held as prisoners in China and forced to work as slave labor in factories and so many other horrific persecutions.  The Voice of the Martyrs shows the depth of faith of those who suffer in the name of the One who suffered for them.

             An amazing picture of faith is of the men kneeling as they prepare to be beheaded.  You may be tempted to think ISIS won but those who were beheaded won because they showed the power of faith even as they offered themselves for the God who offered Himself for them!  Through the suffering of Jesus we call those who die for their faith martyrs’ and not those who kill others!

            We might be tempted to blame the Romans or the Jews but if Jesus died to overcome our sin, suffering and death then we are responsible for His death and we also receive the benefits.

            But while this grace is free for us remember the terrible cost for Jesus.  Such a sacrifice deserves a response by us.  So rather than doing works to gain salvation we in love work out of love for the One who loved us so much.  One of my simple theologies which I shared many times is:

God never asks anything of us that He hasn’t done for us

and God never asks to give anything that He hasn’t already given to us!

            Receive the grace and loving sacrifice of God and pass that on to everyone else, even your enemies!

            When I was in the pastoral ministry I used to tell people that they only had to live with my sermons for a few minutes when I had to live with them for a whole week.  God often gives me messages that are as much for me then for others.  This is one of those.  Lately I have been struggling more, the pain has increased and my mind seems less clear.  But I know that God is with me and even in my failings He still cares for me.