April 4, 2018 Wednesday

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20 NKJV)

            Fear is a terrible thing.  Fear can limit us and even over time destroy our lives in every way.  Fear can:

1.       Keep us from living our lives because we are afraid of failure or rejection

2.      Keep us from loving and being loved because we are afraid of failure or rejection

3.      Keep us from loving God and finding God’s love and forgiveness

4.      Fear can lead to anger, anger to hatred and we become self-destructive and harmful to others

5.      Fear is the seed of anger and despair and we become capable of horrors we never would have thought possible

6.       

I list a sixth because I am sure you can fill in it or many more for fear destroys each of us in different ways and shows itself in different behaviors.

            Perhaps that is why each time God or one of His messengers appears they call us to have peace.  Jesus proclaims to the Apostles, “Peace be with you.”

            Then we, like the Apostles discover the true way to cast out fear and receive true peace.  Jesus shows them the marks of His love seen in the scars in His hands and side.  In these scars we see in the glorified body of Jesus the love of God is revealed and exposed for all to see!

            But there is another part to these scars we see in the glorified body of Jesus that can bring us hope.  We can see that all of our suffering and pain can have meaning if we draw our strength and hope from our wounded Savior.  For then our suffering will bless us and bring glory to God and we may bear those scars in heaven as a sign of God’s glory and our worship and love!

            Through suffering God brings meaning to our suffering and even glorifies it!  Do you see your suffering as an opportunity to glorify God?  Do you seek hope and strength from Jesus who suffered for you?

            Bonnie and Rebecca spent most of the day in Morristown for a doctor’s appointment.  Later Jonathan and Rebecca went to a movie and dinner.  I was able to do some things but not a lot.  The last couple of days I have gone through a time when I could not wake up but also could not go back to sleep.  This is a terrible time where I seem caught betwixt and between.  Today was a hard day where I struggled to even have time with God.  Those are the worst of days.