THOUGHT;
"PEOPLE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH CHRISTAINS
BEING IN PAIN. We think they should know better and be above it. As though
somehow being a follower of Christ negates pain!"
In a hushed voice over the phone, a missionary
of many years recalled a time in previous years as a young
missionary he had hit the wall, "burned out "and nearly
"checked out." He conveyed to his mission society and wanted to let
people know his condition- "burned out" and wanted it placed in his
newsletter only to be told ; they could not do so, when he enquired why? he
was told that the person "editing"
the newsletter had never experienced what this hurting missionary had and
therefore his plea for prayer, understanding was "edited". No one knew of his pain and
hurt. Therefore God's people were robbed of an opportunity to minister to a
hurting brother.
Not long ago a man with an international ministry spoke
with me. I shared with him some of my own battles with sin, my failures, fears,
depressions. anxieties. His response was to say "you are
speaking to my soul." When he had shared his own struggles he
only had his struggles gossiped about. And so he silently suffered
withholding hurt within, unsure whom he could confide in. Who would befriend
him?
I shared with him the story of the
missionary and what had happened him and then proceeded to
share how glad I was that whoever "Edited" his newsletter, did not get a hold of
the Scripture, otherwise Paul who was afraid" would have been
"edited"; Heaven forbid we
have the mighty Paul had been "afraid". Yet, Jesus said to
him,‘Do not be afraid any
longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; for I am
with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many
people in this city. " .’- Acts 18:9-10
1. - Paul was afraid? "Edit it !"
2. - Paul despaired of life
- "we were burdened beyond measure, above strength,
so that we despaired even of life."- 2
Cor 1:8 - "Edit it"
3. - Paul was
depressed- "For even when we came into Macedonia our
flesh had no rest, but we were )afflicted on every side: conflicts
without, fears within.But
God, who comforts the depressed, comforted
us by the coming of Titus;"- {2 Corinthians
7:5-6-} "EDITED"
4. - Gods people were
burdened- "Bear one another's
burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." We can't have burdened people " - {Galatians
6:2}"EDITED"
So if we were to go by the "criteria" of the person who had
the power to "EDIT" that poor missionaries plea; his
trouble and cry for help and prayer was "EDITED" and
so too would Paul and others in the New Testament. God has them there for a
purpose. That we may draw courage and comfort among other things, and that God
will meet us in our fears, anxieties despairing and depressions and burdens.
They are but glorious opportunities to realize our own humanity and His
Divinity!
Can we not thank God that He does
not "EDIT"
His people when they are times they are, - no- we are " "Afraid";
"Despairing of life"; "depressed"; and "Burdened," but He ministers
* In Paul's case of
being "afraid" He assures him he has a
future and no need to be afraid any longer.
* To
the "Despairing". God Himself rescues and has
people interceding for them.
* To the
"Depressed"; God sends Titus
to ENCOURAGE them.The depressed need
"encouragement."
God
uses His People, {2 Corinthians 7:6 }
God
uses His Word {Romans 15:4}
God Himself
Gives Encouragement { Romans 15:5 }
* To the
"Burdened"; God has his people to bear the burdens of
others and in doing so they fulfil the law of Christ which is to be loving and
you are loving God and others when you bear , get under the burdens of others,
Don't speculate, commentate but participate! God gave people an opportunity to
recognize the pain of others and an opportunity to do something about it. To get
under the burden and lift, it is not only a help and encouraged to the burdened
it gives you a chance to fulfil the law of Christ which is LOVE. Interestingly
enough in verse 1 its addressed to the "spiritual."
How "spiritual" are you? How many burdened people are
recipients of your love!
How different God is to us. We are not
comfortable around people in pain , so we "EDIT" their hurt as we don't want to seem
like we are not victorious- what pride at worst, immaturity at best- a failure
to understand being a Christian does not negate pain! We want to
"EDIT" out those who are in
pain and are not what we expect them to be -{our own false standards perhaps!}
We want to "edit" them out
while God wants us to "Embrace" and comfort and
encourage and strengthen and bless those among us who are afraid,
despairing of life, depressed, and or burdened. Oh How I Love the God of
Scripture- Jesus the Friend of sinners, whose throne is a Throne of Graciousness
where we may boldly come to receive, grace and mercy and HELP in time
of need. It is in recognition of our need that we are truly liberated in
the fact as Christians we are receivers and He loves to Give to meet our
needs! He cares for us{1 Peter 5:7} and genuinely so.
There was a man who wrote of three men of a certain
group who had "proved to be an
encouragement to me." One man among the three
the writer had "edited" out
as it were this man from service approximately 10-12 years earlier. And now he
testified that he was one of three who "encouraged" him. The word he uses
here for "encouragement" speaks of the relief medicine brought to
pain. He was in pain and he whom he had once "edited" was now dispensing as it were medicine
for his pain."
The young man who was once "edited" did not turn out to bad after all.
Jesus chose him to write a best seller- "The Book of Mark" and Paul testified he
was as medicine in relieving his pain.
Oops! Paul was in pain, can't have that now can
we? "Edit" him."
The young man who had once failed John Mark-
"Edited". Don't you see how stupid it is if we keep
"editing" one another
because we have some false standard which is neither realty and certainly not
Christianity
Take courage" If you have been "edited" out by someone- know God has not!
No, there are no more Gospels to be written., but you too can be used as
medicine relives the pain of a hurting man , woman , boy or girl and so your
life can do likewise. Don't be bitter choose to be a blessing,
Be warned;"Editing"
people out is neither Christian nor Biblical- you have a false
standard.
Many years have since transpired, I
wonder if the person who "edited" out the young missionary's pain
realizes how robbed many people were of ministering to a hurting brother, and
realizes the failure to allow people to minister to missionaries who do
hurt; have bouts of fear, despairing even of life, depressed and burdened- just
like the mighty apostle Paul and early church- and even some of the rest of us!
If we were not frail creatures and realized it by Gods Grace- we would have no
need of Him; to come to Him to receive from Him.
For the one who
"edited"- perhaps the years
will come when the hallways of their home are empty, the house silent, the pain
creeping in of loneliness and the need for someone to come and
Minster relief to their pain. Perhaps God will raise up one of us, whom
have been "edited "to
minister to their hearts that they may be encouraged. We all make mistakes-
don't we? Let's just trust God to learn and not to "edit" out the "PEOPLE IN
PAIN"- They just may be another John Mark! They just may be another
Pail who needs grace and mercy and help for his time of pain
Be encouraged! God will use you, has used you,
will use you, irrespective of who in their "ivory tower" thinks you
should be "EDITED"
out! Keep going and don't be bitter, choose to be a blessing" and prove to
be an encouragement" to those in pain!
You are loved
Your M-AP- for today
M- Meditate; Have you "Edited" anyone out?
A.- Acknowledge it a sin- pride- Rectify it if
possible with the person. Ask God to help you be gracious and not promoting a
false standard.
P- Press on and prayerfully look to minister to
those who are "Afraid," despairing;" "depressed;" and "burdened" and in
doing so fulfil the law of Christ- which is love. Embrace people
in their pain, don't "Edit" them
out.
