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The Hard Choice, when you know illogical peace.. you know
Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and to the Cross
“After we located the disciples, we stayed there seven days. They repeatedly told Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.” …
“While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. He came to us, took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, “The Holy Spirit says this: ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul replied, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, “The Lord’s will be done.”” (Acts 21:4, 10–14, NET)
58 “You are all so cheerful, and one doesn’t expect that,” I heard someone say.
Paul was in an interesting position.
All his advisors took the same position, for they had all indeed heard the same message from God. If Paul goes to Jerusalem, there will be nothing there for him but pain, and even death. They warned him not to go because of this message, and they were led by the Spirit to warn him of his fate.
Yet he went anyway, with eyes wide open, led by the same Spirit that warned him through those he loved, through those he sacrificed much of his life to bring the gospel.
In those cases where heavy decisions are to be made, how do you go against the counsel of so many people you admire, How do you decide who is right between Paul and the church?
I think the key has to be found in Paul’s attitude in this situation. He was completely at peace with the situation, He was ready, he couldn’t be persuaded, and so, content and at peace , he embraced what was to come. It was, to use Josemarie’s word, unexpected. It doesn’t make sense to embrace suffering, it is illogical, some might even say stupid and a waste of assets and gifts from God.
It is the peace that makes the difference, the presence of Christ that assured Paul and us that “all things work for good for those who love Jesus.” If someone is that content with the sacrifice they are called to make, then what a blessing it is, we should encourage them, and praise God for what will happen, for it is His will.
And that is how we endure – looking to Jesus the one who completes us.
Escrivá, Josemaría. Furrow (p. 23). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Church, Stop Shooting your Wounded- Bring them healing instead!
Devotional Thought of the day:
Now if your experience of Christ’s encouragement and love means anything to you, if you have known something of the fellowship of his Spirit, and all that it means in kindness and deep sympathy, do make my best hope for you come true! Live together in harmony, live together in love, as though you had only one mind and one spirit between you. Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other than you do of yourselves. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but should learn to see things from other people’s point of view.Philippians 2:1 (Phillips NT)
Don’t shoot the wounded, they need us more than ever! Sometimes we just condemn them, and don’t take time to heart their story. Don’t shoot the wounded, some you might be one. (Chuck Girard)
Four conversations I have been in recently were about the chruch mistreating people, or in one case, I watched it occur. End result, people lost the chance to minister to people who are wounded, and needing comfort. In at least two of the encounters, i am not sure the people are aware of their action, in one, the oppressor knew, but didn’t care? In one case, a necessary action was taken, but the way it was taken, left the person feeling unloved, unwanted betrayed. Even writing this is challenging, for those who shoot “the wounded” are often “wounded” themselves. That means this has to be a call to healing, to reconciliation, not just to stop them from injuring others.
But how do we care, and make it known that they are cared for, when the situation is complicated, when action must be taken that will cause change?
How do we love the wounded, without shooting them. How do we minister to them, when the pain they are in makes it difficult? When we too hurt, to notice their agony? When we are too self-consumed, to realize their need for our peace?
How do we stop driving people away from the love of Christ?
St. Paul is clear in the passage above, we find this ability as we realize we are of one mind,,, soemthing that happens when we have fellowship, communion with the Holy Spirit. When we are focused on the love of God, and His presence, when we know His will> When move past ourselves to embrace the God who has embraced us, and see the world as He does.. people needing life, reconciliation, healing, care, love. That is part of the change that occurs, as we realize the change going on in us, because of that grace. When we see each other, rather than competitors, but as one.
It isn’t easy, so cry our “Lord have mercy!” knowing that God will answer, for He never shoots His own… save the One wounded that we could be made whole.
