I was talking with a group of people yesterday after Bible study. A woman
had been having a rough time, and asked for prayer, so we prayed for her. Kind
words in the prayers, touching and compassionate, but after I talked with her.
Her problem was very evident, and anyone who knew her had probably heard the
same old story from her too many times. She wanted prayer, she wanted
compassion and love, she just wasn’t interested in God’s answer because it would
have her admit she was wrong and would have to change. After a few seconds it
was obvious her problems were self inflicted, and would continue. And when I
asked her a question she told me she had heard it all, and after telling me “I
know what you are going to say,” was surprised with what I said, almost as
surprised as I was she gave me a chance to say it. I have been in situations
like this before, and when faced with a situation, they start spewing forth
scripture, and what they had been told in Sunday School or church of how to
react. Impersonal, and many times wrong, not the scripture but its application,
we are taught about a scripture for each event, but not its application. Say
this about rock and roll, say this about a fallen brother, say this when
confronted, and say this when caught. Right out of the manual God has given us,
but just words without the spirit, who reveals the mysteries of Christ to us.
And this girl was a victim of such teaching, the one thing she had never been
told, obvious by her pride, was the most important part of prayer, listening to
God for the answer. Then acting on it. Is it any coincidence God gave us two
ears but only one mouth? And you can control your mouth but not your hearing?
Didn’t Jesus say to he who has an ear let him hear? Yet she just regurgitated a
rote answer, sadly like some of the rote prayers that were offered. She talked
about Jesus, but I wondered, where was he?
A Christian woman we have known for years finally died of a disabling
disease. Her religion based on faith and naming and claiming, had left her body
failing and causing her great discomfort for years. Her husband also suffered
as he had to attend to her, aging him in the process. But it didn’t have to be
that way, as there were drugs available to ease her pain, and give her a better
quality of life. Yet she didn’t believe in them, drugs were not for the
faithful, I guess most of us sin taking them, God would provide a miracle, and
so she suffered needlessly. Making her husband suffer too. She got upset with
me when I asked “if I had never heard of aspirin and you gave me one for my
headache, and it went away, wouldn’t I consider that a miracle?” Her attitude
was causing her to suffer. Her education from a pulpit had condemned her to not
trusting the spirit, and believing books written by a certain man, who obviously
hadn’t faced what she had, or he would have called the pharmacy.
Now I am on several heart drugs after my aorta replacement, and I am glad
for them. But drugs are not the answer, just as no drugs are not the answer
either. Jesus is the answer, and following what the spirit shows us is the way
to go. God gives us a choice in everything from what we ride to where and how
we believe, and I had a choice in taking the drugs or not. Or putting myself in
physical danger again, and subjecting my wife and family to needless suffering.
The application of my education to know Jesus proved more important than knowing
about him, or knowing how to answer each event. We are told the spirit will
give us wisdom and words when we need them, yet rattle off at the mouth
sometimes incoherently. My best answer for when you don’t know is to admit it,
and say “I don’t know,” and turn to Jesus, and then listen. Not for what you
want to hear, or for what you want others to hear, but what the spirit is
saying. Maybe a little bit more of Jesus and the holy spirit and a lot less
religion just might change our lives and others. I am bored with education, how
about an application of Jesus in your life? I am more concerned with the love
of John 3:16 than your memorization of it.
So my answer to that woman yesterday surprised her. I referred her to Job,
and after being rebuffed, “I know what you are going to say,” surprised her.
Job’s wife is given a black eye in churches today because of one statement, “why
don’t you curse God and die?” But we forget or aren’t taught she had gone
through what Job was, a loss of family, riches, lifestyle, and she watched as
her husband was suffering. But they end there, as they don’t tell his
response. “You are acting like a foolish woman,” he tells her, not you are a
fool. You are acting out of character, for you know God, and now you are acting
on emotions. You see this woman has a relationship with Christ, but religion
got in the way. She didn’t need the same answer, she needed the truth, and the
truth was she was acting like a foolish woman. All her many years of education
meant nothing if not applied when needed. And she got it, telling me “I never
thought that is what you were going to say.” I went in love, the others did
too, I listened to the spirit. On my own I am not much, but in Christ I amaze
myself, and give him the glory.
We will all be tested, remember God was bragging on Job. And Job’s
relationship was deeper than anyone could know, just read his responses to his
friends. Sound familiar? They could have come from us. And too many times
do. Want more from your relationship with God? Want to see Jesus? Or are you
bored with education and don’t know it? Start listening to what the spirit
says, then trust. Sincerity counts, but you can be sincerely wrong. But Jesus
forgives, and we can carry on. But we have a hard time forgiving ourselves.
But when we do the doors to heaven open wider, and we see Christ not only
crucified, but resurrected. We are new creatures in him, so why do we hold onto
old things and old religions?
Miracles abound everywhere, you are one. Share what Jesus has done in your
life with others. Revelation tells us by the word of our testimony and the
blood of the lamb we are saved. Jesus did his part, are you doing yours? We
will all say things we don’t mean, or that will be misinterpreted. Some are
fools, some act like fools. Job knew the difference. By the spirit. Now do
you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com