16 August 2021 | Dear Aunt Sevvy, I have a problem I haven’t heard about much. My son and daughter-in-law have just informed me they are taking a new “wife” and will be a threesome. They are all “married” to each other, I guess. I am horrified and completely blindsided by this news. They have […] Source: https://atoday.org/my-son-and-his-wife-added-another-wife-im-horrified/
Tuesday: Running Away
Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the most common illness worldwide, affecting more than three hundred million people each year, does not always have obvious visible symptoms. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease.
Image © Kim Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Unfortunately, often depression is not spoken about in Christianity because it can be seen as a sign of a lack of faith. After all, aren’t Christians always supposed to be filled with joy and happiness and the like? So, isn’t depression a sign that something is wrong with our relationship with God?
Most people know that this isn’t true. Even Christians, faithful Christians, can at times struggle with depression, especially after a traumatic event, and it is not a sign of lack of faith or trust in God. Again, one can read the Psalms and see the pain, suffering, and anguish that God’s faithful people suffered.
Sometimes a depression slowly and quietly takes hold of us, and we recognize it only when it tightens its grip. Sometimes it strikes quickly, after a particularly draining emotional or physical event. For example, God’s faithful prophet Elijah was completely drained, emotionally and physically, after Mount Carmel.
In 1 Kings 18:1-46, Elijah has just seen God’s miracle of fire coming down from heaven. In answer to his prayer, he has seen rain come and end a three-year drought. Why does Elijah react to Jezebel’s threat by running? Read 1 Kings 19:1-5.
Elijah has had a very grueling twenty-four hours. This experience, coupled with a rude awakening and a death threat, serves as a depression trigger for Elijah.
Also, Elijah was there when the prophets of Baal were slaughtered, perhaps even some of them by his own hand (1 Kings 18:40). Such an event, even for a righteous cause, can easily lead to traumatic stress in those who either watch or, even worse, take part.
So Elijah begins to run, to try to get away. Sometimes we run to the refrigerator and try to eat ourselves happy again. Sometimes we try to sleep our emotional exhaustion away. Sometimes we look for a new relationship, job, or location in our quest to run away. And sometimes we bury ourselves in more work, more deadlines, and appointments, as we try harder to run away from the nameless something that is draining our joy and rest. And of course, many people use “medications” of some sort or another, all in an attempt to dull the pain. In the end, though, these things only mask the symptoms; they don’t solve the problem, and often they can make it only worse.
Amen!
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Confession Leads to Salvation
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10.
Could Christians realize how many times the Lord has ordered their way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them. They would acknowledge Him as their wisdom and efficiency, and He would bring to pass that which He desires to work out through them.—Prophets and Kings, 576.
The conditions of obtaining mercy from God are simple and reasonable. The Lord does not require us to do some grievous thing in order to gain forgiveness. We need not make long and wearisome pilgrimages, or perform painful penances, to commend our souls to the God of heaven or to expiate our transgression. He that “confesseth and forsaketh” his sin “shall have mercy.”
In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church—pleading for those for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages, can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast. If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may seem feeble, but His love is that of an elder brother; so long as we maintain our union with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand.—The Acts of the Apostles, 552.
With God at Dawn p. 230
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Prayer Requests
—-There’s a fire about 15 miles from my area, please pray that it doesn’t reach here. David
—-Please pray for Mike, Eileen, and Brian as they travel. Rose
—-I need prayer for direction and wisdom on finding a plan for my grandson’s school year. Cora
—-I’m having a plumbing problem that’s taking a toll on my health and life. Will you please pray it will be resolved very soon. Nancy
—-Please pray for my daughter Kayla who finally got pregnant and is due in February and has now tested positive for COVID. Linda
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Dear Friends,
One afternoon when Ronnie Jay was not quite three, I noticed he was acting rather strangely. He was standing on the floor and leaning against the sofa with his head on one of the cushions. Worried, I went over to investigate. He had been playing outside. He was always a very good child and never got into trouble of any kind so he often went outside by himself. I questioned him and tried to figure out why he was not acting his usual self. Finally, I noticed that he was holding something. It was small, triangular, dark brown, and a little wet. I had no idea what it was, but whatever this “something” was, it had to be the cause of his problem.
I asked Ronnie Jay to show me where he had found this “something” that was in his hand. He took me to a dark, damp area close against the house. There were three mushrooms growing. One had a piece missing! That piece in Ronnie Jay’s hand fit perfectly.
Just as putting that mushroom into his mouth for a short time, had caused Ronnie Jay to be groggy and listless for the afternoon; so one little cherished sin can cause us to become listless spiritually. Solomon explains, “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.” Ecc 10:1 We must stop “tasting” the evil “mushrooms” of sin, for although they look so desirable, they are full of poison.
There is only one remedy for our spiritually groggy condition. Praise God! Our Dear Saviour can heal our listlessness and cause us to be alert and full of life. Think of it. He “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14 The gift of salvation is ours for the asking! We have the privilege of coming to Jesus for the forgiveness and cleansing we so desperately need. Paul urges us, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” John assures us, “if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Heb 4:16; John 1:9
The prayer of confession David prayed after his great sin should be our heartfelt cry, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight….Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. . . . Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps 51:1-13
May we daily pray, “Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Ps 19:12-14
Rose
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Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
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Monday: Root Treatment
The paralytic had been lowered into Jesus’ presence, and all eyes were on Jesus. Would He choose to heal an obvious sinner? Would He speak a word to rebuke the illness?
How does Jesus go about healing the paralytic? What is the first thing Jesus does for him? Read Mark 2:5-12.
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
Because we are often unaware of a disease until we notice the symptoms, we often think of the disease as merely the symptoms. We think that getting rid of the symptoms means healing. Jesus approaches disease differently. He knows the root of all suffering and disease and wants to treat this first.
In the case of the paralytic, instead of immediately treating the obvious effects of his disease, Jesus goes straight to the root of what is bothering the man the most. The paralytic feels the weight of his guilt and separation from God more severely than he feels his disease. A person resting in God is able to endure whatever physical suffering may befall him in this sin-sick world. And so, Jesus goes straight to the root and offers forgiveness first.
The religious leaders are shocked when they hear Jesus pronounce forgiveness. In answer to their unspoken accusations, Jesus poses a question.
Read Mark 2.8-9. What challenge is Jesus giving to the scribes there? What issue is He really dealing with?
Talk is generally cheap, but not when God speaks. By God’s powerful word, all things came into being (Genesis 1). Although forgiveness is not something that we can see, it is costly. Forgiveness cost the life of the Son of God on the cross. Everything else is secondary. To demonstrate the power and reality of forgiveness, Jesus then chooses to heal the paralytic.
God wants to cure us on the inside first. And then sometimes He chooses to bring us immediate physical healing, as with the paralytic, or sometimes we will have to wait for resurrection morning to experience physical healing. Either way, our Savior wants us to be able to rest in the assurance of His love and grace and forgiveness even now, even amid our suffering.
| How can we find rest and peace, even when our prayers for healing are not answered, at least now? |
Amen!(0)
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