for we know that all things work together for the good of those who love him" Romans 8:28.
Personally I think we quote this verse way too often in the church. Yeah, I know I sound crazy for saying that: "What? We quote God's word too much? Have you lost your mind?" Well, one: no I haven’t lost my mind, and two: yes, I think we do. It's like we've turned this verse into a phrase that can automatically cure any situation and heal any hurt. And it stinks for me too, to realize this, because I now know that l all the times someone comes to me with something heavy, and I just rattle off " all things work together for good, sista!" I was actually coming off as a total snob who was too high above everything to talk about it. For example:
A friend comes to me and tells me about something heavy going on at home or with her parents, but I feel inadequate to relate because I haven’t been there, so I just brush it off and say its all gonna work out in the end...
See, the things is is that when we start trying remedy the hard stuff with the light and fluffy, we also unwittingly refuse to share in eachother's sufferings, or as Romans 12:15 puts it. ".. weep with those who weep"
I think sometimes, when people come to us with heavy stuff, we need to be willing to just sit there and cry with them. We need to be willing to not have all the answers, to be just as confused, scared, anxious, and angry as they are and just get through it together. Because what happens when we try to have al the answers is that sometimes we end up looking like our heads are so big we can't sit down and talk to people.. we just have to eb the one with all the answers. And to be honest, I don’t see Jesus doing that. When I read about Jesus' time on earth, I see him getting personal and intimate with people. When lazarus died, what did he do? Come up to Mary and Martha and say, "Listen ladies, it's all gonna work out for you?" No! He wept.
In Mark chapter 7 when a deaf and mute man beggs Jesus for healing, what does he do? Does he just speak a word and go on his merry way? No... he doesn’t.
Now, stop and thing about this, people. This is important. This guy who is deaf and mute, is an outcast in society. He's deaf, so he can’t hear Jesus speak, and He's mute, so he cant tell Jesus how amazing he is. But yet what does Jesus do?
He takes him aside.
He took him aside!!
Privately.
And not only that, but it goes on to say that he spit and touched the man's tongue, put his fingers in the mans hears and with a deep sigh, said the word "Ephphatha" (be opened). Wow.
And then to think that Jesus could of simply blinked at the guy and he would have been healed... He could of just thought it! But no. He took him aside and got personal. He went down to this guy's level for a minute.
And shouldn’t we all be doing that? Shouldn’t we be willing to weep with someone at the loss of their brother? Shouldn’t we be willing to get to know the people who come to us for advice or help, instead of just reading them a list of scriptures and saying "Well, hope that helps. Have a nice day" Cause the thing is is that scriptures are just scriptures. Jesus said you search the scriptures because you think that in them you have life but you don't see that they're talking about me! I'M the one who give you life!
So maybe we need to start giving people Jesus instead of just scripture. Cause while the word is God breathed, it is also useless if we don’t realize who its talking about, and then follow His lead.
Alright, I'm all blogged out. Peace out people
angie S
