4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
If
you can live your own life without sensing and understanding and being impacted
by the immense sorrow all around you then you are not walking with Jesus. The
word sorrow is not just some fleeting feeling of sadness. It goes much deeper
than that and it is an intense emotion that impacts a person’s entire life.
Depression is sorrow’s best friend. I have felt true sorrow a few times in my
life. As I watched my mother slowly die before my eyes at age 44 I was overcome
with great sorrow.
Sorrow
disables. Sorrow immobilizes. Sorrow can affect the human body. And yet somehow
people live with sorrow for many, many years. All over the world people exist
with daily sorrow and have adjusted to its pain and still go on. Some can never
adjust and remove themselves from society. Some remove themselves from this
world. The sorrow I have felt did not last long. But millions of people live in
the depths of sorrow almost their entire lives. It is almost inconceivable.
The
31 year old Sudanese mother can live without much food herself, but as her
breasts dry up she knows her infant will die. We cannot help but think in terms
of our western experience. We have been so programmed that we have honed the
skills that help us remain detached at seeing a black Sudanese infant starve to
death. Or when a tsunami takes the lives of 250,000 people in the far east it
is a tragedy but not personal. We do not hear the wails of those left behind
who now must live without spouses or parents or without their children. And as
the waves swept over individuals we do not incline our ears to hear the muffled
screams of terror as they drown that turn into the screams of souls as they
first realize their eternal fate. In the movie Star Wars an entire planet is
incinerated and yet Obi-Wan Kenobi is seriously impacted by the loss of life
even though he did not witness the event.
How
often are we impacted by the loss of human life in parts of the world and by
people we do not know? I am sure seeing murder and death thousands of times on
television and in the movies has hardened our hearts toward such things. But
that cannot be the way of Jesus. And because the America culture has taught us
the superiority of Americans through open and subtle ways we have an inherent
perspective which automatically adjusts to the nationality and sometimes even
the race connected with a tragedy. 1200 people are drowned when an Indian ferry
capsizes and it makes some part of the news. We read or hear about it and it
makes no impact on us at all. But when 3000 people die in America we will mark
its anniversary forever. 5000 Africans will die of AIDS every day but if 10
people in one city died from some virus within one week the government will
spare no expense it seeking the cause and finding a cure.
Initially
this is not our fault since we are a product of the system. But once we are
brought from death to life and given the Spirit of God we now are responsible
to allow our hearts to be opened. I do not suggest we walk in depression and
with a morose sentiment, however there should be times when we set aside our
own lives and allow the Spirit to expose us to the sorrow of others. I believe
the word is compassion.
Jude:
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
It is common for us to think about the love of God toward
us and feel grateful. We never deserved it. But if we are to have it be more
than a doctrine then we must walk inside that love which moves way beyond
ourselves. If we are not only the recipients of God’s love but also the
conduits of that love then we must see the sorrow in the lives of so many. And
the answer to that sorrow is Jesus. And that Jesus travels in earthen vessels.
The western church is sorely lacking in many things and
high on the list is compassion. It feels no compassion for the poor, for
Muslims around the world, for gays, for women pregnant out of wedlock, for the
Palestinians, for the homeless, or really for that matter almost anyone. Even
the paltry food pantrys or benevolence programs are a sham meant to appease the
conscience. In truth, we cannot feel true compassion for the sorrowful and the
hurting without being filled with the love of God. The best we can do if feel
bad for a short moment and then move on. But to feel God’s compassion it takes cross-filled
eyes which always results in some kind of action.
The world is filled with sorrow.
Jesus is the only true
answer for them.
We must share Jesus by word and by deed.
Posts
22 comments:
LORD, please fill our hearts and minds with Your compassion. Please, O God, give us Your Words to comfort those who are hurting today and suffering in only ways that You know, but are hidden to the world. Father in Heaven, please help us to share Jesus Christ with those who believe there is no hope in this flesh. Help us, O LORD, for we are weak in this flesh, so very weak, to show this world that our only hope lies in Jesus Christ alone.
O Father, did Jesus look down on the creation of the world with eyes full of sorrow and compassion as He suffered for our sins? O Father, did your Begotten Son, feel sorrow to the intense depths of eternity when he said on that tree, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."???
O Father, as the world grows colder and becomes more and more fueled by the pride of this life, please show us what true humility in Christ Jesus looks like, so that we may be ministers of You and not of ourselves. LORD, give us Your heart and show us Your Way. In the precious Name of Your Son and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Allelua and amen.
May the Spirit of God continue to use you, Pastor Rick, as His vessel Moving, moving post.
Amen.
I used to be described as more mature than my years, and too introspective and somewhat depressing. My own mother would berate me for being unpopular and for always being the target of bullies at school. She wanted me to be more charming and popular and charismatic. At the time it stung, but today I see it as a blessing as it brought me directly to my Savior. Because now I see how the lies we heard of 'we can be anything we want to be', or we can 'overcome anything if we believe in ourselves' secular talk was false. The older generations now know how those cheerleading mantras are temporal, and it rarely gives anyone true fulfillment. The youth believe, but it is so fleeting.
Was watching the movie "Captain Philips" and I tried to put myself in the main character's head as the events unfolded. I saw those Ethiopian boys (men) with fresh eyes and was vying for their safety and salvation in Jesus as I watched the movie. Of course, it was tense worrying about the innocent crew, yet I didn't want the to see the abductors' lives snatched away either. I wanted and hoped that they could get a second chance. Of course, the reality was they were holding a man hostage and willing to kill, but I wondered how we, as christians, would have reacted had it been us being the hostage.
The young abductor in the movie talked about wishing he could live in America and own a car - it's a small goal for any of us to own a car, but a huge dream for some like him (in real life). But christians know there is little fulfillment here as well, and these young people believe that it's the golden egg living in the most prosperous nation in the world. And, we, the Church, hunger for a word from the Lord. We're spiritually dying of hunger and thirst, while others in another continent have to become pirates so they don't physically die of hunger. We are all in this world, struggling, and one situation is no better than another, not for the soul anyway.
When I hear politicians on the news talk about "exceptionalism" and "joy" and "bringing back the old way", I realize these people are living in a bubble, covering their eyes and ears to the plight of the world and when 'christian' leaders speak on national television, offering their solutions to voters' troubles, they live in a bubble as well, promoting Jesus Christ as a product to have by their breakfast table so they can stay rich, stay fat, stay protected, stay patriotic and be the best, the strongest, and stick it to the rest of the world. There is no sorrow in their hearts, but crude selfish self-love and adoration and the world should bend it's knee to them.
We hear of suicides a lot and it happens in every class, young, old, poor, rich, and some of these people had opportunity at their fingertips, but without Jesus, there is no
hope. One thing elections or the Super Bowl or anything in this life can't give is Christ's true peace and eternal salvation.
J.
Just correcting my account of the movie, "Captain Philips", and I meant to say, "Somalian pirates" not Ethiopian.
May the Lord spare every one in this world to the saving knowledge of Him, until He comes!!
J.
True analysis J. Blessings to you!
So very thankful for your insights and womanly ministry to my soul.
J writes:
May the Lord spare every one in this world to the saving knowledge of Him, until He comes!!
That is not going to happen because billions of sinners refuse to acknowledge Christ. Billions prefer living impurely rather than undertaking the challenging journey of following the Pure One, Lord Jesus.
Piracy is evil. People choose to become pirates because of the evil in their heart. People ought to stop promoting the lie that people become pirates out of need.
Piracy is ungodly and God's Spirit will always protect someone from embracing this lie, if people are willing to heed His voice.
Reine Gnade
There are many forms of piracy. America has worked out self serving deals with Muslim nations to consume their natural resources who then use the money to make billionaires in ruling families and yet women and others live in oppression. That is piracy in a clandestine form.
When the settlers hoodwinked the Indians and murdered others in order to buy/take their land wasn't that piracy? America was stolen and we live in a nation built upon piracy. So let us not act like our hands are clean.
1:43 P.M. I fully agree with you about piracy. No one has to commit crimes against others to survive. The news photos of Somalian pirates showed well muscled, healthy looking men.
Rick, im blessed by your messages, but at times i can not help but feel that you have a racist opinion of 'white folks'. I remember one post around the time of the presidential election were some very distasteful remarks were made about president Obama by Palin etc. In that message you basically said you could not relate to being prejudiced upon because you are white. That in itself is a very racist statement, and according to scripture, it is a lie! The word tells us that "all men are subject to like passions" I am white, and have worked in a large city for many years, and have traveled to 53 other nations. I have found racial, and ethnic prejudice in ALL people! I have felt that prejudice against myself numerous times, in many forms!
Regardless, i have financially supported ministries to several nations, including Africa, and Lord willing will continue to. I do feel nearly continual sorrow for the suffering of others were ever it takes place. That suffering will continue, and intensify in these very last days! I know what you are talking about with regard to people in america discounting the value of non american lives. It is disgusting, but i do not run the massive media! If your looking for who is behind massive media, that would be the devil. The problem with americans is they have been brainwashed by trillions of bits of media info, and much of that in the form of the 'american dream' nonsense. Our day of reckoning will come, and it will be soon. All we can do is warn others that it is going to happen, and they better lay aside their idols etc. Perhaps a little less categorizing everyone by their race on this site, and a realization that we ALL have our issues, AND,,, that racism is not confined to white people, who, the Lord suffered for on the cross.
If you are speaking about black racism against white people it does exist. However it pales in comparison to the reverse. I rarely categorize people by race on my blog except to point out injustices based largely on race.
Speaking as a knowledgeable "Native American" when thinking how the USA came into being and being from one of the Tribes where our treaty, too, was agreed to by Indian Agents who represented they had full authority to accept the negotiated treaties then find out a year or so later (it took about six months to travel from the far West to Washington DC in those days) the US Congress refused to honor those treaties I think more and more about the depth of meanings of these Words by the Prophet Habakkuk:
Habakkuk 2:12 "Woe to him who builds a town with blood and founds a city on iniquity!
13 Behold, is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor merely for fire, and nations weary themselves for nothing?
14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
The Lord is indeed patient not willing that any should perish! I am both thankful and grateful!
I've spent a fair amount of time in Africa over the years. I'm 60 years old and my first trip there was in 1985. I've been involved in business and ministry there and some of the news stories just in the last week about Central African Republic that show photos of the the poor displaced men and women with children just rip my heart out! The raw reality is the wealth of natural resources of these countries if developed honestly would produce a strong stable economy for these people. Why that isn't happening is GREED and POWER of the few which causes such disparity you end up with the few wealthy and the many impoverished!
I agree the only solution is True Biblical Christianity both here and abroad!
Micah 4:1 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,
2 and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Good word, Michael.
Habakkuk 2:12 can be applied to pirates. God curses those who shed blood without blinking an eyelid. Piracy is founded on iniquity.
Pirates worldwide have intentionally said "Yes" to the way of evil.
Dear readers, even though piracy is incredibly evil Christ showed His love for pirates and other sinners by pouring out His soul unto death. Our praise ought to be for Him!
Reine Gnade
I agree with Michael that the only solution is true Biblical Christianity !
Referring to Micah 4:2: Are many nations currently saying: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths."
Are those who are putting their trust in agnosticism and atheism doing this? Are those who are putting their trust in Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism doing this? Are those putting their trust in Nationalism, militarism and communism doing this? The answer is "no".
Reine Gnade
Not only that Pastor Rick, but people do things out of desperation. Not that it is not evil, but acting upon a need to survive is part of the human condition. Concerted effort to rob, steal and kill are purposeful and therefore a worse state of sin. People who steal to survive do feel bad about stealing. I should know, as a teenager my sister stole so we could have clothes to wear. And I can speak from experience, that we felt awful about it, but we could not go without clothes. Was it right, no, absolutely not, but we were desperate and ashamed. Not only did we go to school some days with liquid jello, we also went to the bus stop with wet hair after a cold shower in the middle of January because we had no heat and hot water or electric. I do not condone stealing nor is it an excuse, but it is forgivable.
There was no aid coming to our family, and if there were, my father would have taken it for himself.
If people were helped and their needs provided for, there would be less crime. Not a complete eradication of it, but once people are helped and given the Gospel, God gives them a new heart when they repent. I may have not explained it correctly, so feel free to expound upon what I am trying to say if someone will, but bottom line, people need help and when not given, people act out of desperation. Your heart should be broken for them, not condemn them.
your sister in Christ Jesus
Pastor Rick, my comment was not directed towards you although upon rereading it it looks like it is. I was agreeing with your first comment after Anonymous wrote that heartless comment. No Christian should condone sin of any sort, but have compassion upon those who do things we know not why. To just judge in the appearance of something is wrong. Until we know the heart of someone, we should just shut up. I speak to myself as well.
your sister on Christ Jesus
Wow, I was just sharing a personal part of my life to brethren here; I was sharing my thoughts on how easy it is to forget how others in other parts of the globe live and survive, how celebration and living one's best in this life overrides sorrow, to US in the WEST.
Don't christians feel a heavy burden ever for souls around the world? Is it wrong for me to feel a burden for someone? I can't believe the responses by people who want to tear and divide and turn an innocent remark into an argument of "racism"- of being a racist against whites. Satan is really working over-time.
In my example of the movie, I never mentioned "race". I was only feeling sadness and sorrow for young men (I have sons) who sometimes are left with few tools to understand what is right and what is wrong, or have no choice but to follow criminals, or their families and themselves are threatened. I don't care if they are skinny or muscular, I feel sorrow for them. Period.
I so agree with what Rick has written. I don't know how the Lord's Body is so occupied with hedonism when there is so much sorrow in the world. . That's ALL I was confessing.
I wasn't referring to race, ethnicity, tribe, color, age, sex, and sexual orientation. I was referring to humanity's suffering and encouraging myself and was hopefully encouraging others of the Lord's Body, of which Jesus, our redeemer and forgiver, is the Head, can remember the suffering in prayer every day and feel the sorrow for them that Jesus feels for them.
That's all I meant. Whoever tries to spin a comment about sorrow for others to turn it into an argument of a race war, is on a crusade that I don't wish to engage in.
J.
Piracy is pre planned by very deceived people. It isn't done out of desperation. It is done by people so greedy for ill gotten gain that they are prepared to kidnap and mercilessly kill for it. Piracy is an incredibly cowardly, evil act. It's God's will for Christians to speak up against all forms of evil! This is what He does in His holy book.
God bless you.
Reine Gnade
Reine,
I have sorrow for you that you cannot feel for others. That condemnation comes from your heart. You were a pirate in thought, deed and word before you received the Lord. I am vexed at your lack of charity (love) for others. This is not godly. J is right, it is not wrong to carry a burden for someone. To feel compassion for those who do evil, for we know their fate. Yes, some are evil in the heart exceedingly, but so was Paul when he was Saul.
Matthew 5:39
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Please check your heart for at this moment it is not showing Jesus. And as the Word of God says:
1 Corinthians 13:1
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
your sister in Christ
As far as piracy goes people should inform themselves and "desire to wake up" to how terrible a crime it is. And let's not forget that the LORD uses strong language to describe abhorrent sinful behavior.
It's time for men and women to study the Bible more attentively!
God bless you!
Reine Gnade
Cherie, I take God's word seriously and what the inhabitants of this world need to know is the truth about piracy not nonsense that trivalises this grotesque crime.
We are not called to turn the cheek when we we see these brazen acts of piracy but are called by God to let our fellowman know just how evil these acts are.
Let's stop behaving cowardly and start speaking up against impurity.
God bless you!
How did we possibly get to piracy in this thread? A thread about people's sorrow and it goes to taking a stand against piracy? Quite revealing.
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