Of Wounds and Wings
Soul Snack 97/12 ... Of Wounds and Wings
The painful intercourse of Jesus' life is glaring to the reader in John's Gospel chapters 6-8. Jesus was in a relentless struggle against the Pharisees (those proudly dogmatic authorities) and any who would lightly perceive Jesus as their meal-ticket. (He does feed 5000+ for free in John 6). Jesus appears to have rarely moved with good-will and without opposition. His walk was a wrestle.
For all Christians there is the wrestle of Jesus (suffering), the wrestle with Jesus (sin) and the wrestle for Jesus (witness and righteousness). Each Christian will also engage the absence of good-will and the presence of pharisaic ill-will wounding their life. Such events are received as a blunt knife to life.
This blunt knife to life tears at the soul and shreds the spirit. It is twisted, rotated and turned by Christ's true opposers towards Christ's true followers. This dull knife to life is repeatedly inserted afresh, but it does not merely bruise, it also breaks. It is often held invisibly and wielded by unkind words; yet it remains both active and felt.
When this knife is inserted God sees the incision and lifts up His wounded soldier. He will surely carry His own until they die. He refuses to lose His inheritance. The weaker His own may grow, the deeper the wounds they carry, the broader His shoulders become and the more bulk His biceps build. The weaknesses of His soldiers never sap His strength; they multiply it.
He will not grow tired or weary (Is 40:28c)
When the palms of His own warriors hang below fallen shoulders, bent backs and tearful hearts, He lifts their hands, elevates their hope and renews their strength.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak... but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles... (Is 40:29, 31a)
Your spine may be stooped but God still wants you to soar.
Today's Soul Snippet:
Jesus came for the lost, the least, the last and the lonely.