GOD REMEMBERS YOUSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: I have travelled through the same path. Therefore, surely I will come and bind your wounds and make you live. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed. People who do the Lord's ministry often bear wounds for the sake of the ministry and because of taking the burden of others upon themselves. Wicked people also cause wounds.
None could be compared to the great prophet, Moses, who spoke face to face with the Almighty God. He walked with and was also called the friend of God. Yet, he pleads to God, "If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now; if I have found favor in Your sight; and do not let me see my wretchedness!" This is a hurt in the heart of a devout man.
Look at the life of Elijah who prayed lamenting that he might die and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" The queen of that nation ordered that he be killed exactly when he lived a righteous life by declaring the true God to others besides trying to restore people to the right path of life. To Elijah, it became a headache over a heartache because he was deeply hurt.
Elijah laments and says, "I did this in the name of the Lord to bring goodness to these people. This jealous queen on seeing the Lord working wonders, showing signs and restoring unrighteous people to the path of righteousness in response to the prayers offered by me day and night has commanded to kill me."
Job, a man who was blameless, upright, who feared God and shunned evil laments thus: "That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off! So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body."
In his inexpressible agony he says, "Lord, what is the use of leading a righteous life? Innumerable are the sorrows, troubles, agony, trials, tribulations and temptations that have befallen me. Even my servants who revered me have now turned hostile and stare at me as if they do to a stranger. How I wish I were dead than to lead such a miserable life."
Dearly beloved, we do the Lord's ministry and bring blessings to the people but what do we get out of that? Quite often we tremble when harsh words dart like swift poisoned arrows from the mouth of people. The acts of the devil, wicked people and betrayal also lower our spirits to do good work. Our Lord Jesus Christ is aware of all these sufferings because He has gone through the same path.
Forsaken by all and in loneliness He hung on the cross of Calvary bearing a crown of thorns on His head, with wounds on his hands and legs caused by the nails. In such a situation, the chief priests, the Roman soldiers, passers by, others who did not know His power and the good deeds performed on hearing this news about His crucifixion flocked around and mocked Him saying, " If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. You saved others; Yourself You cannot save. If You are the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, and we will believe You. You trusted in God; let Him deliver You now if You will have Him; for You said, 'I am the Son of God.' Ha! Ha! Ha!" In this manner, they blasphemed Him, wagging their heads.
In the similar way, when you are facing a difficult situation, the tongues of others would join in unison against you to put you down. Jesus traversed through this path. He was wounded both physically and at heart. Moreover, darkness engulfed Him on all sides and the presence of God was also cut off. Therefore, Jesus Christ cried out saying, "My Father! You alone are My comfort and consolation but My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Thus He cried to bind our wounds.
Dearly beloved, you may be wounded because of lacking many things in life. Perhaps you are deeply hurt in your heart on having lost your dear ones or facing troubles since you are doing the Lord's ministry or wounded due to the acts of the devil, and wicked people. The Lord knows your agony, pain and the invisible wounds that you are bearing in your heart. He says, "My child! I have travelled through the same path. I also cried, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?' Therefore, surely I will come and bind your wounds and make you live. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed." In a fraction of a second, He will transform your life by binding your wounds.
Prayer
Loving Lord,
I praise and thank You because You suffered on the cross of Calvary for my sins. Help me to know that I am never alone in any situation and that You have passed through the same path and understand the frame of my mind at any time. I request You to comfort and console me this day and grant me Your divine grace to patiently endure persecution for the sake of righteousness.
All glory, honour and praises belong to You alone.
Amen. |