A Tender Shepherd

The LORD binds up the fracture of His people and heals the bruise He inflicted. Isaiah 30:26b

I have heard it said if a lamb continually wanders away from the flock the shepherd may take extreme measures to break the habit. He will break the front legs of the lamb and carry him on his shoulders until his legs heal. He is brought close to the shepherd even in that time of discipline.

It strikes me that many times it is in the experiencing of painful consequences that we make our way back to the Shepherd of our souls. Let’s face it, pain can be an effective deterrent and wake up call. God knows each of us so intimately that He sees the way we are prone to wander and He implements the means which will bring us back to Himself.

What I find comforting is the picture in today's verse of what He does once we come back to Him. He begins to do His work on the broken places in us and the very bruises He caused. I picture a doctor gently wrapping up a broken arm. Or a nurse applyng some ointment to a bruised area.

God knows that in our times of wandering and coming back we are in need of healing internally. He has much to show us about why we wandered off in the first place. Not much woud be gained if we merely experienced the painful consequences of our wrong choices. That's only a small picture of the whole process.

Part of His binding and healing is done with loving rebuke and lasting assurance. His intent is not that we cower in fear and shame. His purpose is for restoration and reconciliation. He is NOT a "Hitler" who strikes the table in anger and heaps disgust on us. He is a loving heavenly Father who longs to embrace us and bring us back into unity with Himself. If that is hard to fathom, think of a person who loves you dearly and would meet you with open arms and reassuring words. Think of the feeling of acceptance their embrace gives you. THAT is a mere shadow of God's heart.

Father, I marvel that You meet me with such gracious acceptance. May I demonstrate that quality to others so they will begin to understand that aspect of You. Amen.

An Inability to Rest

Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said, My father, had the prophet told you to do some great thing would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean? 2 Kings 5:13

The simplicity of Naaman’s healing was astounding. He merely had to wash seven times in the Jordan River and his leprosy would be completely healed. Leprosy was a disease that carried with it a great deal of stigmatism and separation for the victim. Much like AIDs in our day. But instead of being grateful, Naaman was insulted by the option that was given to him. As he stormed off in rage, his servants came along side him with much needed insight and wisdom. They knew he did not lack fortitude. He would have done the most difficult task assigned to him. What he lacked was an obedient, humble, willing heart.

I find it interesting that many people have the same reaction to the Gospel message. The fact that salvation and connection to God is based on grace alone is unacceptable to them. Instead of accepting God’s offer as a gift, they walk away to begin working their way to heaven. I marvel at the tirelessness of people in false religions and cults that emphasize works over grace.

Sometimes they are driven by pride and self-sufficiency. But other times they just cannot conceive of a God who is so generous and loving. The image does not match what they have been taught or lead to believe. Or maybe they have just given up hope because they believe the lie that they have out-sinned God. I spoke with my 70 year old step dad one time and he shared his reason for not accepting Christ. He said he just doesn’t deserve to be forgiven for all the sin in his life. How sad! Unless God opens his eyes to the truth about mercy and forgiveness he will spend an eternity in hell because he felt unworthy to accept God’s free gift.

I also find it interesting how many believers have a ‘works’ mentality when it comes to their Christian life. They received God’s free gift of salvation but then felt like the rules had somehow changed once they became a Christian. For 30 years of my Christian life I fell into this very mindset. I believed God’s love was dependent on what I did and yet I could never seem to do enough. No matter how involved I got in Christian service I never seemed to be able to just rest in God’s unconditional love for me. In my mind, He tolerated me more than loved me. He was not the one I felt comfortable talking to. My sanguine personality caused others to think I was walking in joy but internally I was empty, self condemning, and unable to see God as a loving heavenly Father.

Seeing that God’s love for me as His child is unconditional has changed my whole life! I see many Christians in the same place I use to be and it breaks my heart. I am burdened for them to taste this aspect of God. I long to see them experience God in a way that is foreign to them now. May I be willing to come along side them, like Naaman’s friends, and help them see God for who He really is.

Father, for so many decades I knew so little about You. I had salvation and a lot of head knowledge but I walked empty. Thank you for redirecting my steps. I have a long way to go but I love the journey to Your heart. Amen.

A Daily Choice

And you will defile your graven images overlaid with silver, and your molten images plated with gold. You will scatter them as an impure thing, and say to them, "Be gone!" Isaiah 30:22

One person astutely said, "We truly repent when we are finally done with our sin." But we will not get to that place until our appetites change. Only God can do such a work in us that what we once embraced we now abhor, what we once held on to we now abandon, what we once cherished we now despise. I am challenged today with a way to begin praying in regards to a change of appetite for my sin. Imagine the power of prayers like....

"God, help me to see my sin as You see it. Let my sin lose its appeal. May it disgust me and may I be repulsed by it. Let me become so attracted to You that sin would lose its attraction. Let me take it as seriously as You do. Let me remove its mask of beauty to reveal its true nature. For every sin is really an idol that needs to be taken down."

Until we are ready to say "be gone" to the sinful habits that we cater to, our lives remain unchanged. It must become a daily decision on our part to discard and denounce sin.

Father, You want me free. May I let go of those things in my life that are not OF You or FOR You. Amen.