They say time heals all wounds. I
think that is a dumb statement. If anything time may lessen the pain but the
wound is still there. Often there are scars left behind to constantly remind
you of the original wound. Sometimes the scars are visible and sometimes they
are buried deep within our souls in a place where only the Holy Spirit can
access. These wounds may be a result of sin in our lives or sin in the lives of
those around us causing them to lash out at us. No matter how these wounds may
have been received they are there and will be a part of us for as long as we
allow them to be.
However, we have a choice in how
we treat these wounds. Some choose to allow bitterness to take root and
constantly dwell on the hurt that caused that wound. Healing is left paralyzed
and, in many ways, infection will set in. Anger, cynicism, hatred and
unforgiveness begin to fester inside of us effectively killing joy, peace, love
and kindness. We become empty shells of people who are rendered powerless and
devoid of the Spirit’s presence in their lives. Yes, the Vine is still there but
the fruit is dried up and dying. But you have another option … What if you chose
to go to the Physician and allow him to dress the wound? Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds
up their wounds.” The Lord isn’t going to force healing on you but He will
walk you through it if you are willing.
Willing … you might be confused
by that … the Lord may have to show us some things that we need to repent of
even if we didn’t directly cause the wounding. Did you run to Facebook to post
about it? Did you sub tweet about it on Twitter? Did you make sure everyone
around you knew what had happened and how you felt because you wanted to be
justified in your offense? It could be that we chose a path that was out of God’s
will for us, we may have been straddling the fence of our convictions or fell
into the temptation of sin leaving no one else to blame but ourselves.
Friends, time is fleeting … I
witnessed it last night while watching as a 26 and 19 year old mourned their
mother. We are not promised tomorrow. Yes, another cliché but it’s true. It’s
time to forgive and move on. Allow the Lord to work in our hearts to restore
life and joy so that we can be about our Father’s business in these last days.
Another statement that is often quoted yet sadly is true is “Christians are known more for what they are
against than what they are for.” Let’s
be a part of changing that. Let’s be known for offering forgiveness and love to
those who struck first. Invite the Lord into the darkest corners of your heart
to clean house. This isn't to say it's a quick fix but it is a first step towards being made whole. We don’t have the luxury of wasting the time and energy of
bearing grudges against one another and especially against unbelievers. We can
do better. We must.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13
I love you all.
Blessings …
- Melody Faith
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