“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, . . . Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”- Hebrews 12:2-3
In her Preface to Wounded by God’s People, Anne Graham Lotz- called the best preacher in her family by her father, the Rev. Billy Graham- sadly states that the people that have been the most hurtful to her have been considered Christians by themselves and by others. Yet their words and behaviors have been inconsistent with their beliefs and contrary to what God says.
Jesus also experienced inconsistent and contradictory behavior from those most knowledgeable of the messianic prophecies. The religious, educated leaders of Jesus’ time should have been first in line to worship Him. Yet they inflicted painful and devastating wounds. Jesus certainly had the right to protest, complain, and retaliate. Jesus’ response was to entrust Himself to God.
Similarly, Anne asserts that the wounds inflicted by God’s people only have served to make her more determined to authentically live out her faith. She offers us these words of encouragement:
“Don’t reject the God of those who rejected you. Rejecting God doesn’t hurt them; it only hurts you. You are the one who has been devastated. And you are the one God is calling.”
Today’s question: How can you be intentional in attending to God’s calling in the midst of your devastation? Please share.
Coming Tuesday: the Short Meditation for Holy Week, “Ultimate threat/Ultimate hope
Tomorrow’s blog: “The wounded and the wounders”
