In one of my small groups, we have a member who was diagnosed with a cancer that is terribly ominous and which has taken her for short stints out-of-country and for 5 months away from home in treatment in another state. Hard stuff affecting every function of her body and with a terrible prognosis.
Thankfully, she is able to text us every week or so a bit about her status so we can pray specifically and lift her up with scripture and prayers throughout this time. Probably won’t surprise you to know that she lifts OUR spirits by her faithfulness to the Lord and His Word exemplifying the Godly woman she is.
I had not heard from her in a week and as I prayed for her, the Lord led me to this scripture:
“Your people will volunteer on your day of battle.” Psalm 110:3
Yep, it is a psalm of David’s – warrior that he was. I figured he knew how important it was to him when his “people” (whether rag-tag band of followers or battalions of soldiers) volunteered everything they had on the day of battle. That’s how I felt for my friend as I prayed.
It was a delight to hear back from her that she had learned it is now time to plan her return home – yes, treatment will continue but the most difficult procedures have been completed. And she is looking forward to being home. I can only imagine.
Henry Blackaby, in his devotional, nailed it as he reminded me that God’s people are compelled to offer their lives for His service. And that is not just on the foreign mission field – he makes it so much more personal. God called us in the first place not just so we would qualify for heaven. No, He delivered us so we would have a relationship with Him through which He could carry out His mission to redeem a lost world.
The important point He made is one I so often forget as the “busy world” around me drowns it out – only the power of God can free us from our natural self-centeredness and reorient us toward the mission of God. It is our hearts that must be responsive to Him so he may choose to demonstrate His power through us.
The reminder I needed? God sees my life from His eternal perspective. Nope, not MY perspective, HIS perspective. How is God building and maturing my character? Not only does my heart need to be in alignment with Him, but I need to realize He has a task for me that will require a far greater maturity than I presently have and He is growing me every single day.
How? And will I yield to Him as he works in me? And what is this task? Have you asked Him that with regard to your life? Your daily routine work? Your goals? Where you spend your time? Your money? I sure need to be reminded of those questions. And it is not just getting to the point of saying as Isaiah did with all his heart “Here am I. Send me!”.
You won’t be surprised at what’s around the next corner. Blackaby’s reminder – “It is useless to give offerings to God while you are at enmity with your brother.” It was Jesus who told us that His followers should be reconciled with anyone who has something against them. Christians are to be reconciled – whatever it takes.
I can hear it now:
- But you don’t know how deeply he hurt me
- You can’t possibly ask me to love HER
- I tried, I really did, and they just won’t do it
Blackaby reminds us that Jesus did not include an exception clause for our reconciliation. It is a mandate. We may comfort ourselves with saying God knows that I tried but my enemy refused but Blackaby says it point blank: God’s Word does not say “TRY to be reconciled” – no, He says “BE reconciled.”
Think about the direction His Word gives us:
- If the person is an enemy, Jesus said to love him (Matt. 5:44)
- If he persecutes you, you are to pray for him.
- If he publicly humiliates you, you are not to retaliate (Matt. 5:19)
- If she takes advantage of you, you are to give even more than she asks (Matt. 5:41) – is there some “worldly” advice popping into your mind right now?
The world preaches “assert yourself” and Jesus taught, “deny yourself” reminds Blackaby. He points out how much the world counters with “protect yourself” but Jesus’ concern was not that His disciples be treated fairly but that they show unconditional love to others regardless of how they are treated.
It is so easy to pray for my friend – she is a wonderful, easily loved Godly woman for whom I feel great compassion and care as she is suffering. But when Blackaby asks “Is there someone with whom you need to make peace?” then I am ashamed at those people and situations who come to mind.
When I dig down a little deeper into those situations, it is my own self-centeredness that I can find at the root of every one of them. Men spat upon Jesus and nailed him to a cross. His response was our model, says Blackaby – “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34).
As Tim Keller writes:
“All change comes from deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ and living out of the changes that understanding creates in your heart. Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations, our self-understanding, our identity, our view of the world.” (The Prodigal God)
I know I am willing to enter the “battle” on behalf of my friend – pray for her, do anything that would benefit her, whatever she asks I would jump to be able to assist in that way. Now, God tells me, be willing to enter the “battle” on behalf of reconciling with whom I struggle — those He has placed in my life to teach, strengthen and grow me as only He can do.
I understand if you struggle with reconciling – totally get the difficulty and pain. If you need help or just someone to guide you through this “battle”, I am happy to connect with you. And if you just want to look at a resource to help, here is a link to one I recommend — Peacemaking-Principles-Pamphlet.pdf
“As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict.” From Ken Sande’s brochure referenced above.
