What Would Jesus Say?

Life is hard. In the past few days I have been reminded of how utterly devastating life is for so many. I am walking hand in hand with some dear sisters right now. They are limping along roads of sorrow as they deal with abusive, neglectful and unfaithful spouses. Others are experiencing physical pain and discomfort while being treated rudely by professional doctors. Still others are facing twists and turns that were unexpected and shocking. Each situation is unique, each woman has a heart for God and wants to be virtuous. Each one wants to take care of her family and not be dependant upon others. Most heart breaking, each one has had someone speak unkind or ungodly things over her, only compounding her pain. I have walked in some of these shoes myself and my heart grieves for the ones who are suffering. Today, I wept as I was overcome with the anguish of each one.

It is time for Christians to start acting like Christ. The definition of a Christian is “a follower of Christ.” It’s really that simple. Christ loves. Christ has compassion. Christ feeds the hungry. Christ walks with the lowly. Christ embraces. Christ defends. Christ accepts. Christ has patience. Christ endures.

Please do not ever say these things to someone. And, yes, they are all statements that  have been spoken to me and/or those I love…

“You must have sin in your life since you are so sick all the time.”

“It’s all in your head. You need to just get over it.”

“I’m sorry, I cannot help you. God told me not to.”

“Well surely you did something to deserve the abuse. What did you do?”

“If you would just…(doll yourself up, nag less, pray more)….then your husband would treat you better.”

“You should not be such a basket case.”

Today, a dam broke for me. As I wept, I saw the faces of the woman in my life whom I love and want to protect from such abuse. It has been said, "The Christian army is the only army that kills its wounded.” Why, oh why do we maim our own brothers and sisters in Christ? If we were to drive up to a head on collision between two vehicles and see bloody bodies lying on the ground, surely we would not walk up and kick them? And yet, every single day, “Christians” do that very thing to other Christians. Whether it’s from lack of compassion, fear of getting “in over our heads,'” lack of knowledge of how to minister to the heart of another, our overly busy lives or just plain old indifference, we brush by people and leave them to bleed out.

Three years ago I was in a place of deep despair. I did not know what the future held for me or my family. I was scared, depressed and all of my desires for having a godly family and home were vanishing before my eyes. At that same time, several people cut me out of their lives. One knew what I was walking through, the other did not. Friends whom I had expected to grow old with ditched me like I was rubbish. Family members ignored my plight and left me to fend for myself. I clung to God and learned to depend upon Him and put my trust in Him like never before. The entire year was full of agony. The final months of that year would prove to be even more excruciating. Those who could have stood with me and held my arms as Moses held Aaron’s chose to rip me limb from limb. In the midst of it all, I almost walked away from church. Mind you, I never, not ever, walked away from GOD. However, I was so very, very tempted to walk away from what I call “cooperate religion.” I was a wounded soldier, shot in my heart and every other vital organ, lying on the ground. I approached one pastor and said, “I’m sorry for our current situation and how awkward it must be.” He said to me, “If you cannot go to church when you are hurting, where can you go?” I laughed in his face and scoffed, “Yeah, that’s good in theory. But you and I both know that is not often the case.” I am glad to say that, three years later, I still call that man my pastor and my friend. God has used him and others in our body to minister healing to my wounded heart.

Today, I ache for those who do not have that same love and acceptance. I am only one person and I cannot solve anyone’s problems or make the pain go away. All that I can offer you are the words of my Savior, the precious One who has never failed me and who has walked with me through every dark night…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Let this song flood your soul with peace…

“The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11-14a (NIV)

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18 (NIV)

If you want to pour your heart out to Him, read these precious passages aloud…

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 (NIV)

“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139 (NIV)

This song is based on Psalm 139 and it ministers deeply to my spirit every time I hear it.

This chorus of this song comes to my mind many times each day. When I feel oppressed, I hear the words, “I know that You are  for me, I know that You are for me” play over and over again…

You Are For Me, performed by Kari Jobe/Gateway Worship

“So faithful
So constant
So loving and so true
So powerful in all You do

You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
You love for me to sing to You

I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness

And I know that You have come down
Even if to ride upon my heart
To remind me who You are

So patient
So gracious
So merciful and true
So wonderful in all You do

You fill me
You see me
You know my every move
And You love for me to sing to You

And Lord, I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness

And I know that You have come down
Even if to ride upon my heart
To remind me of who You are”

 

Finally, as I was praying for those who are outcasts today, I was reminded of this precious song…

Jesus Friend of Sinners, performed by Casting Crowns

“Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours
Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in the sand
Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to their knees
Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours
And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast
Yeah...
You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet…”