...we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure. (I Corinthians 4:12)
I think this is an interesting idea: willing to be reviled. I haven't thought about this for a while. Most of my suffering is physical...like this woman's. Yet, she sees in her suffering a spiritual connection, beauty, and opportunity that I have not noticed in mine. Am I willing to be hated? I remember reading as a child that for the sins of many, Christ was reviled. He was willing to be hated, willing to humble Himself to the lowest depths this fallen world could offer - to die an unjust but ever so necessary death. In I Peter 2:23-25, it says that when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
How can I be willing to do anything less than what was done for me?
I encourage you - men and women - to listen through to the end of this video. At the end, this survivor issues a call to arms for both men and women that you will rarely hear in today's world.
I think this is an interesting idea: willing to be reviled. I haven't thought about this for a while. Most of my suffering is physical...like this woman's. Yet, she sees in her suffering a spiritual connection, beauty, and opportunity that I have not noticed in mine. Am I willing to be hated? I remember reading as a child that for the sins of many, Christ was reviled. He was willing to be hated, willing to humble Himself to the lowest depths this fallen world could offer - to die an unjust but ever so necessary death. In I Peter 2:23-25, it says that when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
How can I be willing to do anything less than what was done for me?
I encourage you - men and women - to listen through to the end of this video. At the end, this survivor issues a call to arms for both men and women that you will rarely hear in today's world.
You cannot make your own heart beat. Don't you realize that - all the power you think you possess - you really possess none of it? It is the mercy of God that sustains you! Even when you hate Him.
I was a little girl
Alone in my little world
Who dreamed of a little home for me
I played pretend between the trees
And fed my houseguests bark and leaves
And laughed in my pretty bed of green
I had a dream
That I could fly
From the highest swing
I had a dream
Long walks in the dark
Through woods grown behind the park
I asked God who I'm supposed to be
The stars smiled down at me
God answered in silent reverie
I said a prayer and fell asleep
I had a dream
That I could fly
From the highest tree
I had a dream.
Now I'm old and feeling gray
I don't know what's left to say
About this life I'm willing to leave
I lived it full, I lived it well
As many tales I live to tell
I'm ready now, I'm ready now
I'm ready now
To fly from the highest wing
I had a dream
1 comment:
Thank you for sharing this. I had seen it pop up a few times, but hadn't watched it. I appreciated it. She said a line, something to the effect of "am I living for my glory or for the glory of God?" Amen.
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