+JMJ
A Contemplation From The First Letter to Timothy
So many people are struggling here in America right now. I am definitely one of them. I struggle with the state of our country. I struggle with the state of the Church. I struggle with those who have differing views from me. I struggle with my own sins. I struggle with the stress of it all.
This struggle has pushed me towards pride rather than humility. I find myself getting anxious and angry because things aren’t as they should be. (At least from my perspective.)
The Lord gently reminded me through the Letter to Timothy that I need to be patient, humble, and trusting.
Gratitude for God’s Mercy
I am grateful to Him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man, but I have been mercifully treated because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief. Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Of these I am the foremost. But for that reason I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all His patience as an example for those who would come to believe in Him for everlasting life. To the king of ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. -1 Timothy 1:12-17
I imagine Jesus walking through a very large crowd.
I am among the vast multitude. As I look around me there is no room to move. Any attempt to move in any direction requires a push against someone else. Some people are loud and boisterous. Some people are anxious and fidgety. Some are quiet and still. I find myself in the anxious and fidgety group. I feel unsure of why I am here. Unsure of why all these people are here.
I feel Him, rather than see Him, in the crowd. A quiet hush precedes Him. A hush of anticipation. He strides effortlessly through the crowd, pausing here and there, reaching out and laying His hands on different people.
It is here that I notice a change in these people. As He lays His hands on them it is as if a light is turned on inside them. A glow that radiates out of them.
He makes His way through the people, laying His hands on some of them of them, skipping others. But there is always peace surrounding Him.
I wonder why He touches some of them but not others.
I can see Him now getting closer and closer to me. I feel a slight twinge of fear run through my heart. A little resistance pulls, making me want to step out of His path. He continues to move gently through the crowd, not stopping, but reaching out and touching certain people and turning on their lights.
He is getting closer to me and my heart is pounding. Fear, both that He will reach out to me and also that He might pass me over.
He stops right in front of me. I try to move out of His way, but my feet are stuck and my heart is pounding in my ears.
Without warning, He grabs me and pulls me into a tight, loving hug. He just holds me as I weep. He keeps a tight hold as the anxiousness, anger, and stress melts away.
When He finally releases me, my light is turned on too.
Light Bulb
All too often I am blinded by pride, thinking that I know exactly what is going on. That I know how things should be. This dims my light bulb. This shadows my understanding of the Lord, my life, and the world.
I forget that I am not able to see the whole picture as He does. I must remember that there are many times when I am not ready to see His wisdom concerning a situation.
So, like in my contemplation, as the Lord touches some people and skips over others, He reveals truths as He sees fit. He turns the light bulb on as I am ready to receive any given message, and in this contemplation, provided a great deal of comfort.
It is a true gift when He does bestow His wisdom on me. I must therefore be open to His words. I must become a display of the patience of the Lord in these trying times, with firm resolve and persistent meekness.
So, until He sees fit to bestow on me truths of His wisdom concerning our world today, I shall remain patient, putting my trust in His grace.
Thrive in Jesus, My Friends!
What wisdom has the Lord revealed to you this week? What is the most important truth He has ever revealed to you (so far)?
Leave me a comment and let me know!