He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering.--Isaiah 53:3
Jesus didn't suffer only under the whips or on the cross; He was familiar with suffering. He knew it well, and I am supposed to be like Him. But I expect to be happy, to find goodness in daily living, to smile often and laugh with abandon, to know amusement and warmth and love. I do not want familiarity with suffering.
Jesus tells me to be like Him, to follow Him, to die to myself and to be holy, that is, dedicated, to Him. In theory, I agree. Then He gives me a chance to do it.
I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard.--Isaiah 50:6
Whenever the only discomfort at stake was His own, Jesus did not defend Himself. Ever. He defended the defenseless, He defended His Father, but He did not defend Himself. And I am supposed to imitate Him.
Jesus was born sinless and died the same way. I do not. I was born in sin and live there. Opportunities to be falsely accused come rarely. I am much more likely to be guilty than innocent. But there are those times...those rare times....when I reap harsh treatment I didn't earn, when the only one hurt is myself. In these come my opportunities to be like Him.
Rather than leap to my own defense, I must bare my back and accept the stripes, not acting the martyr, but behaving like a child of the King.
I know all too well that I am not like Jesus. Please let me recognize the few chances I get to truly follow Him. I will not see much goodness of men in this land of the living, but I will see His goodness.
This is why I believe my severe chronic pain to be a gift. By suffering I have to look outside myself. Thank you Heavenly Father.
ReplyDeleteMay you and your family have a blessed Easter.
"Rather than leap to my own defense, I must bare my back and accept the stripes, not acting the martyr, but behaving like a child of the King. " Yes, I think I need to think on this.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from jumping tandem today :)
My natural instincts are to fight back...to get revenge but I know it's not His way....it's so hard to stand and do nothing....and trust that He knows....He cares and there's a higher purpose.....thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure we have to stand and do nothing. I think we are to do something, that is, to wear Christ's humble dignity under persecution. Maybe this is one of the more neglected lessons of example He taught.
DeleteI know that Jesus didn't smile through the whipping and crucifixion, but I do believe that He smiled and laughed through the day to day denial of self. I want to learn to do that, smile through the suffering.
ReplyDeleteTo smle and laugh through it..now that is a more lofty goal.
DeleteThere's nothing more anybody can do to me now that has never been done to my Savior. He bore it all from the garden of Gethsemane all the way to the cross of Calvary. Thank you Lord Jesus! My pain & "sufferings" are nothing compared to Yours. Amen! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHow true this is that we are rarely innocent. However, how my pride wants to scream out when I am falsely blamed for something. But God doesn't want my pride to get in the way of what He is doing in me.
ReplyDeleteAnd it does get in the way, doesn't it? The same pride we think we are wearing in defense.
DeleteOuch, the picture! Yes, God please let me recognize the chances I get to follow you!
ReplyDeleteSuch truth. Your post really spoke to me in deep places. This morning I was faced with critical remarks regarding errors on my blog post from someone who claims to be a friend. My response was simple and Christ-like. I will continue to make mistakes. But did you receive the message.
ReplyDeletewhat a thought provoking post and so much to learn. So glad He is with us in both the comfort and the discomfort.
ReplyDeleteI tend to have a knee-jerk response and an expressionistic face when I'm accused of something I didn't do or the impression begins. Trying more and more to keep those under my feet and determine where I'm at in terms of my Lord. Trying....
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, Caryjo, you have lots of company. I'm trying, too, and to my own shame, sometimes not too hard.
DeleteThis part of your prayer especially hit me: "Please let me recognize the few chances I get to truly follow Him."
ReplyDeleteSometimes we miss those opportunities, which are often gifts in disguise, aren't they.
{thank you for linking up with Graceful this week}