Stone Soup -Forgiveness part 3

Dear friends, sit back and imagine as the curtains rise and the lights go out.  For just a moment listen, listen, listen...

Twinkle, twinkle go the stars

Brightly shining where you are

Come and join the angels singing

Harps are rolling

Chimes are bringing

In the Child God is giving

Can you feel the gentle breeze?

Can you hear the Spirit calling?

"Come from where you are, come near or far

Come see the Babe who made the stars"

He's our Savior, Redeemer, Bright Morning Star!

A Child is born!  He is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

A Son is given!  He is a "great light" to those walking in "darkness"; to bring joy to those who are in distress; to "shatter the yoke that burdens them".  Or in today's terms:  to shatter the weight of life's troubles, anxiety's, busyness, depression, or whatever might be burdensome (Isaiah 9:6,2,1,4).

There are believers and their are critics.  The believer will recognize in awe at what Jesus has done.  The critic will sadly question cynically as to why He has done it; for they have not yet believed that Jesus has taken away the shame, guilt and blame that comes with that sort of attitude and has suffered for it.  This is what Jesus said:
 
"Though seeing, they do not see;  though hearing, they do not hear or understand.  Their hearts have become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears; and they have closed their eyes."  
BUT, 
"Blessed are the {eyes of the believer} because they see, and {their} ears because they hear"   for these see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I {Jesus} will heal them." (Matthew 13:13-16) (parenthesis mine).

 *Are you a believer or a critic?

This next picture may either draw you ever so closer to the Redeemer or break through your calloused heart...and might I add, if you are reading this as a critic I find hope in that you've read this far and have not totally shut this topic out of your mind ;o)

Let's look at Jesus' life.  He came by way of a human birth (Luke 1:31, 2:6,7).  He was fully human, fully man.  He experienced all of the human emotions and feelings that we could ever imagine experiencing.  He came to identify with His own creation.  Think about that for a minute.  God of the universe stooping to our level of limits (and a huge stoop that is!), ultimately humbling Himself to be a servant to a creation He made out of dirt, just to be able to identify and sympathize with us (see Hebrews 2:14-18).

Not only did He experience the human body, but He chose to tolerate the human mind.  He faced temptations of EVERY kind, and yet (get this) never once did He fall into it's trap!  Not once did He fail in His human existence.  I am personally drawn to Jesus because of this fact alone.  Every time I am tempted by one thing or another Jesus can say that He's been there before.  I am not alone...you are not alone! (Hebrews 4:14-15)  

Let me stop here and ask a few questions for the week; and forgive me for not posting this past Saturday.  Next Saturday I will continue on with the last moments of Jesus' life here on earth.  But let's do some more thinking:

*Recall the circumstances in your life that might have caused you to crumble; times that peace was not a part of you, and hope was hard to find.  (Quite possibly you're in one right now.)  

*In those/these times we may be tempted to "do" or "say" things in our own power and strength, but how often do we come out victorious and pleasing to God?  For "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

I encourage you to put your faith and trust in Jesus, who can say that He has, in fact, been in your shoes before.  He knows, intimately, the difficulties you are going through, big or small.  He will identify and help you if you will let Him.  He is our Hope.

So, what do ya say?  Are you ready to go to God's  "throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help you in time of need"? (Hebrews 4:16)

Let me pray:  Jesus draw us ever close to You so that we may receive mercy and find your grace.  In Your Name, Amen.

Reflect on Isaiah 40:31

Enjoying My Kup...

                            Cindy