They say that the first step in any healing process is the admission
of the problem. Here's mine: I'm a Pharisee. Pharisees don't need God
because they're so good at serving Him all by themselves.
God, of course, knew I was a Pharisee before I did, and like a parent who tells their child to go to their room and think about what they'd just done, He recently put me in a time-out. I had shingles in my eye and on my face and head. It hurt so badly at times that I couldn't even watch the Cards play all their division series games (now that's pain!). I couldn't read, not only because of the pain, but because I could barely see. All I could do was lie on the sofa with either ice or a warm compress held over my eye and forehead. I was in time-out from life.
This all began the first night of our vacation (and getting shingles on vacation was not our worst vacation ever. Someday I'll tell you about March, 1993). On our way home, after I'd been to Urgent Care twice but we still hadn't gotten a correct diagnosis, we stopped to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We attended their church (Island Community Church in Memphis - check it out if you're there), and that morning, their pastor began a series on compassion. He talked about Jesus healing the lepers. He talked about leprosy - even showed a few slides of it (NOT a pretty sight). He said that in these stories, we all want to be Jesus, but really, we're the lepers. We're the ones in great need of a Healer, a Savior. He had us memorize Mark 2:17 "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
After two plus weeks (and the right medicine), I slowly stepped back into life. The pastor's words continued to ring in my ears, and I realized the truth of what he'd said: I'm a leper, but for the last several months, I've lived like a Pharisee. I've been overwhelmed with life and certain stressful situations, but instead of admitting my need and falling before Jesus in desperation, I chose to look to myself. I chose to deal with it on my own. In my own strength. Be my own savior.
But God who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) wouldn't let me stay there. In His kindness, He let me get shingles. He gave me a time-out, and while my physical sight was impaired, He opened my spiritual sight. He showed me my leprosy so that I could throw off my Pharisaical garbs, run to Him in my need and let Him clothe me with His blood, His righteousness, His mercy.
I never want to don that Pharisaical clothing again. I want to remember exactly who I am: a leper always in need of my Savior.
God, of course, knew I was a Pharisee before I did, and like a parent who tells their child to go to their room and think about what they'd just done, He recently put me in a time-out. I had shingles in my eye and on my face and head. It hurt so badly at times that I couldn't even watch the Cards play all their division series games (now that's pain!). I couldn't read, not only because of the pain, but because I could barely see. All I could do was lie on the sofa with either ice or a warm compress held over my eye and forehead. I was in time-out from life.
This all began the first night of our vacation (and getting shingles on vacation was not our worst vacation ever. Someday I'll tell you about March, 1993). On our way home, after I'd been to Urgent Care twice but we still hadn't gotten a correct diagnosis, we stopped to visit our son and daughter-in-law. We attended their church (Island Community Church in Memphis - check it out if you're there), and that morning, their pastor began a series on compassion. He talked about Jesus healing the lepers. He talked about leprosy - even showed a few slides of it (NOT a pretty sight). He said that in these stories, we all want to be Jesus, but really, we're the lepers. We're the ones in great need of a Healer, a Savior. He had us memorize Mark 2:17 "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
After two plus weeks (and the right medicine), I slowly stepped back into life. The pastor's words continued to ring in my ears, and I realized the truth of what he'd said: I'm a leper, but for the last several months, I've lived like a Pharisee. I've been overwhelmed with life and certain stressful situations, but instead of admitting my need and falling before Jesus in desperation, I chose to look to myself. I chose to deal with it on my own. In my own strength. Be my own savior.
But God who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) wouldn't let me stay there. In His kindness, He let me get shingles. He gave me a time-out, and while my physical sight was impaired, He opened my spiritual sight. He showed me my leprosy so that I could throw off my Pharisaical garbs, run to Him in my need and let Him clothe me with His blood, His righteousness, His mercy.
I never want to don that Pharisaical clothing again. I want to remember exactly who I am: a leper always in need of my Savior.
LORI, LOVE YOUR POST. IM GLAD YOURE FEELING BETTER.
ReplyDeleteI "FORGET" TO GIVE IT TO GOD A LOT. I'M SO BUSY DOING FOR MY CHILDREN AND HUSBAND THAT WHEN I HAVE A NEED I ALWAYS THINK GOD HAS MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN MY ISSUE. OF COURSE IT GROWS INTO A BIG ISSUE, AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN, DO I REALIZE I SHOULD'VE GIVEN IT TO HIM WHEN IT WAS A LITTLE ISSUE! THANKS AGAIN FOR THE INSPIRATION!