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kiss
by
nate copeland
Suffering
is the kiss of Jesus, cause when you suffer Jesus
draws you near where he can kiss you.
That's
a paraphrase of a quote by Mother Theresa. It
reminds me that suffering is an inevitable part of
life and to avoid suffering is to avoid God.
I've
often said that American Christians and perhaps
"rich" world Christians, are oblivious
to suffering. We live luxurious lives and take it
for granted. I catch myself moaning and
complaining when gas prices increase but
forgetting I am free to operate my own
vehicle--you know two arms and two legs, two eyes,
etc. I whine about trivial things and forget my
position in this free world. I live in one of the
greatest, and richest countries. By many standards
I am a millionaire when compared with an orphan in
the Sudan whose parents have been
persecuted---murdered and the average life span
will make you cringe.
You
know one thing that really yanks my chain is when
I start feeling comfortable in my own life. That
type of position seems ripe for the Lord to teach
me something....We are IN this world but we are
not OF this world.
OR
The
moment I begin to feel at home here on earth is
the moment I forget that sin reigns supreme on
this rock and especially in this mortal body.
There is absolutely no correlation between worldly
comfort and Gods blessing. I don't care how many
times you recite the Jabez prayer....If I am a
child of God I am NOT entitled to a life filled
with prosperity and worldly security. God isn't
like the cosmic Statefarm insurance guy-----you've
heard their commercial jingle "state farm is
there"...where they ensure that your insured
from any disaster and they will reimburse for any
property loss.
God
isn't like that --often suffering or persecution
is needed to focus our puny minds and shape them
into God's perspective.
Look
at 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
we
are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed,
but not despairing;
persecuted,
but not forsaken;
stuck
down, but not destroyed
I
am continually meeting Christians that are afflicted
or perplexed or persecuted or stuck down...but
they are also crushed, despairing, forsaken and
destroyed. Why?
How
do we, as Christ-followers, live a life where we
are afflicted in every way, but NOT CRUSHED;
perplexed, but NOT DESPAIRING; persecuted, but NOT
FORSAKEN; stuck down, but NOT DESTROYED? Like the
quote at the beginning, how do we get kissed by
Jesus?
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