WOUNDED TO HEAL

Jesus was wounded to heal. Such is who we are....wounded healers. This is our very purpose and it is precisely why so many can't find their purpose in life. It is full of pain. Has it become our goal to endure the hardship of the kingdom or find a place which meets our needs? These are worlds apart.

In Thornton Wilder's play, The Angel That Troubled the Waters based on John 5, the angel says, Without your wounds where would your power be?....In Love's service, only wounded soldiers can serve. Do we find ourselves living in times of knee pads, elbow pads and head helmets as protective gear to keep ourselves from church injury? Have we denied the cross by veering off to the right or the left which keeps us in mistaken but comparative debate with those on the other road; but nonetheless, both failing to concentrate on the acute mission of the cross?

I believe Christianity has lost its teeth having intentionally aborted sacrificial living and simply observing "the sacrifice" with a sip and a pinch during the Lord's Supper. We are left gumming our way through life with the same words we had with teeth, but there are few taking us seriously. It isn't smarter church organization we must attain. It's the participation of God as He graces His wounded soldiers we really need.

Been hurt lately? Don't flinch. That was supposed to happen to you. It wasn't intended to put you down. Its purpose was to open your heart and build you up. We are on a rescue mission of the severest level. It's no place for mamma's boys and daddy's girls. It's full of meanness, cruelty, and slaying injury. In addressing the graduating class of the Sunset School of Preaching a few years ago I told the graduates, The church is going to kill you and you've got it coming.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth; and while being reviled, he did not revile in return; while suffering , he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to Him who judges righteously; and he himself bore our sins in his body on the the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by his wounds you were healed (I Peter 2:21-24).

Feeling a bit cowardly lately? Welcome to my crowd. However, let's be attentive to God's call for He will draft us for future service. Die well......and heal many. When (but not until) this happens you will find real purpose in believing/following/serving God.