I have a friend (a believer) who over the years has spread rumors,
gossiped and embellished situations. Recently an immediate member of his family
was stricken with a life threatening disease and now there is a noticeable
change in my friend. It appears that his prayers for a miracle are now intertwined
with asking forgiveness of those who have been his targets. It’s as though he
suspects that his past behavior might hinder his prayers for a miracle and he
is trying to make amends. Out of this sad situation I see shades of David’s
heart and I’m struck that miracles do come in all shapes and sizes.
1 comment:
Gail;
-----In his Outline of World History, H.G. Wells wrote that man does not rise to action on theories alone, but some disordering event must stir him from his place to make the change his mind merely ponders. It is like the howling dog sitting on the thorn just being too lazy to move over - until he’s kicked in the haunches. God desires of us more than theoretical agreement with His Word. Yet we sit on thorns of corruption in our characters, howling about the mess of this life until some tragedy kicks our hearts from theories to action.
-----”Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” (James 5:16) I appreciate your seeing shades of David’s heart in your friend and your noting the miracle of this reaction. We can only speculate about the subtleties in his heart causing him to actualize what once may have been to him only a theoretical impression of God’s Word. Likewise, we can only speculate about any specific purpose God may desire from his situation. But presently, as you have pointed out, your friend has moved off at least one thorn of his character.
-----I no longer belabor my mind with whether God causes tragedy in our lives or merely allows it. Nor do I over what purpose He may have in it. Tragedy just happens, and God extracts as many purposes from it as we dogs are willing to move off our thorns. What becomes more important to me is how minor a tragedy can I become sensitive to. I know the thorns I sit upon, and I imagine the tragedies capable of kicking me off them. I don’t want that tragedy. So I entreat His grace and mercy for the time it takes me to learn to act upon the theories of His Word alone.
-----I don’t know if I will get to that obedience before my life becomes tragic, or if it might become tragic even if I got there. But even that is not the point. I ponder the fragile delicacies of righteousness and the raging bull of my character. Everything being done with complete care for the good of all things it effects is righteousness, however intricate or massive be either the things or the effects. Even the effect of a smile in its place can be as massive as that of a sacrificed life. And many more are those places for smiles, often being when tempers are heating and solutions are needed. When we pray “Thy Kingdom come” do we mean such smiles be done? Moreover, the smile is merely one of a myriad other subtle, little things of righteousness our clumsy hearts handle no better than our big thumbs can lace an aphid’s shoe. How much righteousness does it take for a prayer to effect the healing of a sick loved one? I hope your friend finds out. As for me, I’m nowhere close to such a discovery. Hopefully, I will learn how to act better on God’s Word without the need of a tragic kick.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
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