OUCH!

Ever complained about anything? Ever complained about something more than once, twice or even a dozen times? How about constantly? Unfortunately, I have. Yes, I’ve confessed it and sought forgiveness and HE has been faithful and just… (1 John 1:9)

As I was going to bed, I thought I would grab one of my Bibles off my shelf, as my everyday Bible was downstairs. I wasn’t looking for a certain one but I remembered talking with some friends earlier in the week about the “fruit of the Spirit” when that particular Bible (NIV Fruit of the Spirit Bible) caught my attention.

I was going to turn and read 1st thru 3rd John as I made reference to it in a conversation I had with a friend of mine over dinner tonight. As I was flipping through, making my way to the back of the Bible, a page caught my attention with this in BIG and bold letters… “JESUS SPEAKS OUT on the Fruit of the Spirit: S E L F – C O N T R O L.” I’ll admit, I lack a lot of this in my eating, lack of exercise (none to be quiet honest), discipline in keeping my opinions to myself sometimes, in the way I respond and/or react in certain situations, in relationships, and I’ll just stop with these as this list could go on for a LONG time, I’m sad to say.

As it captured my attention I focused on some of the verses listed but when I came to a certain one, I tried to remember what I had read in the close of Anne Graham Lotz’ book this morning and the method she has used for years to study scriptures. When I began to slow down and really see what this verse was saying, phrase by phrase, something occurred to me, actually more than one thing and I’d like to share it with you in hopes that if you answered yes to any of the first few questions I asked you at the beginning, it might help put things in perspective. It FLAT WORE ME OUT personally, and I got myself some much-needed correction. "He disciplines those He loves…"(Heb. 12:6)


Mark 14:36 (NIV)
“Abba, Father,” [Jesus] said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup ---PUT ON THE BREAKS. Slow down and read it again. Before I finished reading just this much, knowing where this particular scripture was going as I’m sure you do…I had to STOP and sit a minute when I got to the part, “Take this cup”. Jesus, calling on His Abba, His Daddy, His Father, knowing undoubtedly, that everything is possible for HIM. Here’s what, “Take this cup” said to me…


Take the taste of death, take from me the innocent blood I’m going to shed for people who hate me, who will scorn and mock me, take this cup filled with the unmerciful and undeserving beatings that I’ll receive, take the crown of thorns that will be bent into my scalp, take from me the nails that will be driven through my hands and feet, take from me the sword that will pierce my side, take from me the six hours that I will hang, my body aching with excruciating pain, unclothed, while insults are being hurled at me, and take the pain I’ll feel for having to leave my mother and my friends as I look at them from the cross that I am pinned upon and the sadness I’ll feel as I stare at a lost and dying world who denies YOU.

The verse doesn’t stop there…it goes on to say…”Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Regardless of all that HE went through and all that HE so willingly gave and did for us, it was HIS Father’s will that Jesus sought to do.

I hardly think I have reason to complain about anything. Unfortunately, I’m sure I will again because of the flesh that I am. I pray that I will remember that I had to spring up from my bed before I could go to sleep and write about this and the fact that Jesus didn’t complain. He simply asked, “take this cup from me” yet surrendered to the will of His Father for me, for you, for all of us. Do we really have anything worth complaining about? If our circumstances were as HIS was at the time HE prayed this, then maybe?

A note that was in this Bible reads like this, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did (1 John 2:6). And how did Jesus walk? He gave up every right to walk in his own selfish direction. He walked paths that pleased His Father, paths that led to destinations that made all of heaven rejoice…”

Father, thank You for your sweet discipline, Your gentle ways, Your Word and how it speaks to correct and teach us (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Thank You for taking my place and loving me enough to do so. I love You and I long to do YOUR will. Help me to remember that any discomfort that I may experience along the way, pales in comparison to what You went through because of Your unfailing love for me. In Jesus’ Name!