God lives and works today, and the happiest
people in the world are those who know
that God is alive, not just from outward
evidence, but who have experienced His reality in
the depths of their hearts.
Today's meditation is the testimony of someone who
lost and rediscovered the reality of God.
Looking back over my life, it seems very
wonderful to me that the Lord used the
destruction of our city by an air attack
in 1944 to touch my heart anew.
Very softly and gradually, the first love for
Jesus began to blossom again.
As Jesus drew near to me anew, something
happened.
During my youth I had also experienced this,
but at that time it was more of
a head knowledge than a heart knowledge.
I came to know our Lord Jesus as
the man of sorrows.
Now I not only know about His suffering
today, but I can bear it as a
wound in my heart.
The fact that there are musicals like Superstar
and Godspell and others which ridicule Jesus brings
my heart to tears.
And the fact that I can cry about
this is a great blessing for me.
Thus the Lord has given me a test
to show me that I do love Him,
that I can suffer with Him.
I realize with my intellect that probably all
Christians will be persecuted tomorrow in one way
or another.
But I realize even more deeply that Jesus,
our head, is being persecuted today.
And that is much more painful than when
we, the members of His body, are persecuted.
Because of our sin, we deserve to suffer
and to be chastened.
But what wrong has God done?
Our Lord Jesus Christ loved the world so
much that He gave His life for it.
And the Father continues to sustain the world
in spite of its sin.
Nevertheless, they are so hated.
This indeed is worth shedding tears over.
And how much it must hurt Him if
we Christians do not realize that He is
being despised and ridiculed.
Yes, if we even pretend that this is
just a different way of proclaiming the Gospel.
I am truly grateful that the Lord has
laid His suffering on my heart and let
me suffer a little bit with Him.
What amazing grace!
Jesus forgives our sins so completely that we
are inspired with love for Him so that
we want to share and carry His sufferings
today in our hearts.
My fervent wish for all of us is
that if the Lord wants to lead us
into suffering tomorrow, we will follow Him in
complete dedication of love.
Jesus, Lord, to love you only, I shall
live for that alone.
To your heart some comfort bringing, all your
suffering making known.
Not I care now for my troubles, since
I've seen your pain and loss, but endeavor
to console you, willingly take up my cross.
May my heart now burn within me for
your grief and agony, leading then to heed
your suffering and your comforters to be.
For more information, please write to God Lives
and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix,
AZ 85028-4099.
That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North
40th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85028-4099.
God bless you.