Prayer-Soldier Newbie
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Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 10:02 am Post subject: He Who Lifts Our Burdens |
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He Who Lifts Our Burdens
Scripture:
And the people began to be weary of their journey and labor: And speaking against God and Moses, they said: Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, nor have we any waters: our soul now loathes this very light food. Wherefore the Lord sent among the people fiery serpents, which bit them and killed many of them. Upon which they came to Moses, and said; We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you: pray that he may take away these serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to him: Make a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: whosoever being struck shall look on it, shall live. Moses therefore made a brazen serpent, and set it up for a sign: which when they that were bitten looked upon, they were healed. (Numbers 21:4b-9)
Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. For which cause, God also has exalted him and has given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
And no man has ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believes in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believes in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by him. (John 3:13-17)
Reflection:
Our perceptions of blessings are relative. In one moment, a drink of water may have no meaning to us, yet in another, it is all which may quench the ferocity of our thirst. We do not always perceive our blessings, but as what surrounds us changes, what is bearable becomes unbearable and what is unbearable becomes bearable. If we look first for our trials, we will forever be burdened; but if we look first for our blessings, we look first for that which lightens the weight upon our shoulders. As we discover the blessings which lift us up, the burdens of our tribulations become insignificant. God does not wish for His people to live in despair. Through prayer, as we turn to Him, He will not deny us, for He is the God of love, compassion and mercy. He will guide us through our challenges and grant us the wisdom, courage and strength from which to face all which the evil one places to seduce us to anguish. Though we are not worthy because of the times we have turned from Him, if we seek the gentle hand of God, He will lift us up.
He, being all powerful, could have come to His people to stand over them; instead, He stood among them so that He might teach them the blessings of His Word. Though He could have come forth with armies of angels to suppress the wicked, He allowed Himself to be handed over so that a greater power, the power of His love, may be seen by the generations. For the love of the Father, He was obedient to the cup of which was held before Him to drink. For the love of the children of His creation, He suffered the thorns and the cross, in loving sacrifice, so that He might take upon His shoulders the sins of the world. Blessed are those who confess that Jesus is their Lord, for through Him, they shall find the path to His kingdom and everlasting life; they shall be lifted up by Him.
The serpents of our life may deliver the bite which yields our death, but as God gave that which would save His people from the serpents in the desert, He gave that which would save the children of His creation from the serpents sent by the evil one which sting, bite and take the life of souls. Through belief in Him, eternal life becomes the path, for belief in Him is belief in His power of everlasting love. Though the people provoke Him through the hate and selfishness of their hearts, He does not desire the children of His creation to perish for their iniquity. To atone for the sins of the generations, He sent His only begotten Son as the example of His great love, mercy and forgiveness.
All who believe in Him will believe in the truth of love. All who believe in the truth will understand the sacrifice love demands and the blessings which it yields. He took His place on the cross so that He might demonstrate that hate delivers nothing, but love delivers everything. He who was betrayed, betrayed not, but suffered all so that the generations would see that hate only delivers death while love raises life. He suffered death, not so the world would perish from their sin, but so that the world would be saved through the great passion of His love.
Blessed are those who believe in Him, for they will know the great mercy of His love. Blessed are those who believe in Him, for they will seek to live by His Word and, therefore, receive its many blessings. Blessed are those who believe in Him, for He will take the burden of sin from their shoulders. Blessed are those who believe in Him, for what blinds them to faith shall be lifted from their eyes and what burdens them to despair shall be lifted from their hearts. Blessed are those who believe in Him, for as they walk with Him, they walk in the eternal light of His love.
May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier
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