Those Who’s Eyes Are Healthy That Fill Their Whole Body Full Of Light!!
Those Who Eyes Of Our Heart Are Enlightened That We May Know The Hope To Which He Has Called Us!
Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever. Jeremiah 33: 11
Reading in Acts about Paul having to testify in front of powerful judges, I was reminded of a season in my life.
I had given out scripture at work.
I work in highly atheist secular place.
And it was not received well by a couple people.
A reaction I was not expecting.
For I was writing to encourage, to love on, to speak life.
However God was doing something bigger.
Because of their reaction, the letter had to be read out loud by others.
People who didn’t believe in God or Jesus.
People who didn’t know His words.
People who didn’t know His love or goodness.
It was Jesus fulfilling His purpose through me.
It was Jesus fulfilling His purpose to reach these people.
It was Jesus fulfilling His purpose to teach them who He was, that they would believe.
Though in the moment it felt like punishment for me.
For I could not see the bigger picture at the time.
Just like Paul.
Paul was not being punished by God/Jesus.
That each imprisonment was actually serving Jesus’s purpose.
That while in jail He was getting to speak to powerful judges.
Powerful judges who had influence of regions, peoples, communities.
First that they would hear and believe.
Second that they would influence others to believe.
Thirdly that they would protect those who believe.
And Jesus is the one who gets credit.
Because Paul isn’t the one that called to the judges, these governors, these leaders.
This was Jesus’s genius way to lead these powerful people to believe.
To at least be open to hear.
For I have found that when we try to teach powerful men and women directly—without them seeking or asking— we serve more as a challenge, as an affront.
Jesus—who is the smartest man that ever existed for He is God—knows that.
And He wants to save them more than we do.
So He provided opportunities that the powerful people hear the truth in way that they have to hear it.
In the way they would have to listen.
In a way that they would have to seek to understand.
So Paul was put in jail.
That these governors, judges, would have to listen to what Paul said.
That they would have an opportunity to digest the information.
Without the offense.
Without the affront.
Which is what He did in my case.
For the people who had to read, to digest what I wrote, had to judge the situation, without the challenge to them personally.
May we know that we know that know when we know that the Lord is good, we will see the greater, better, more lasting purpose in things that at times that feel like punishment.
May we know that we know that we know if God is giving us an opportunity to testify to powerful people, recognize we are getting an opportunity to bring blessing to everyone under that person, as well.
May we know that we know that we know that when we see our experiences in this light, it will serve to increase our faith, increase our peace, and fill us with joy.
love kathlynn
(See One Faithful Person, God’s Sovereignty A Bigger Work, Trials are Training, His Way Is Perfect for more details)