Madre
03-17-2010, 11:05 AM
Do you remember that the men hanging on crosses next to Christ's cross had to have their legs broken? When the Romans crucified someone, they would drive a spike through the person's feet, and if he had enough willpower, he could push his weight down on those spikes, though it caused great pain, to avoid suffocation and remain alive longer. That is, through pain the person would prolong his pain.
Isn't this the condition of many? Through self-will, concerned only with what they perceive as their best interests, they are able to prolong the pain of life itself. Christ, on the other hand, was not full of self-will but laid His will at the feet of His loving Father. If the Father had put Him in such a place as crucifixion, Christ would accept it, waiting on and thanking God for the deliverance that was sure to come. He would be raised from the grave, overcoming death.
We too must come to the place of surrender where self-will gives way to God's will. To come to that point we may need some help, just as did the thieves on their crosses. Only when the soldiers saw the pathetic sight of a crucified person trying to maintain his painful existence would they break his legs to put him out of his misery. While there is any strength left the crucified one fights for life; it sometimes takes the action of another to bring about death.
Do you need the legs of your self-life broken? Is your will such that you cannot give up on yourself? Do you need the action of another to put you out of your misery? The Holy Spirit will do just that through circumstances and relationships. Once you give up and accept the death those things help produce, true life--the life of Christ--will soon follow, for the purpose of the funnel is to bring you near to Him.
In short, why are you suffering? Because you are not one of the "many called," but one of the "few chosen." You are suffering because God in His love sees you as someone precious and special whom He wants for Himself. Think of it! You out of millions of people have been called to know God in a deeper way. In order for this to happen, you must come to the end of self. Once you see the glory in this, you will praise Him for every event that has helped bring you this far. Surrender to the funnel with its purpose of bringing you near.
~ Michael Wells, Problems, God's Presence, & Prayer
Isn't this the condition of many? Through self-will, concerned only with what they perceive as their best interests, they are able to prolong the pain of life itself. Christ, on the other hand, was not full of self-will but laid His will at the feet of His loving Father. If the Father had put Him in such a place as crucifixion, Christ would accept it, waiting on and thanking God for the deliverance that was sure to come. He would be raised from the grave, overcoming death.
We too must come to the place of surrender where self-will gives way to God's will. To come to that point we may need some help, just as did the thieves on their crosses. Only when the soldiers saw the pathetic sight of a crucified person trying to maintain his painful existence would they break his legs to put him out of his misery. While there is any strength left the crucified one fights for life; it sometimes takes the action of another to bring about death.
Do you need the legs of your self-life broken? Is your will such that you cannot give up on yourself? Do you need the action of another to put you out of your misery? The Holy Spirit will do just that through circumstances and relationships. Once you give up and accept the death those things help produce, true life--the life of Christ--will soon follow, for the purpose of the funnel is to bring you near to Him.
In short, why are you suffering? Because you are not one of the "many called," but one of the "few chosen." You are suffering because God in His love sees you as someone precious and special whom He wants for Himself. Think of it! You out of millions of people have been called to know God in a deeper way. In order for this to happen, you must come to the end of self. Once you see the glory in this, you will praise Him for every event that has helped bring you this far. Surrender to the funnel with its purpose of bringing you near.
~ Michael Wells, Problems, God's Presence, & Prayer