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ibro hasanovich
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A friend of mine tells me she believes my mission on earth is to "Comfort
the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Perhaps this is so.
And though it doesn't sound like a pleasant 'assignment,' if it is
my mission, I have everyone's best intentions at heart:
That each one of us might be formed into the image of Christ.
(Galatians 4:19)
For it is very possible that our attempts at making life more comfortable
might actually be insulating us from the very life God wants us to
enter into. You see, light is meant to dispel darkness, so if we are
avoiding the gaping open wounds of humanity, we are perverting the
purpose of His light. Darkness can only be expelled by light, and
God's true children are to be carriers, not insulators, of His light.
William Mennzer once claimed that what the world really needed was
some 'Do give a damn' pills.
I heard a revealing sermon that drove this point home to the church.
A pastor stood up and said , 'I have three points in my sermon
today.' The congregation settled back in their chairs, being veteran
listeners of numerous three point sermons.
The pastor began, 'Point number one: 35,000 people a day are dying
of starvation.' The congregation had heard statistics like these
before, so they responded by settling back a bit more comfortably
into their chairs.
'Point number two,' the pastor continued, at which time everyone
straightened up, for never had the transition between point one and
point two been so rapid. 'Point number two is that most of you
don't give a damn.' The rustling of chairs was immediate. What
was going on? There had been no exposition on point one, and now the
pastor was swearing. And in the church, no less!
As the people moved uncomfortably in their seats, the pastor further
shocked them by announcing he was at point number three. Was this
going to be the shortest sermon ever? Was the pastor having a nervous
breakdown? Numerous thoughts swirled in people's heads, but few were
prepared for what was to come.
'Point number three: Most of you are more concerned that I just
said 'damn' than you are that 35,000 people a day are needlessly dying.''
With that the pastor left the pulpit, sat down and began to cry.
Will you cry over what breaks God's heart? Will you face the raw pain
of our world and move towards it rather than away from it? Will you
be His hands and heart where the darkness is obliterating the light?
You have a choice. I have a choice. May we be able to stand without
shame before Him when it is time to account for our choices.
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