In our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney last night, we discussed our natural tendencies when "spears" are thrown at us. These spears often do not take the form of an actual missile hurtling through the air, but are cutting words, harsh censure, or insensitive personal attacks even from people we love or trust. The conversation arose from our reading of Gene Edwards' Tale of Three Kings, a book which poetically focuses on the life of David: how he responded to authority God ordained in his life, and also how he lived when he was in a position of authority.
One of the natural ways we respond to spear throwing is to wrench it out of the wall and return it pointy-end first at great speed. My natural tendency is to pull the spear out of the wall, keep it, polish it up, and put it in a trophy case to garner sympathy from others. Sometimes my eyes will carefully examine them one by one by myself. They are my reminders, my "black and whites" as Corrie Ten Boom called them, proof that I have been wronged and this assortment of painful trophies justifies future suspicion and wariness. These are sins of which I have repented. The LORD has shown me storing up spears is just as bad as firing them back in anger. Holding onto wrongs causes a root of bitterness and is a clear refusal to abide in God's love which keeps no record of wrongs. We cannot forget everything which has hurt us in the past, but we are called and empowered through faith in God and the Holy Spirit to forgive. This is a definite choice to release others from guilt and refusing to hold a grudge.
When Jesus hung on the cross, unjustly crucified and the sins of the world placed upon Him, He did not shout at His enemies, "When I come into my kingdom, I will remember this. Oh, just you wait! Judgment is coming! You'll be sorry!" Like a lamb before his shearers is silent, He opened not His mouth to defend Himself or threaten. He said, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do." Jesus oozed forgiveness, desiring freedom from sin and offence for the people who nailed Him to the cross and hurled insults at Him in unbelief. Jesus was the KING of Kings, but He was also meek. The world saw this as being weak and passive, but it was far from the case. Jesus purposely, powerfully, committed Himself and His tormentors into the hands of His Heavenly Father, trusting Him completely. He did not boast or threaten, and for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Edwards' writes that one can easily see when someone has been hit by a spear because he turns a "deep shade of bitter." (Edwards, Gene. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1992. 19. Print.) Bitterness is a subtle, insidious sin which has done more damage in the body of Christ and to individual believers than all the razor-tipped spears in the world. What is even more troubling is how Christians can be bitter towards God and not even recognise it. We say we love God, but how bitter and angry we can be at other believers we are called to love! If we say we love God and hate (love less) our brothers we have seen, how can we say we truly love God whom we have not seen? Hebrews 12:14-15 exhorts, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."
Remaining bitter in our hearts, justifying our refusal to forgive others, or remaining angry over pain God has sovereignly allowed in our lives is not the path to peace: Jesus Christ is our peace. He offered peace which the world cannot know which passes understanding and endures forever. Yet He suffered much, being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He understands your pains and all you have suffered. He is the only one who can heal your heart, restore lasting joy, and provide rest for your soul. Are you willing to confess your sin of bitterness and commit your past, present, and future into God's care? Are you willing to clear out your spear cabinet and remove them as far from you as the east is from the west, even as God has chosen to remember your sin no more? Instead of looking back on your own pain or how you were unjustly treated, turn your eyes to Jesus and how He suffered for your sake and rose in victorious glory. With all the pain we experience, God provides more abundant consolation still.
But what about the one who threw the spears? That is the burning question asked by wounded people who doubt the Good Shepherd's ability to manage His own flock. To those who insist on an answer, what about them? Don't you know we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and those in authority will receive stricter judgment (James 3:1)? God is the only One who knows perfectly the imperfect hearts of men, and all will someday be brought to light - including our bitterness towards God and others. We are called to follow Jesus and His example, loving others as Jesus loves us. Jesus gave all this command concerning those who delight to use us as target practice in Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." In doing good and praying for those who have persecuted us, we show we are we are the children of the Most High. He is able to protect and preserve His own.
One of the natural ways we respond to spear throwing is to wrench it out of the wall and return it pointy-end first at great speed. My natural tendency is to pull the spear out of the wall, keep it, polish it up, and put it in a trophy case to garner sympathy from others. Sometimes my eyes will carefully examine them one by one by myself. They are my reminders, my "black and whites" as Corrie Ten Boom called them, proof that I have been wronged and this assortment of painful trophies justifies future suspicion and wariness. These are sins of which I have repented. The LORD has shown me storing up spears is just as bad as firing them back in anger. Holding onto wrongs causes a root of bitterness and is a clear refusal to abide in God's love which keeps no record of wrongs. We cannot forget everything which has hurt us in the past, but we are called and empowered through faith in God and the Holy Spirit to forgive. This is a definite choice to release others from guilt and refusing to hold a grudge.
When Jesus hung on the cross, unjustly crucified and the sins of the world placed upon Him, He did not shout at His enemies, "When I come into my kingdom, I will remember this. Oh, just you wait! Judgment is coming! You'll be sorry!" Like a lamb before his shearers is silent, He opened not His mouth to defend Himself or threaten. He said, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do." Jesus oozed forgiveness, desiring freedom from sin and offence for the people who nailed Him to the cross and hurled insults at Him in unbelief. Jesus was the KING of Kings, but He was also meek. The world saw this as being weak and passive, but it was far from the case. Jesus purposely, powerfully, committed Himself and His tormentors into the hands of His Heavenly Father, trusting Him completely. He did not boast or threaten, and for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Edwards' writes that one can easily see when someone has been hit by a spear because he turns a "deep shade of bitter." (Edwards, Gene. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1992. 19. Print.) Bitterness is a subtle, insidious sin which has done more damage in the body of Christ and to individual believers than all the razor-tipped spears in the world. What is even more troubling is how Christians can be bitter towards God and not even recognise it. We say we love God, but how bitter and angry we can be at other believers we are called to love! If we say we love God and hate (love less) our brothers we have seen, how can we say we truly love God whom we have not seen? Hebrews 12:14-15 exhorts, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."
Remaining bitter in our hearts, justifying our refusal to forgive others, or remaining angry over pain God has sovereignly allowed in our lives is not the path to peace: Jesus Christ is our peace. He offered peace which the world cannot know which passes understanding and endures forever. Yet He suffered much, being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He understands your pains and all you have suffered. He is the only one who can heal your heart, restore lasting joy, and provide rest for your soul. Are you willing to confess your sin of bitterness and commit your past, present, and future into God's care? Are you willing to clear out your spear cabinet and remove them as far from you as the east is from the west, even as God has chosen to remember your sin no more? Instead of looking back on your own pain or how you were unjustly treated, turn your eyes to Jesus and how He suffered for your sake and rose in victorious glory. With all the pain we experience, God provides more abundant consolation still.
But what about the one who threw the spears? That is the burning question asked by wounded people who doubt the Good Shepherd's ability to manage His own flock. To those who insist on an answer, what about them? Don't you know we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and those in authority will receive stricter judgment (James 3:1)? God is the only One who knows perfectly the imperfect hearts of men, and all will someday be brought to light - including our bitterness towards God and others. We are called to follow Jesus and His example, loving others as Jesus loves us. Jesus gave all this command concerning those who delight to use us as target practice in Matthew 5:43-45: "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." In doing good and praying for those who have persecuted us, we show we are we are the children of the Most High. He is able to protect and preserve His own.
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