"Behold, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive Him; on the left hand when He is working, I do not behold Him; He turns to the right hand, but I do not see Him." (Job 23: 8, 9- from my daily reading in "Wisdom Literature" section of the Bible)
Bonhoeffer said that Martin Luther translated, "Blessed are those who mourn," to mean, "Blessed are those who are the sorrow-bearers." Job's "friends" knew nothing of being "sorrow-bears." They could only judge and condemn. And this, my friend, is the reason most do not, "confess your faults one to another." They fear at best judgment, or at worst, rejection.
You have probably experienced at some time in you life what Job describes in our text, though others may not have known or know. It's okay; you do not have to try to fool me nor impress me, moreover, and by far, not our Lord Jesus. Bonhoeffer wrote in his work, Life Together, "Christ opened up the way to God and our brother." If you cannot share your deepest struggles and burdens with someone, we are not walking in the "life together," the "Church Life" to which Jesus calls us.
Bonhoeffer once said, "The disciple-community does not shake off sorrow as though it were of no concern of its own, but willingly bears it." What a challenge. Yet this cannot be done on my own; only, "Abide in Me, and I in you," can do this. And may I add, only honesty and openness can enable others to be "sorrow-bearers" with you and me.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for those who have been "sorrow-bearers" to me. Holy Spirit, help me to be a better "sorrow-bearer[]." Amen.
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Will be out of town for a little over two weeks, but intend to keep in touch.
Bonhoeffer said that Martin Luther translated, "Blessed are those who mourn," to mean, "Blessed are those who are the sorrow-bearers." Job's "friends" knew nothing of being "sorrow-bears." They could only judge and condemn. And this, my friend, is the reason most do not, "confess your faults one to another." They fear at best judgment, or at worst, rejection.
You have probably experienced at some time in you life what Job describes in our text, though others may not have known or know. It's okay; you do not have to try to fool me nor impress me, moreover, and by far, not our Lord Jesus. Bonhoeffer wrote in his work, Life Together, "Christ opened up the way to God and our brother." If you cannot share your deepest struggles and burdens with someone, we are not walking in the "life together," the "Church Life" to which Jesus calls us.
Bonhoeffer once said, "The disciple-community does not shake off sorrow as though it were of no concern of its own, but willingly bears it." What a challenge. Yet this cannot be done on my own; only, "Abide in Me, and I in you," can do this. And may I add, only honesty and openness can enable others to be "sorrow-bearers" with you and me.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for those who have been "sorrow-bearers" to me. Holy Spirit, help me to be a better "sorrow-bearer[]." Amen.
***************************
Will be out of town for a little over two weeks, but intend to keep in touch.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
