A SERVANT’S TEST
A SERVANT’S TEST
TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS
SO GOES THE OLD CLICHÉ.
FORGOTTEN WOUNDS
ARE NOT ALWAYS HEALED WOUNDS.
IN TRUTH FORGIVENESS,
GOD AND TIME HEALS WOUNDS.
HE MADE IT TO WORK THAT WAY.
WHILE THIS IS SO,
AT THE TIME
WHEN THE PAIN
IS DEEPEST
BEING REMINDED OF THIS FACT,
EVEN IF YOU ARE A BELIEVER,
IS NOT VERY COMFORTING.
MORE THAN THIS,
WITH SOME SERVANTS,
THEIR CHALLENGE
IN THIS ISSUE
IS AKIN TO THE TIME
OF DAVID’S PRE-KING TESTING.
BEFORE DAVID WAS KING
AND HE WAS HIDING
IN THE WILDERNESS
FROM KING SAUL,
FEELING BETRAYED AND WRESTLING
WITH DEATH OF A VISION,
GOD CALLED HIM TO FORGET ABOUT HIS NEEDS
AND TEND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN A SERVANT
FOR A TIME
AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE
AND YOU CANNOT SEEM TO SHAKE
YOUR DEPRESSION,
SEEK THE LORD
AND SEE IF HE IS CALLING YOU, TOO,
TO FORGET YOUR NEEDS
AND TEND THE NEEDS OF OTHERS.
IF AT ONE TIME
IN YOUR LIFE OF SERVICE
IT SEEMED THAT YOUR MINISTRY
WAS A GREAT SUCCESS
AND NOW EVERYTHING
YOU TRY TO DO FOR THE KINGDOM
SEEMS TO MEET WITH FAILURE
SHAKE OFF YOUR DEPRESSION
AND SEEK GOD’S FACE.
IF IT IS SIN DEAL WITH IT.
BUT IF IT IS NOT SIN,
THEN THANK GOD
THAT HE IS LEVELING THE PLAINS
AND TAKING DOWN
THE MOUNTAINS
IN YOUR LIFE.
SUBMIT
TO HIS TRAINING
AND PRUNING
AS HE DELIVERS YOU
FROM THE PRIDE
OF YOUR NATURAL
SOULISH STRENGTH
AND BRINGS YOU
TO THE PLACE
WHERE YOUR STRONG
NATURAL GIFTS
DO NOT GET
IN THE WAY
OF HIS WISH
TO BE EXPRESSED
THROUGH YOU.
THEN YOU WILL COME
TO THE PLACE
LIKE PAUL THE APOSTLE
WHERE YOU CAN SAY,
“WHEN I AM WEAK
I AM STRONG.”
RATHER THAN RELYING
ON YOUR OWN
HUMAN STRENGTH
YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS
THROUGH CHRIST JESUS
WHO EMPOWERS YOU.
WHEN YOU ARE A BABY CHRISTIAN
THERE ARE MANY THINGS
THAT YOU CAN DO
TO PLEASE GOD,
BUT IF YOU ARE TO MATURE SPIRITUALLY,
THE DAY MUST COME
WHEN YOU DO THINGS
AS YOU ARE ASKED,
AND DO THOSE THINGS
NOT WITH INTELLECT
AND SOUL POWER,
BUT THROUGH THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
WORKING THROUGH YOU.
9.15.11 WTO