Scrapes and Bruises!
For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Matthew 13:15.
Lord, do I know you as my stumbling stone or my building stone? If I am not properly connected to You, I will surely stumble over You, as Peter did (Matthew 26:31). How often You and your Words have been offensive to me when I wanted to go my own way. I was offended when I wanted to choose certain friends, or other things that my flesh craved. Your Holy Spirt gave me gentle tugs on my heart but I would not listen.
There is only one place for the foundation stone, or the cornerstone. If it is not in its proper place in my life, I will only stumble over it repeatedly. I find that when I do not put You and Your Word first place the result is only pain from my rebellion.
Your cross, Lord, is often offensive to me, just as it was to Peter. I often crave a “glory” religion, a religion of feelings, fame, joy, and happiness but on my own terms. I do not like the “cross” religion, the drudgery, and misery of dealing with people deep in their sins and failures. I do not like saying no to myself. I do not like being put on the cross. Peter wanted a kingdom and position and power. So, do I. He could not bear to see it all go down the drain via the cross. How often he hurt himself stumbling over You!
Yet I read, “Who for the joy… before Him endured the cross. (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus found joy in the cross, while I shun it. Not only that, but via the cross He found victory, sitting at the right hand of Father God. God will not deny me victory or power (that He desires for me), but He says I will get these things only by enduring the cross. So, if I keep bumping up against God, something is wrong with me. If my feet are bruised it is because I am rebelling, not submitting. But if I submit, the joy of the cross will see me through many a dark day. This joy is not the cross itself, but its aftermath, for God always deals with ends-final realities-not shortcuts to them. I look for God’s end, my ‘posterity’ (Psalm 37:37) through my cross today.