Pain and Judgment

Today was another day for a rather large amount of growth as far as perspective is concerned. To say I was humbled by Jesus is an understatement. 

Lately pain has become more like a pair of boxers to me than anything else; it's always there (minus when I'm in the shower, I think a majority of yall would agree a hot shower is rather therapeutic). Quite frankly though, it's just annoying now. It infiltrates my every day life and when I finally start feeling decent again, it attacks in an unexpected way and I just can't defend against it. So I decided it was time to take it to the big man upstairs. I mean what else can we as humans do when absolutely nothing else is working?

I started researching pain and looking into Biblical relations to pain and I uncovered this little Psalm called 73. I recommend it to any believer that doesn't understand why bad things happen to them and good things seem to rain down upon the wicked people of this world. I also recommend it to anyone that doesn't really consider themselves to be believers and the one thing holding you up is why bad things happen to you or good people. 

(I encourage reading through the Psalm just real quick before continuing on) 

Alright. Now that you've read it, let's discuss. We can see that the psalmist knows he is living life with purity in God. He sees his life full of struggles and understands that he is wrestling with his faith. He sees the wicked and their life of ease. He debates becoming wicked and becoming carefree. He goes to God and sees that their moments are brief and in a short time they will be swept away and he will be left standing with God. 

Alright now let's really dissect this. There are 3 main points that I noticed when reflecting on this Psalm. 

1. We are seeking the good in life. Many of us believe that the good in life is found either in prosperity or in the absence of pain. This just isn't true though. The ultimate good in life is being near to God, your Father. 
2. Experiencing pain really puts life into perspective, especially concerning life, death and prosperity.
3. Dealing with pain takes time. It's a process. It's not a quick fix. Often pain is brought about by our own sin or sin of others. However, this is actually beautiful because God utilizes our suffering and sorrow and the death we experience to bring us back to the full joy of living in Him :] A great example of this is in 2 Corinthians 7:5-11

Okay so that deals with the pain. I know we all experience pain on different levels and under different circumstances but I believe we can all lean on God for healing and understanding.

Now. Time for Judgment. 

Ugh. Hi, I'm the guiltiest person. I judge people more than anything. It's terrible. 

Matthew 7 : 3-5 really hit home with me today. 

"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." 

This verse made me reconsider some of the diction I used in the post I had about marijuana. I was comparing what I do to what my friend does on the basis of a worldly standard. I thought this was justified because I believe the law in the U.S. is just. But this isn't how Jesus views things. A sin is a sin. A crime is a crime. All are equal. So it's at this point that I realize that I really don't have room to cast any form of judgment. I mean, where would Christianity really be if God hadn't established this? It would be completely pathetic. If Jesus is big enough to forgive anything and take us back, then we should try to follow suit and show the exact same love because we understand that His love is the perfect love. 

Romans 15 : 1-7 everyone NEEDS to read. I made it easy, just click on it. It really brings into focus an aspect of the Love in which Christ is all about. 

Alright. Take care. I hope that this creates perspective!