2 Corinthians 6:9-10 “The world ignores us, but we are known to God; we live
close to death, but here we are, still very much alive. We have been injured but
kept from death. Our hearts ache, but at the same time we have the joy of the
Lord. We are poor, but we give rich spiritual gifts to others. We own nothing,
and yet we enjoy everything.” Living Bible
It was brand new, and what a vibrant colour. I was so pleased and couldn’t wait
to wear it, although afterwards I wished I hadn’t. It happened as I was walking
down the driveway to feed the horses. The exuberant pup dashing about like a
wild thing, seemed to think it would be great fun to leap up behind me and grab
me by the shirt, which she did and presto those sharp little, needle-like teeth
sliced through the soft fabric of my sweater like a hot knife through butter. I
was not only dismayed but also very angry, as I believed the pullover to be
ruined, after only 10 minutes of wear.
Once I had settled down however, I re-examined the tear and decided to see if I
could mend it, as my sewing machine has a mending stitch on it, which has proved
useful in the past. Fortunately I found an exact thread match for the fabric
colour and then carefully lined up the torn edges and began to sew. To my
delight when I was finished the tear was hardly noticeable. The mending stitch
also strengthened the material in the process.
In today’s Scripture the apostle Paul is sharing with the Corinthians episodes
when he has felt ripped and torn by those who are unhappy with the message of
Christ which he has shared with them. And yet amidst these episodes God has
mended and strengthened both him and those who are working side by side with him
to spread the gospel. They have been injured but kept from death, their hearts
ache, but at the same time they have the joy of the Lord. They are poor but are
blessed with rich spiritual gifts to give to others and they have learned to
enjoy everything. And this is what it is like to belong to Christ. Though the
world takes its` toll upon us, though we are ripped and torn, the mending stitch
of God`s love and power is able to take those rough and wounded edges of our
lives and sew them back together, making us not only whole again, but stronger
because of it.
So let us not despair when pain and suffering leaps up from behind upon us,
slicing through our spirit like a hot knife through butter. Rather let us calm
ourselves, examine the damage and lift it up in prayer to our Heavenly Father
whose mending stitch has the power to heal, restore and strengthen.
Prayer: Father God, thank you that you are the great physician; the One who is
able to mend and restore the rips and tears we suffer at the hands of this world
and one another. Bless us this day to have the hope and faith necessary to be
calm when calamity strikes, that we might offer our discouragement and pain into
your patient hands and receive your heavenly mending. In Christ`s name we ask.
Amen.
Atlin, B.C.
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