August/ September 2012
The appearance of a bedbug can really shake your theological foundations... It is amazing to me why on earth God would create such an annoying skin-crawling deceitful insect. It's like a mosquito in beetle form except it hides like a bat and lives as long as a tortoise. Eww.
This is one of those occasions where no devotional can satisfactorily soothe the soul. I mean you can't even
read a devotional for fear of something slithering and gnawing on you unknowingly..
My landlord who was seemingly uninterested and apathetic has shown a great amount of concern over the entire ordeal. (
Hello!!) His compassion was completely unexpected and I was convicted about my ridiculous handling of the whole affair. (I think I called him six times in a day!..how selfish) The man was overly considerate....eliminating rent for the last two months and even paying for our laundry.
Still I complained....
I remember pleading with God to remove the disgusting vermon. No Reply. Another month went by. Finally an answer! And most definitely NOT the one I was anticipating. His message to me......serve.
SERVE?!?!?
Ah yes.. my child... the entirety of this situation is for you to remember your place in the spread of My plan.
Gah! Service.
Until my answered prayer, I hadn't realized the considerable level of neglect I had raised to my roommate. Indeed, I had even ignored being a helping hand at my church. Even my school work was slipping.
Well duhh. Why remind me to consider all the other ones around me?....
I'M the one who's suffering!
"On the contrary, my child, I'm the One who Suffered"
The following litany of "yeah, buts" that ran through my mind seemed to stop incredibly short of that statement. I truly no nothing of God's love, as Amy Carmichael said. If I aptly look after myself to the neglect or detriment of another...I know nothing of Christ's love.
 |
| SIN! |
In the weeks that followed, my roommate began to become increasingly unsettled and it truly took the power of the Holy Spirit to urge me to be committed to listening to her and making things comfortable for her. As I continued to serve her by baking for her and being available for conversation and cleaning... the Lord reminded me that He sees my sin, like I see bedbugs. It's deceitful, disgusting, annoying. It gnaws away at me and sucks the life out of me....more importantly, if it is untreated it multiplies quickly then spreads to those around me. Eww. May I see all my sin like devouring bedbugs.
LESSON OF THE DAY!
Humility reminds me that I am horribly scarred by my skin. However, the grace of God that comes through Christ Jesus cleanses me. Service.
The truest service is offered when nothing is anticipated, returned or congratulated. It is the willing sacrifice of unfathomably unconditional love for another as demonstrated on the Cross.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)
WORD OF THE DAY
HUMILITY (N): Modesty, docility, abasement....as in a basement..#self-explanatory
