"And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. ... And you also were included in Christ, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit." (Eph. 1:9-10, 13)
The story of God's people is a long one, stretching back thousands of years to the beginning of creation. What purpose did the Lord have in mind in this strange and beautiful world? What was He aiming for when He began the redemption story with a chosen family? What were all those Hebrew biographies and chronicles about? What ultimate purpose was it all pointing to?
God's ultimate aim was and is to bring everything in heaven and earth under Jesus. That goal was present in the Hebrew Scriptures, but it's only unveiled in completeness in the New Testament. This purpose is why we take every thought captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5) and rejoice in the fact that every knee will bow to Him (Phil. 2:10). The fall of humanity scattered elements of creation out from under God's good dominion, and in Christ they are brought back into His hand. Jesus, as other translations of this passage say, is the "sum" of all things.
We often miss the significance of "all things." We think Jesus reigns over compartments of our lives, especially the spiritual things. But His reign is comprehensive; the whole earth, and in fact the whole universe, is coming into His dominion. The world doesn't always look that way, but that's the direction we're headed. Every knee will bow - it's inevitable. And all things, even the physical creation, will be restored.
That's why the New Testament is so insistent on a bodily resurrection. Jesus is Lord of every atom in the universe. And that's why our tendency to confine His lordship to the purely "spiritual" aspects of our lives often leaves us with a sense of defeat and discouragement. But there's no need to limit our expectations of what we can bring to Him or what He might do. We can be encouraged that He is interested in every detail of our lives because every detail is ultimately His. Our whole life - including whatever we might be facing today - belongs to Him.
"There is not a thumb's breadth of this universe about which Jesus Christ does not say, 'It is mine.'" - Abraham Kuyper
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
The Road to Wholeness
"This is what God the LORD says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 'I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.'" (Isa. 42:5-9)
Deep in the heart of every person is a desire for wholeness - for things to work out, for fulfillment to come, for life to be filled with things that are right and good. In some hearts, that desire is deeply suppressed and obscured, probably from years of bitter disappointment. But it's there. It's always there.
The promise of the Messiah addresses that desire. Isaiah prophesied to a people in rebellion and headed to captivity, and he gave them a picture of deliverance, justice, restoration, and life (vv. 3-7). He would shine light in darkness and bring hope to every remote island. He would release captives and open eyes to see truth. He would give the human heart everything that long-buried desire was afraid to hope for. And He would bring it about by taking us by the hand and leading us into His righteousness and blessing.
Too many Christians approach the life of faith as an obligation, seeing obedience as a "have to" rather than a "get to." But according to God's Word, righteousness that comes from God is a privilege that leads to wholeness. It has the power to reach down into the soul, stoke the embers of that dying desire, and blow it into a living flame. His righteousness brings life and fulfillment - the kind we always hoped for.
The irony is that we think we can find life and fulfillment in other things and that righteousness will depress us with a long, painful to-do list. But the whisper that told us that didn't come from God. It came from a thief who steals, kills, and destroys, a liar who hates God and anyone He loves. The truth is that when God takes us by His hand and leads us in His righteousness, all of life comes into focus.
Don't be afraid to be led by God, even at the expense of those things you thought might bring you life. Only His truth, His Messiah, His righteousness can make you whole. Walk in them. Run in them. Never let go of the hand that leads you.
"The righteousness of God is not acquired by acts frequently repeated...but is imparted by faith." - Martin Luther
Deep in the heart of every person is a desire for wholeness - for things to work out, for fulfillment to come, for life to be filled with things that are right and good. In some hearts, that desire is deeply suppressed and obscured, probably from years of bitter disappointment. But it's there. It's always there.
The promise of the Messiah addresses that desire. Isaiah prophesied to a people in rebellion and headed to captivity, and he gave them a picture of deliverance, justice, restoration, and life (vv. 3-7). He would shine light in darkness and bring hope to every remote island. He would release captives and open eyes to see truth. He would give the human heart everything that long-buried desire was afraid to hope for. And He would bring it about by taking us by the hand and leading us into His righteousness and blessing.
Too many Christians approach the life of faith as an obligation, seeing obedience as a "have to" rather than a "get to." But according to God's Word, righteousness that comes from God is a privilege that leads to wholeness. It has the power to reach down into the soul, stoke the embers of that dying desire, and blow it into a living flame. His righteousness brings life and fulfillment - the kind we always hoped for.
The irony is that we think we can find life and fulfillment in other things and that righteousness will depress us with a long, painful to-do list. But the whisper that told us that didn't come from God. It came from a thief who steals, kills, and destroys, a liar who hates God and anyone He loves. The truth is that when God takes us by His hand and leads us in His righteousness, all of life comes into focus.
Don't be afraid to be led by God, even at the expense of those things you thought might bring you life. Only His truth, His Messiah, His righteousness can make you whole. Walk in them. Run in them. Never let go of the hand that leads you.
"The righteousness of God is not acquired by acts frequently repeated...but is imparted by faith." - Martin Luther
Monday, April 25, 2011
The Husband
"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem's sake, I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you." (Isa. 62:1-5)
"Your Maker is your husband." That's how God inspired Isaiah to describe His relationship with His people. In the prophetic books, God used a lot of metaphors to describe that relationship, but this one is the most prominent. He is the Husband of His people, the Lover of the beloved, the Bridegroom who delights in His bride. Like a smitten man who cherishes his sweetheart, God cherishes us.
God could have described His love for His people in the form of a fact sheet or a news report. He could have simply inspired the prophets to write, "God loves you and He wants what's best for you." But somehow that just wasn't descriptive enough. When God speaks, He often uses pictures. And in Scripture, the picture of God's love is very often a husband's love for the woman of his dreams.
We should be ecstatic that God used such a picture. "Love" can mean a world of things, from our superficial feelings about preferences and pastimes to our deepest emotions of passion and purpose. "Love" by itself wouldn't tell us much about God's desire for us. But the love of a bridegroom, a husband, a suitor - that's exhilarating. That sky-high feeling of budding affection as it develops into deep, consuming passion is a feeling we all understand. This picture tells us that God's love for us isn't an obligation. It thrills Him.
Have you ever tried to imagine God rejoicing over you? Have you ever envisioned Him as madly, deeply taken with you? If the imagery of the prophets means anything at all, God's love isn't calculated and formal. It's wild and wonderful. His affection is like that of a groom for his bride; it sends Him soaring.
If you think about that, it will send you soaring too. People who have found their true love are on an emotional high, completely absorbed with each other. God wants that kind of relationship. Let yourself fall in love with the One who loves you deeply.
"Romance is at the heart of the universe and is the key to all existence." - Paul Billheimer
"Your Maker is your husband." That's how God inspired Isaiah to describe His relationship with His people. In the prophetic books, God used a lot of metaphors to describe that relationship, but this one is the most prominent. He is the Husband of His people, the Lover of the beloved, the Bridegroom who delights in His bride. Like a smitten man who cherishes his sweetheart, God cherishes us.
God could have described His love for His people in the form of a fact sheet or a news report. He could have simply inspired the prophets to write, "God loves you and He wants what's best for you." But somehow that just wasn't descriptive enough. When God speaks, He often uses pictures. And in Scripture, the picture of God's love is very often a husband's love for the woman of his dreams.
We should be ecstatic that God used such a picture. "Love" can mean a world of things, from our superficial feelings about preferences and pastimes to our deepest emotions of passion and purpose. "Love" by itself wouldn't tell us much about God's desire for us. But the love of a bridegroom, a husband, a suitor - that's exhilarating. That sky-high feeling of budding affection as it develops into deep, consuming passion is a feeling we all understand. This picture tells us that God's love for us isn't an obligation. It thrills Him.
Have you ever tried to imagine God rejoicing over you? Have you ever envisioned Him as madly, deeply taken with you? If the imagery of the prophets means anything at all, God's love isn't calculated and formal. It's wild and wonderful. His affection is like that of a groom for his bride; it sends Him soaring.
If you think about that, it will send you soaring too. People who have found their true love are on an emotional high, completely absorbed with each other. God wants that kind of relationship. Let yourself fall in love with the One who loves you deeply.
"Romance is at the heart of the universe and is the key to all existence." - Paul Billheimer
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Depths of Glory
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matt. 20:25-28)
Where is God glorified? Is it in our stylish appearance on Sunday mornings? Our impressive displays of talent and skill? Our ability to influence others? Maybe sometimes, but most of us know that's not where the God of glory dwells. Despite His majestic splendor, He's much more humble than that. Ours is a God who, during His incarnation, dwelt in a feeding trough at birth and rode a donkey at the height of His popularity. The exalted Lord Jesus has never really appeared "exalted" to our wordly eyes.
Why is that? He could certainly impress us all the time with parted seas and with blazing fires by night. He could clearly fill a temple with His awesome presence. Why did the Everlasting Father clothe Himself as a Suffering Servant?
Because glory is about His character, not about His appearance. And character shows up best when circumstances are worst. It's the same with us. Nobody really judges us by the way we appear at our best; they size us up when we're under a burden. The contrast between light and darkness shows up when we're one and our environment is the other. So it is with God.
Many think the glory of God is reflected in great cathedrals, and perhaps it is. But it is also reflected in the slums of third-world megacities and the mental hospitals of postwar generations. The cathedrals allow observers to praise man's ingenuity; the slums and wards are so dreadful that any evidence of God in them is clear. No one has trouble finding light when all else is dark.
Don't strive for the glory of God by reaching for the heights. Seek it by plunging into the depths. That's what Jesus did, leaving eternal majesties for the corrupt environment of earth, and oh, how God was glorified. That's the direction in which He calls us as well. Go down. Show His love to broken sinners; proclaim His mercy in trash-filled streets; and shine your light in dark ghettoes. Jesus dove deep for us. He calls us to dive deep for Him.
"If Christ were here, He would help them, and so must I." - Toyohiko Kagawa, on his mission to Kobe's slum-dwellers
Where is God glorified? Is it in our stylish appearance on Sunday mornings? Our impressive displays of talent and skill? Our ability to influence others? Maybe sometimes, but most of us know that's not where the God of glory dwells. Despite His majestic splendor, He's much more humble than that. Ours is a God who, during His incarnation, dwelt in a feeding trough at birth and rode a donkey at the height of His popularity. The exalted Lord Jesus has never really appeared "exalted" to our wordly eyes.
Why is that? He could certainly impress us all the time with parted seas and with blazing fires by night. He could clearly fill a temple with His awesome presence. Why did the Everlasting Father clothe Himself as a Suffering Servant?
Because glory is about His character, not about His appearance. And character shows up best when circumstances are worst. It's the same with us. Nobody really judges us by the way we appear at our best; they size us up when we're under a burden. The contrast between light and darkness shows up when we're one and our environment is the other. So it is with God.
Many think the glory of God is reflected in great cathedrals, and perhaps it is. But it is also reflected in the slums of third-world megacities and the mental hospitals of postwar generations. The cathedrals allow observers to praise man's ingenuity; the slums and wards are so dreadful that any evidence of God in them is clear. No one has trouble finding light when all else is dark.
Don't strive for the glory of God by reaching for the heights. Seek it by plunging into the depths. That's what Jesus did, leaving eternal majesties for the corrupt environment of earth, and oh, how God was glorified. That's the direction in which He calls us as well. Go down. Show His love to broken sinners; proclaim His mercy in trash-filled streets; and shine your light in dark ghettoes. Jesus dove deep for us. He calls us to dive deep for Him.
"If Christ were here, He would help them, and so must I." - Toyohiko Kagawa, on his mission to Kobe's slum-dwellers
Monday, February 21, 2011
Anti-Worship
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psa. 139:23-24)
It's a little disturbing to us that David equates anxious thoughts with an "offensive way" in this psalm. We're anxious by nature, frequently wondering how things will turn out for us. We know bad things happen to all kinds of people, and it's only natural for us to worry that they might happen to us. Life can be stressful. So what's wrong with being stressed?
Think of what our anxiety says about God. When we harbor anxious thoughts, we are saying that the One who has promised to take care of our future (Jeremiah 29:11) might not do a good job of it. It says that the One who has promised to walk us through the waters and not to allow the fire to burn us (Isaiah 43:2) might abandon us to the waters and the fire. And it says that His presence in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) might not be enough to calm us. We don't realize it, but our emotions often tell our Provider that we don't think we'll have enough provision, tell our Savior that we're afraid of not being saved, tell our Comforter that we're uncomfortable, and tell our Deliverer that we're sure we'll remain captive. Our hearts actually slander Him when we don't trust His protection, His strength, and His love. We don't mean to; we're just anxious. But our anxiety can be awfully offensive.
Imagine a son lying awake at night wondering if his parents are going to feed him tomorrow. Or a daughter wondering if she will have something to clothe herself in. That might happen in some homes, but what does it say of the parents? Nothing complimentary.
But we who worship God cannot praise Him with such insecurities. Our fears are a form of anti-worship - a clear declaration that our God might not have promised us enough, or might not be able to follow through on what He has promised. Yes, He will let us go through hard things, but never outside of His timing or beyond His protection. So worship Him. And don't worry about it.
"Anxiety comes from strain, and strain is caused by too complete a dependence on ourselves." - Thomas Merton
It's a little disturbing to us that David equates anxious thoughts with an "offensive way" in this psalm. We're anxious by nature, frequently wondering how things will turn out for us. We know bad things happen to all kinds of people, and it's only natural for us to worry that they might happen to us. Life can be stressful. So what's wrong with being stressed?
Think of what our anxiety says about God. When we harbor anxious thoughts, we are saying that the One who has promised to take care of our future (Jeremiah 29:11) might not do a good job of it. It says that the One who has promised to walk us through the waters and not to allow the fire to burn us (Isaiah 43:2) might abandon us to the waters and the fire. And it says that His presence in the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) might not be enough to calm us. We don't realize it, but our emotions often tell our Provider that we don't think we'll have enough provision, tell our Savior that we're afraid of not being saved, tell our Comforter that we're uncomfortable, and tell our Deliverer that we're sure we'll remain captive. Our hearts actually slander Him when we don't trust His protection, His strength, and His love. We don't mean to; we're just anxious. But our anxiety can be awfully offensive.
Imagine a son lying awake at night wondering if his parents are going to feed him tomorrow. Or a daughter wondering if she will have something to clothe herself in. That might happen in some homes, but what does it say of the parents? Nothing complimentary.
But we who worship God cannot praise Him with such insecurities. Our fears are a form of anti-worship - a clear declaration that our God might not have promised us enough, or might not be able to follow through on what He has promised. Yes, He will let us go through hard things, but never outside of His timing or beyond His protection. So worship Him. And don't worry about it.
"Anxiety comes from strain, and strain is caused by too complete a dependence on ourselves." - Thomas Merton
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The Shepherd
Ok, so I know I haven't written anything in a while. Truthfully, I haven't been where I should be in my spiritual walk lately, and haven't been serving God the way I need to be. Thanks to a very lovely and important person in my life, God has brought this to my attention. This post isn't going to be like all my other posts. This time, I'll just let God speak for Himself:
"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
"'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
"'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"
Be encouraged.
"'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
"'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
"'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken.
"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD. You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.'"
Be encouraged.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The God Who Wounds
"Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. ... Then Job replied: 'If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas - no wonder my words have been impetuous.'" (Job 5:17-18, 6:1-3)
We've all suffered wounds from God. We'd prefer never to know pain at His hands, but the Bible gives us no such promise. What we are promised is comforting, but much less relaxing than what we'd like to hear. We want a god who will always give us what we want and will never teach us hard lessons. We want to be conformed to the image of Jesus without the chisel that shapes us. But God's hand, though always good, isn't always easy. He takes us through not only joys and comfort, but also pain. A quick survey of Scripture should be enough to convince us. Just ask Job - or Abraham, Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, John the disciple, Peter, Paul, Stephen, or any other character God used. The godly life is joyful but painful.
Or we could just ask our living Lord. That sacred head once wounded has a testimony for us: Those who worship God yet live in this world will be traumatized by the contradictions between the two. Count on it. And it isn't just an unfortunate spiritual dynamic; the God we worship has ordained it. Whether for correction or character, it's from Him.
Is that unsettling? Don't worry; His wounds are never deeper than they must be, and never beyond His ability to heal. In fact, He has promised to heal them. But we must have them if He is to shape us. There's no way we can be like Jesus and yet wear no scars in this world.
Did we think the Christian life was going to be without pain? No. Look at Jesus. Look at His disciples. Look at two thousand years of church history. Or, closer to home, look at the headlines. The crucified Lord has a crucified church. It's the only path to resurrection.
No, the Christian life is by no means without pain. It can't be, not if it's real and if it exists in a hostile world. And not if we're going to be like Jesus. But neither is it without comfort and healing. That's why we can worship the God who wounds as well as the God who restores. He knows what He is doing; He is preparing us for glory.
"No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown." - William Penn
We've all suffered wounds from God. We'd prefer never to know pain at His hands, but the Bible gives us no such promise. What we are promised is comforting, but much less relaxing than what we'd like to hear. We want a god who will always give us what we want and will never teach us hard lessons. We want to be conformed to the image of Jesus without the chisel that shapes us. But God's hand, though always good, isn't always easy. He takes us through not only joys and comfort, but also pain. A quick survey of Scripture should be enough to convince us. Just ask Job - or Abraham, Joseph, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, John the Baptist, John the disciple, Peter, Paul, Stephen, or any other character God used. The godly life is joyful but painful.
Or we could just ask our living Lord. That sacred head once wounded has a testimony for us: Those who worship God yet live in this world will be traumatized by the contradictions between the two. Count on it. And it isn't just an unfortunate spiritual dynamic; the God we worship has ordained it. Whether for correction or character, it's from Him.
Is that unsettling? Don't worry; His wounds are never deeper than they must be, and never beyond His ability to heal. In fact, He has promised to heal them. But we must have them if He is to shape us. There's no way we can be like Jesus and yet wear no scars in this world.
Did we think the Christian life was going to be without pain? No. Look at Jesus. Look at His disciples. Look at two thousand years of church history. Or, closer to home, look at the headlines. The crucified Lord has a crucified church. It's the only path to resurrection.
No, the Christian life is by no means without pain. It can't be, not if it's real and if it exists in a hostile world. And not if we're going to be like Jesus. But neither is it without comfort and healing. That's why we can worship the God who wounds as well as the God who restores. He knows what He is doing; He is preparing us for glory.
"No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown." - William Penn
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