Skip to main content

71. The Splinters 02.17.20

I’ve seen this picture floating around and different text has been shared with it. I have something on my heart to add. Many of us know the history of the crucifixion. Many of us know that Jesus was 33. Jesus was to be nailed to the cross by His hands & feet. We know that each nail was 6-8 inches long and that they were driven into His wrists tearing and breaking the tendon which forced Jesus to use his back muscles to support himself. We know that both feet were nailed together forcing Him to support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support Himself with His legs because of the pain, so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using His legs just to continue to breathe. Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
In reality we can’t imagine this level of pain. We are in awe of the savior because of the selfless sacrificial lamb that He was for US. For all humanity. Yet his words were “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”
I’m not asking you to imagine a pain of a crucifixion that’s indescribable but let’s think of it from this perspective. Have you ever had a splinter? Have you ever had one that you couldn’t get out? One you had to dig for and get tweezers for, or perhaps use a small knife to help you get it all out? Do you remember the pain that one tiny splinter caused you?
I would imagine that there wasn’t a Lowe’s or Home Depot around that sold treated wood. I can imagine that the wood that the cross was made of was not smooth like the 2x4’s you see today. I’m guessing that this wood that the cross was made of was rough, was splintered. I imagine that the skin on the back of His arms and legs, that the skin covering His entire back was affected by the splinters from this wood. Every movement to balance himself would leave different areas of his skin scraping the splintered wood constantly.
I know that we can’t understand the unimaginable pain of crucifixion. Can we try then to understand the pain that one splinter causes us, and magnifying that to the extent of having it affect our entire body? We cry with one splinter. Now we live from one cross.
That pain was endured for you. You’re worth it. It was endured not so you can read a bible and sing a few hymns on a Sunday morning. It was endured so you could have an intimate relationship with the Lord. A relationship where it’s not this far away God of the heavens that you pray to hoping he will grant your wishes like a genie. It’s for a God that you can connect with on a daily basis through the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s not for religion, it’s for relationship.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

240. Back together again

  You know, it's hard when you're growing and walking things out in this life. We look at the world and we point out what's wrong, or what needs changed but we don't realize that the change within us is the most important change needed of all.  The Lord took me to a hallway today. The rooms were all white. In the first room I saw myself about 5 years old. I had crayons and paint and I was dancing to music, painting and coloring these beautiful pictures on the walls. I was praising the Lord and singing as loud as I could. In the second room I was a teenager. I was sitting at a desk. I had colored pencils lined up distinctly in a row, sorted by color. I was coloring on a piece of white paper making a neat picture of a hillside. On top of the hill sat a small white church with a view of the sunset. I had head phones on, jamming out the inside while my composure was quiet and still. In the third room I was in my 20's. I was seated at a dining table. I had a canvas and p...
Post a Comment
Read more

121. The Hand that Feeds You

As I was praying last night I was interrupted with a vision. As I was on the floor with my head down I got the impression that I was no longer alone. I lifted my head and I was faced with the image of a vicious dog on the end of a very heavy chain. Almost Cujo style if you all remember that book/movie. There was so much anger, but when I looked into the eyes, really looked, all I could see was pain.  Then the Lord put on my heart that this vicious dog was once an innocent puppy. I saw the welping box and families with children picking up the puppies, loving on them and taking them home. Then there was one left. He was unwanted and never chosen. I began to see different stages of that dogs life in my mind like a movie. From being called worthless and left outside in the cold, hungry and shivering; to being beat for being excited and jumping up for attention when someone came by to drop off some food or water.  Every hand that puppy saw as it was growing up brought both nourishm...
Post a Comment
Read more

254. The Eyes of the Lord

  As we enter 2025 the only advice I could possibly have for anyone is to look to Jesus Christ. To center your life on His will, His word and His way. That there is nothing found in this world that can satisfy the needs of your soul like the savior. The call for 2025 is to continue drawing near and pouring out, where ever you may be, in whatever way you’re called, in Jesus mighty name. The healing revival emerging will not be held back. Lean in, pray through, and walk it out. You’re called, it’s time to act like it, as doers of the word. Amen! The other day as we were driving, I approached the Lord in prayer. Prayer for letting go of everything that needs left behind in 2024.  Prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Prayers of repentance and petitions for mercy. Prayers of gratitude for the grace and restoration that ended this year in such a different capacity than it all began. Prayers for guidance, for wisdom and for ears to hear. Prayers to be love and to have eyes to see what...
Post a Comment
Read more