Charles on 8 March 2005

Scripture Luke 2:34-35 34

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall or rise. He will be a sign that will be disputed, 35 so that the inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

Observation

Jesus will bring to light what is on our souls - the stark honest truths that are hidden to men and angels, but not to the Lord - Jesus, being Lord will become a litmus for Israel. This seems to be reflected metaphorical in the following verses in Isaiah...

Isaiah 2: 17 - 26
17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.
18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet , and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
21 The rings, and nose jewels,
22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,
23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.
24 And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.
25 Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.
26 And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Pretty graphic stuff here. Stomaching the gore (the bible can be quite violent!) and images, I got past my initial recovery to realize that this is how brutally honest our hearts and minds will become when we come before the Lord. Or as the Lord demands it. Or as the passage in Luke says, "inner thoughts of many people might be revealed. Indeed, a sword will pierce your own soul, too.” That last bit could well be a reflection of the author's understanding of Isaiah 2.

Application

Lately I have been feeling quite honestly brutalized, challenging my values, my core being - who I stand for. The word today seemed to reflect the "war" I faced today in a different sense. It's easy to come before God and be challenged in the sanctuary, it is another to be sent out like sheep among wolves.

It was my turn to bleat today. Learning to respond as a Christian in a brutal marketplace that is the business world, instead of reacting with mere human wisdom, is becoming so far removed from my consciousness that it's now a cliche. And how I hate that cliche.

It is difficult, but not impossible. The parallel brutality of filtering out who you really are - what you crack like under pressure, is telling. Telling of the choices we make everyday that determine the outcome. Immediately after reading this passage today, an onslaught of opposition from an employee hit the shore and it's gets really interesting when you consider the sovereignty of God - in delaying the application of this passage till now.

The short of the long was that my authority as a leader was being challenged and the means and purpose to why the challenge was put up is quite incredulous. I chose to react as a brutal business man would. Things got uglier by the minute and before I knew it, I was shrouded by a mirage of possible legal proceedings. There was a moment of attitude and emotional intelligence check when I sought out advice from an expert third party - who was had years of business experience. I had interpreted the dealings with my victim mindset. And I was fighting fire instead of heaping it with coals. It is crazy when that happens, because vengeance is always a preferred choice over submission. In the end, I allowed the contender to be right and let go of my rights as a human being. I gave up my right in order to serve.

Isaiah 3:5-6.
5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Prayer

Dear Lord. There are many things that I don't understand - the whys that never end. But there is a purpose beneath allowing these challenges to cross my paths daily. The very least I know is to build my character for the battles that will come tomorrow. I am grateful for each moment and person you send to teach me the inner pinings of my illusive heart. I am not so wise after all without you. So Lord, lead. Defend this cause and be my champion. I won't give up because you won't. This promised protection ain't for me to slow and slumber on, but to fight on with the confidence that this storm is but temporal and you are taking care of the important. Remind me to obey when I falter.

For your cause, Amen.