"Magnanimous"

"Lord, how long wilt Thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions." (Psalms 35:17) We come to a place which causes us to realize the power of the cross of Christ, in that Jesus not only paid the price for our sins and for our fallen condition, but He also set us free from the bondage of the law. In so doing, we have come under a new 'taskmaster', if you will, that being the bondage of love; love that denies self for the sake of others, and that does not boost in it's self, but lifts up others, even sometimes at the expense of self. Looking on this verse today, I was reminded about something that we seldom think about while going to trials or tribulation, which is how much God is long-suffering towards man's sinfulness, and sometimes, what we might be going through, and the reason that our trial seems to last for ever, is that God is having mercy upon either us or those around us; us, because we need to get our lives right with Him; those around us, because they need to see God's grace demonstrated in our lives. You get to a point where you no longer are asking God to deliver you from whatever it is that you are going through, but rather, you start asking that the outcome of whatever might happen be one that leaves you whole and intact. We really have no worries when it comes to our eternity, because we know that once we have given our life to Christ, eternity is not temporary, but it is for ever; therefore, it's not what happens here that will compromise our eternal existence; however, that said, God's plan for our lives may require us to be a vessel that is poured out for the sake of others. I know that might sound like something hard to fully understand, but considering how merciful that God is towards those that are still lost or have lost their way, He can and will use those that are already secure in Him and in His salvation to lead others back to Him. If that is the case, and even if it might not be, because we just may not know, become a vessel that God can pour out... "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall proper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify man; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:9-12)