"The Challenge"

"Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart." (Psalms 109:16)

 Maybe it is wrong, and maybe there are no connections between this and that, but only an imaginary thread; so be it, the tread is scarlet, winding through and holding every single word together as one. It is really not all that hard to get the Gospel message from almost anywhere in the Bible, the challenge that we face is putting all of it to work in our lives. Having compassion and loving those who are suffering is something we need to allow ourselves to do, but we feel as though it will somehow rub off, as if the suffering they might be experiencing will become transferred to us or felt in our hearts as well. So be it! As it should be! Jesus was referred to as the Man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3), because He took our pain upon Himself. You want to talk about something rubbing off or being transferred from one person to another, He took it willingly and without regret. Odd as it might appear, challenge is not just a contest or competition, it is also exposure; in the medical field, it is exposure of the immune system to pathological organisms or antigens. Who would have guessed? The word came to me last night, and I started typing this theory of transfer and rubbing off, and then here it is, proof that it is what it is! That is how God works; He truly is "Wonderful, Counselor." But in all honesty, we are meant to take on the sorrow and pain of the afflicted; we just cannot show compassion any other way. But it is perfectly fine that way, we have an immune system that can absorb it all; as a matter of fact, we are totally unaware of the power of this immune system contained in us, not until it is challenged. That is how love works, it is only experienced in power when it is given out in power...

"He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." He went on a little farther and fell on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass by. "Abba, Father," he cried out, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.""
(Mark 14:33-36) NLT