SESGazer, This is a quote of part of something I said to ANOTHER Person in another thread not too long ago. Maybe it will help:
"YOU SEEM TO FORGET THAT JESUS, WHO IT IS OUR LIFE'S MISSION TO EMULATE WAS A "MAN OF SORROWS." JESUS LOVED MAN, YET HE DID NOT TRUST MAN. JESUS IS THE WORD MADE FLESH AND THE WORD IS GOD. (
JOHN 1:1-16 ESV) ALL THE VERSES I GIVE ABOVE IN POST #9 ARE PART OF HIS COMPOSURE AND THIS, "“THE HEART IS MORE DECEITFUL THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND MORTALLY SICK. WHO CAN FATHOM IT?" (JER 17:9 CJB) IN
MATTHEW 10 WHEN JESUS SENT HIS DISCIPLES OUT ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY JESUS CAUTIONED THEM TO BE "SHREWD AS VIPERS (AND INNOCENT AS DOVES)" IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH PEOPLE. SHREWD DOES NOT TRUST WITHOUT VERIFICATION OR NOT IN ANY CASE. JESUS' SEEMINGLY MOST LOVED DISCIPLE, PETER, BETRAYED JESUS THREE TIMES AND RESORTED TO A WORLDLY RESPONSE WHEN THE ROMAN GUARD CAME TO ARREST JESUS. JESUS, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR SAID,
"“WHAT COMES OUT OF A PERSON IS WHAT DEFILES HIM. FOR FROM WITHIN, OUT OF THE HEART OF MAN, COME EVIL THOUGHTS, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT, MURDER, ADULTERY, COVETING, WICKEDNESS, DECEIT, SENSUALITY, ENVY, SLANDER, PRIDE, FOOLISHNESS. ALL THESE EVIL THINGS COME FROM WITHIN, AND THEY DEFILE A PERSON."
MARK 7:20-23 ESV HE LOVED US BEYOND MEASURE BUT HE DID NOT TRUST US. YES, HE WAS VERY LONELY AND I AM SURE HEART SICK IN HIS DEALING WITH MAN. ARE WE BETTER THAN HIM, GOD, TO EXPECT BETTER FOR OURSELVES ESP. WITH IT BEING OUR MISSION TO EMULATE HIM? WHAT DID JESUS TELL US WE ARE TO DO IF WE WANT TO BE A FOLLOWER OF HIS? DENY OUR SELF AND TAKE UP OUR CROSS. WHERE WAS JESUS AT WHEN HE HAD TO TAKE UP HIS CROSS? ENJOYING WORLDLY PLEASURES, BATHING HIMSELF IN ALL KINDS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP FROM HIS POPULARITY, REALIZING PROSPERITY, ENJOYING ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS? HIS VERY OWN, THE 12, ONE COULD SAY HIS MOST INTIMATE FRIENDS, ABANDONED HIM. ARE WE BETTER THAN JESUS TO EXPECT THAT OUR CROSS-BEARING IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER FOR US? WHO, WHAT ARE WE? ISA 64:6; RO 3:23, RO 7:24"
Gazer, this is why we can lean in to Him esp when we are lonely. He KNOWS loneliness like no other and He promises
NEVER to leave or forsake us. His Word We
CAN trust. Your faith in that fact WILL make His presence REAL and Warm and Soothing and Peaceful and Encouraging and Bolster you into this world, armed with His love and strength.
