There isn’t a person on this earth who has not had to endure some form of abuse, whether mental, emotional, or physical. The question is - how have you reacted to your maltreatment? Will you permit these areas you may have suffered to cause you to spiritually abuse yourself? Read on and you’ll see what I mean…
Luke 23:32-46 (KJV)
And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to
death. [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,
there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand,
and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them;
for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast
lots. [35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them
derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ,
the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him,
and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the
Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over him
in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
[39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying,
If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering rebuked
him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
[41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:
but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord,
remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto
him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
[44] And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all
the earth until the ninth hour. [45] And the sun was darkened, and the
veil of the temple was rent in the midst. [46] And when Jesus had cried
with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:
and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Though the people chanted the challenge, Christ did not save Himself from being crucified. He declined from employing His God given power to alter His circumstances, intense though they were. Jesus submitted Himself to the Lord and up until the last minute, He was found ministering to others - in spite of His agony. The last thing Christ gave to man was life and the last thing Christ received from man was vinegar. A sour offering in return for the sweetest sacrifice in the world! . “Save Thyself” was nothing more than a scornful comment delivered by men but born of the devil, who endeavored to mock Christ till the end. Surrounded by two criminals, one of the malefactors also railed on Jesus to save Himself. Even the vinegar mixed with gall was the obvious attempt of Satan to tempt Jesus to contradict scripture (Numbers 6:3) by taking in that which would reduce his suffering. Nevertheless, Jesus refused sour wine drugged with gall (Mt. 27:34). Yes, the devil harassed the Son of God up until His very last gulp of air…
All this Christ endured for you and I and what is our response? What do we offer Him in return? How much have you allowed the example of the cross to motivate you in your sufferings? Do you look to Jesus in your darkest hour and pattern yourself after Him, or run to the medicine cabinet for vinegar mingled with gall? Gall was a bitter, poisonous herb with opium-like properties and it was the drug of the day. How many times have you been tempted to turn to fashionable drugs to escape the demands of duty? Are you always looking for ways to “save yourself” from hard times? Are you in the habit of offering a sour puss whenever things don’t go your way or get a little sticky? Many Christians walk around with sour attitudes, as if the cross never touched their lives… Acid remarks flow from their lips; they carry bitterness inside of them and sport a very disagreeable nature – an overall unpleasant testimony in general! No doubt they are tart with the Lord as well… Ladies, such vinegar-like conduct is a mockery to God seeing He has made His marvelous grace available to all believers! Have you ever thought to scramble for a good dose of grace to cope when the ache begins?
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
If you’ll notice, the one malefactor hanging on the cross next to Christ who did not mock the Lord stated that Jesus “hath done nothing amiss.” In other words, this man did not blame God for the way His life turned out. He knew he was a sinner and took the blame for his own actions, without trying to “save himself” from judgment. How many times have you believed God did something amiss when in reality, your sufferings were the result of sinful choices, either your own or someone else’s? Have you held God accountable for all the pain and abuse you’ve had to endure during your lifetime? The devil knows that as long as he can get men and women to be bitter at God, they’ll never turn to the Lord for salvation or help, and then waste His grace.
Hebrews 12:15 (KJV)
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root
of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Ladies, Jesus went to the cross to correct the things that are amiss in our lives –the Savior must not be blamed for human choices! Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
In conclusion, if you’re going to save yourself from anything, save yourself from a sour puss! Don't abuse yourself spiritually... Learn from the actions of a repentant criminal, don’t come to Jesus offering Him vinegar – give Him something sweeter than that - your total trust. Fully rely upon God’s grace and show the world that it is sufficient to deaden the effects of sin!
2 Cor. 12:9 (KJV)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2004 Pamela A. Iannello
