1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Keeping it real, there was a point in my life in the not to distant past, where I would've told you....I had a serious inability to healthily mourn. I actual ran & avoided it. See as a teenager and going into young adulthood, there was a period in my life where we, my family & I became so familiar with death & dying that I'd sit in funerals totally numb. I'd watch people cry over the body in a casket that while this person had once live, they never treated lovingly. I sat in re passes and listen to "oh how I'd wish..." stories. I heard eulogies that preached people into heaven, that lived hell on earth. So when it came to me losing anything or anyone....I made mourning a filthy a rest stop restroom, until I lost my first dog to death ( I was 22 years old.). Then when I had to leave a job (due to a promotion) and I wept having to leave the people I loved and invested over 8+hrs a day, and over 12+ years of my life with some of which despised me and my faith.
Yesterday was a bittersweet day, and I know THAT'S NOT what GOD wanted for me. He wanted for me to embrace the blessing/calling He's placed on my life to do exactly what is stated in Isaiah 61:1-3. What has hindered me is this thing called mourning. I find myself overwhelmed with KNOWING that the BODY of believers that I have been called to lead are brokenhearted. Brokenhearted because the loss of not one, but two Pastors. Brokenhearted because of this loss & that their friends; other members will be leaving, & some already have. Because of my relationships with every last person in our body......my heart too is broken. I too have mourned the loss of my beloved pastors, but I thank GOD they aren't dead, and I can still reach out to them. I too mourn because some people have left, and there maybe more. I too mourn because in this semi-Exodus I will then see who was committed to their pastors vs. those committed to His church. I too mourn because I will see some struggle in their spirituality because they chose not to remain in the vine due to their anger, frustrations, and not GOD's leading. I too mourn, because the WORD of God is true that we are often times led away by our own desires (emotions)......(2Pet. 3:16-18, Jude 1) and not by His Spirit. So whereas I was once not acquainted with grief....because of Christ I am, now. This too; this period of mourning, shall and will pass.........morning is coming soon, so for now please excuse me....I Am Anointed for this, and (my heart is) for these people & those GOD will be sending! LGLP
For all the reasons you have noted, I'll mourn alongside you Pastor. I will also celebrate God's favor upon you in selecting you as his man to lead our body into spiritual maturity, grace extended eagerly to one another, unity that is pleasing to our Lord, and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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