Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
Author: Pastor Bryan Lowe
A repentant rascal with definite issues, but who is seeking to be authentic in his faith to Jesus Christ.
An avid reader and a hopeful writer. Husband and father. A pastor and Bible teacher. A brain tumor survivor. Diagnosed with clinical depression, and now disabled.
Enjoys life, such as it is, in Alask.a (Actually I have it pretty good.)
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces.
Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions.”
—Matthew Henry
“God’s way of answering the Christian’s prayer for more patience, experience, hope and love often is to put him into the furnace of affliction.”
–Richard Cecil
“Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
“Perhaps God has been speaking to you and you wonder why you have troubles. Maybe you have suffered a financial loss and you find it very difficult to understand. Is God speaking to you in an effort to bring you back to Himself? You need to face these matters squarely and be honest with God as He deals with you.”
–Theodore Epp
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
Psalm 119:71
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”
So Saul headed toward Damascus. As he came near the city, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. 4 Saul fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
Acts 9:3-4
I’m thinking that an awful lot of my life has been filled with these inconvenient interruptions. I like a certain order, and schedules and keeping appointments. I’m not a rigid person, but I can become mildly annoyed when my life becomes ruled by these unplanned intrusions.
However, at times an interruption can be quite productive. Often when my plans are set aside, I get the opportunity to see the Holy Spirit step in. He does things that are eternally true and special.
Scriptures are saturated with ‘inconvenient interruption.’ Mary, whose life was jolted by a visit by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26-31). Paul, on the road to Damascus was overwhelmed suddenly and converted (Acts 9:1-9). The virgin Mary would have a son, and Paul would shake the world with his preaching the Gospel of Jesus.
There are many others who had their calm lives ‘turned upside down’ by our tumultuously peaceful God.
One could almost say that the Bible is a book of this ‘blessed interruption.’ I’m thinking right now of Moses, whom God shook and completely altered his life in just a few moments. And of course we read of Abraham, suddenly leaving everything to follow a promise.
I tell you, God has a flair for the dramatic. He often steps into the lives of His people. We might get irritated, frustrated, ‘owly’ and a little bit afraid. They can’t keep Him away; here he is again to save us!
But the question is this– can the Spirit disrupt you?
Perhaps this is the next lesson in your discipleship. You will need to be a servant. The most profoundly Christian people I know are those whose lives can be side-tracked. I encourage you, look for God’s purposes behind your next interruption. Let Him arrange your schedule.
Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!”
“Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.”
Prov. 20:28
“Through these fields of destruction, baptism of fire
I’ve watched all your suffering, as the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad, in the fear and alarm
You did not desert me, my brothers in arms”
Dire Straits, ’84
Loyalty, and our deep committment to our “brothers” and our “sisters” should be growing in your life right now. It should be “escorting” you to a deeper sense of intimacy with each other. About 20 years ago, I visited a Lutheran church on a Sunday service. There was a point in the liturgy when you were to greet the people around you. I remember grabbing a guy in the pew in front of me. I gave him a massive bear hug, squeezing the air from him. He was my brother, even though he was a stranger! I hung on tight to him. He was my brother.
In Bible times David and Jonathan had a friendship that defied political reasoning. Jonathan was supposed to be the next king of Judah, everything had been arranged by his father, Saul. But when David came into Jonathan’s life, everything was changed. An instant friendship changed everything. They would remain loyal to each other for the rest of their lives. I believe they are a model of what we are to each other, in the church.
I will confess to you, I have neglected so much in my spiritual walk. There is a lot I am ashamed of. I have sinned more as a Christian, than I ever did before I came to Christ. As a Christian, I have sinned quite vigorously. But one thing, I have held to beyond all else. I loved my brothers. They all know who they are! I can list them if you want. But in the final analysis, I have been faithful to them. I’m pretty stupid, in so many ways. But it seems that at this particular level, things are simplified. “Do you love, Allen? Of course I do, Father: even if he is in a strange and difficult place, I love my brother; always, and forever.”
Loyalty to those who have been brought into our lives, should not ever be diminished or explained away for what we call “logical reasons.” There should be a connection that should never, ever be terminated. Some of the brothers who I connected to in the ’80s, are no longer serving the Lord. But as I think of them, there is a relationship that can’t be broken, even by their disobedience. I still love them deeply.
Being loyal to someone, does not mean you honor their choices, or their sin. It seems that the issues they grapple with, can’t ever really erode or diminish your love for them. When I was a boy, on occasion we declared a “blood” oath with each other. It was almost “ceremonial,” we would cut our thumbs and meld with each other, mixing blood with blood. If only commitment and loyalty were that easy. But this is the definition of an “agape love.”
I believe the Holy Spirit sees, and honors loyalty. But I admit, I’m not doing this things for His blessing. Rather it is a compulsion, something I know is right; something I will do until they bury me. And I honestly can’t explain it. But they will always be my “brothers in arms.”
Broken Believers 