A CHURCH FOR THE WOUNDED
Sharing Love From Sweden
By Eva Haglund
Some people have not gone through so many trials while others have. Some have suffered very much. Those who have not suffered much do not understand people who have gone through many difficult things. Some have family and friends who go home and do not understand the pain. They look down at those who are sick, poor and wounded, They do not care while there are others who show compassion and love.
In Job we read that he was ill and suffered much. He went through a lot of trials. Some Christians who look down at people who are ill and wounded seem not to have read Job's story, where Job too was ill and wounded. Some of his friends did not understand him in the trials and spoke words which were of no encouragement. Job however was not bitter towards them but forgave them and prayed for them. Job's faith was tested in all trials, but he kept standing. His wife told him to curse God and die but Job refused and he kept the faith. He knew God was good.
Sometimes we go through tests of our faith. We need to keep standing as Job did. In the end of Job's book we read that he got back all that he had lost, and even more. In Luke 6:21 we read, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil for the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets." This is a good word in the Bible as it also gives comfort!
Wounded people who has suffered much need comfort. It is important we share comfort. In Isaiah 40:1 is written, "Comfort, yes comfort, My people," says your God.
We can show comfort in different ways, such as counseling, talking, fellowship, and also buy flowers to someone as a present. Practical love heals. God is a God of comfort. We need to seek Him in the Bible where there are a lot of words on comfort. I also think that friendship and fellowship is healing for wounded people.
In Luke 10 we see a man who was wounded. He was wounded emotionally, physically and was robbed. He had no money. The one who helped him was a person other people looked down at, but he showed compassion and helped this man. In James 2:17, is written "Thus also faith by itself , if it does not have works, is dead." Faith ought to be shown in love.
Many people are wounded today. They need compassion, understanding and love. People as us can reach out and help. It is also important to know that all people have the same value, Jesus says in Matt 25:40, "Assuredly, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these of these of my brethren, you did it for Me."
Many are wounded and suffer today in the world but love shared can be like a miracle.
In Rom 12:15 it is written, "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep."
When there is compassion for people there sometimes also can be tears, When we read "weep for those who weep" we understand a heart of compassion, a heart which is touched and in intercession. There can sometimes be tears in pain for anybody in prayer.
The one who has suffered most is Jesus as He hung on the cross for us. Jesus identifies with wounded people. When we cry, He cry. He cares.
In Isaiah 53:4-5 we read, "Surely He has born our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
In Isaiah 53:3 we also understand that Yeshua/Jesus was a "man of sorrows." He suffered so much because of His love for you and I. In His name is salvation.
