March 20, 2013 - The Snicker's Voice

As we approach Easter, we focus our attention and remind ourselves of the way of the cross, the sacrifice that brought us freedom, life beyond the cross, etc. I know that our day-to-day journey touches these concepts, but during this season we find the church really returns to a place of deep meditation and concerted focus. We return to the cross and bring our wandering thoughts back to the captivating concept that a high price was paid for our freedom. I will never understand God's love for me in that He would give his only son and watch him die to have a long-term relationship with someone as wicked as I. I legitimately cannot understand that type of love and yet am eternally grateful...beyond words grateful.....beyond description grateful. When we think of the gifts of the cross, we could make a list. Couldn't we? We certainly pray and confess that Jesus took our infirmities and diseases upon himself and "by his stripes we are healed." I stand on that truth in my own personal life. But sometimes I wonder if we firmly accept that Jesus heals "real" diseases - like cancer, diabetes, things I cannot pronounce - but he doesn't have the time to heal our eating disorders. STOP! You will never convince me that all the beating, blood, stripes, and eventual death was only for a certain "select" issues. I have child-like faith to believe that Jesus' journey to, through, and beyond the cross is BIG enough to heal anything. Many of us struggle on a daily basis to eat properly and often feel defeated when we cheat. We hide behind voices that compel us to submit - like the Snickers voice, or the Dunkin Donuts voice, or the voice of our children needing a Big Mac. Then when we submit to the voice, we feel defeated and often get angry with God for not healing us. Can I challenge that way of reasoning this morning, as I lived there for 52 years? Jesus' death brought us freedom from diseases, but it also brought us the freedom of choice. Preach, sista! As I told a friend the other day who was ingesting a large double cheeseburger and a bucket of fries, "you are free to eat that now, but you are not free to choose the consequence that eating this COULD bring to your arteries later." Their response, "I'll worry about it later." Yes, freedom comes to us through the cross, but our free choices may hinder God's best desire for our body later in life. They could! Perhaps our healing of diseases could be hindered by the freedom to make choices along our health journey? I know this, I would rather eat to live and use my freedom of choice to fill this body God gave me with great substances than endure heart disease and cancer and need a miracle on that end. I would. Love you all, PK Ps - let me know about Life Group in April. Bring a friend. :)