Youth Ministry Blog

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The Important Question

Posted on February 11, 2010

When we are little, many of us chanted the words “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me”. Where did such a silly statement come from?...Why did so many of us repeat it?...(I guess it was my way of pretending that some unkind verbiage was not going to accomplish its purpose…I would never admit that piercing words had hit their designated target…) Could it be any further from the truth?...

There are words that are hard to hear… “We are selling the rental…You have one month to move.” “The engine on the car is shot.” “Your credit card is declined.”

Then…there are words that are extremely painful and difficult to hear. “We won’t be needing your services any longer.” “We found a lump.” “I’m sorry. We did everything we could.” “I don’t love you anymore.”

What to we do when we hear the words that literally become sticks and stones that tear up our hearts and leave us bleeding and broken in an emotional heap? Do we head for the local bars? No. The answers can’t be found there. There’s just more pain there. Do we rush into the arms of a stranger or a forbidden “love”? No. There is no answer there…just more pain. Do we try to run away from the situation so full of hurt? That doesn’t change anything or solve the problem. Do we become angry and bitter and make everyone around us miserable? What good does that do? What do we DO when we hear such words?

John 6 tells of a similar situation where a group of followers heard words that were difficult…they were words that were words of pain…they didn’t like what they were hearing. All this talk of blood and flesh and sacrifice! Talk of death! That’s not what the majority had bought into. They were looking for a leader to set up his kingdom at their present time…They wanted a deliverer! They signed on with a miracle working hero! Not a “dead end” prophet.

In verse sixty six we read one of the saddest scriptures in the Bible…”As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore”… They left Him! They just turned and left Him! These people had looked into the very eyes of their Creator only to turn their backs on Him and go back to their old life! What a horrible mistake! How tragic!

When awful words still ring in your ears and sting your soul…is that what you are tempted to do? Turn your back on God? Life is hard and you feel God has turned a deaf ear to you and your problems? What’s in it for you following God? After all you have done for Him and this is what you get? Blood…ripped flesh…sacrifice?

Jesus is turning to you today just as He did to the twelve disciples and He would ask you the same question He asked them. “Are you leaving too?”

I pray that your answer will be the same as Peter…He answered Jesus, “Lord, who would we go to? You are the words of everlasting life? We believe and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

When life writes a difficult and unbearable page in your life…remember He has the words of life. He is the one that will heal your broken heart! He is the living water! He….is…God…

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