Dependent and Disabled
I remember crisply, it was over 15 years ago and our boys were little. We were able to secure a last minute deal on a rental up north of a quaint little gingerbread type home for a wintry getaway weekend. It was a magical two days of sledding in the snow, drinking hot chocolate and watching old Christmas movies.
Not able to sleep the first night, I stayed up and prayed in the cold kitchen. I can't remember the conflict I was having in my heart, but I do remember reading this for what seemed like the first time:
"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:"
(Romans 4:4-6 ESV)
For some reason I thought of this verse and memory today. I often ponder how certain situations, certain people, glorify God. Especially the handicapped and incapacitated.
We live in a culture that values work and accomplishments. We want everyone to contribute to society. And on a basic level with God, we want to earn our way into heaven. To work to be accepted by Him.
Now America is a little confused right now, she's somewhere in between. We still value work, but we've fostered an entitlement society somehow. And yet we've still managed to neglect the weakest. The ones who may not have a future in contributing back to this society. Ever.
So back to my wondering about how someone who seemingly cannot contribute back to society can bring glory to God. What is the purpose in suffering like that? Well I'm convinced there are too many ways to count...but that doesn't discourage me from attempting. And as I remembered the above verse today, I thought of my son. I thought of those who cannot work, who depend on others. On society. On God.
And when I thought of these dependent ones, I was humbled once more as I always am. Because the least of these, suffering non contributors, are precious to Him. They glare the gospel to us with their lives. With their disability.
Because we are the dependent ones. We can never earn God's acceptance, we can never work hard enough. Christ came. Son of God, son of man. He came to rescue us. We can trust in Him for forgiveness and mercy. His disposition, if you have placed your trust in Christ, is always acceptance. Not based on your works, but on His.
So accept your disabled, non contributing status. Rest in forgiveness. And bless God for the handicapped, for the severely mentally ill, for the glory of God that is revealed in them.
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
(Romans 4:7-8 ESV)
Not able to sleep the first night, I stayed up and prayed in the cold kitchen. I can't remember the conflict I was having in my heart, but I do remember reading this for what seemed like the first time:
"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:"
(Romans 4:4-6 ESV)
For some reason I thought of this verse and memory today. I often ponder how certain situations, certain people, glorify God. Especially the handicapped and incapacitated.
We live in a culture that values work and accomplishments. We want everyone to contribute to society. And on a basic level with God, we want to earn our way into heaven. To work to be accepted by Him.
Now America is a little confused right now, she's somewhere in between. We still value work, but we've fostered an entitlement society somehow. And yet we've still managed to neglect the weakest. The ones who may not have a future in contributing back to this society. Ever.
So back to my wondering about how someone who seemingly cannot contribute back to society can bring glory to God. What is the purpose in suffering like that? Well I'm convinced there are too many ways to count...but that doesn't discourage me from attempting. And as I remembered the above verse today, I thought of my son. I thought of those who cannot work, who depend on others. On society. On God.
And when I thought of these dependent ones, I was humbled once more as I always am. Because the least of these, suffering non contributors, are precious to Him. They glare the gospel to us with their lives. With their disability.
Because we are the dependent ones. We can never earn God's acceptance, we can never work hard enough. Christ came. Son of God, son of man. He came to rescue us. We can trust in Him for forgiveness and mercy. His disposition, if you have placed your trust in Christ, is always acceptance. Not based on your works, but on His.
So accept your disabled, non contributing status. Rest in forgiveness. And bless God for the handicapped, for the severely mentally ill, for the glory of God that is revealed in them.
“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
(Romans 4:7-8 ESV)
Comments