I come to you with a message to my lost and hurting flock. I, their shepherd, wish to speak with these lost and bewildered lambs:
Come to me, bring me your pains, your burdens, your deep insecurities. Lay them at the foot of the cross, and I will bless them and lift them from you.
Why are so many of my children lost and bewildered? Why do so many suffer mental and physical anguish? Because when they are hurting, they run to human professionals--doctors, lawyers, psychiatrists, ministers; to help them solve their problems. This is good at times, but these gifted professionals can only help them for a little while. I, their Lord and savior, the master healer, am the only viable source of help they must rely on. Why do so many of my children stay in pain when all they have to do is come to me, tell me about their pains, and leave it with me? I, their Lord and savior, died for each of them, and I can carry the burdens of my lost and hurting flock. Why do they not trust and turn to me?
So many say they believe in me. But do they really know me? To many,
I am just a "figment of
imagination." To many, my life on earth was like a "fairy tale";beautiful in
lyrical form, but in most instances, not believable. They like and enjoy the
festivities of celebrating Christmas, and they read and see plays about my birth.
They enjoy celebrating Easter; however, I'm sad to say, not as much as Christmas.
To many, these holidays are not "holy days," but holidays away from work. I
beg of my children: come to the cross; place your hands on my pierced heart;
see the crown of thorns and the large nails that were so brutally hammered into
my wrists and feet; see the tears I shed for all of you. I took on your sins
and pains. I knew what each of you would suffer in your lifetime, and I willingly
took the punishment of the cross for all your pains and sufferings.
Look at me--feel me--I am real! I am not a fictional character out of a good story book. I am not a figment of the imagination. I can heal you. Why do you disbelieve? You say, "This sounds good, but when I'm hurting, I rely on pills, drugs, or alcohol to get through the pain. Oh, they may not stop the pain entirely, but they will deaden the feeling of hurt that accompanies the pain, mentally and physically." Oh, my blessed children, this is all a lie. I suffered much agony, but did I ask for a "pain pill"? Did I ask for this burden to be lifted? Did I contemplate taking my life because I knew the pain and agony I would have to endure? My humanness wanted to cry to stop the agony, but my Godliness bore me through, for my Father knew that I must suffer the pains of humanity in order to save all my people, and then I would be able to look down in compassion on all my hurting flock.
I know your pains; I suffered them, too. I know your heartaches; I had the same heartaches. I know your loneliness; I suffered the same loneliness. I know your frustrations, for I too was frustrated because of the lack of understanding of so many of my disciples.
But you ask, "If these disciples, who were hand-picked by you, betrayed you with their doubts, even to the point of death, how can I, a poor insecure human, believe that you will save me from my pains and insecurities?" Alas, I say to you, all my people who believe in me and have not witnessed my miracles with human eyes, will be blessed many, many times for their belief in me.
I come to you as your personal friend and savior. Do not abandon me, and I will not abandon you in your time of suffering and pain. For I am real--I love and understand your hurt. Don't, I beg of you, give in to the lies of Satan who whispers to you, "No one can save you--take the pills, take the drugs, drink the alcohol" so that your God-given senses are dulled, and he can slip in and do damage to your immortal souls. Trust me and turn to me in your desperate moments. I will be there with my mantle of protection. I will place this mantle over you, and Satan and his followers will not have sanction over you.
I, your loving friend and savior, plead with you. Do not turn away from me. I am your hope and salvation. I died that you might live. I bore your sins and your pains--I do know how you feel. I love you as no human loves you. I am your God, but I am also your friend whom you can turn to in any crisis. I am your loving savior who suffered and died for you. Please come to me, and I will comfort you and console you and soothe your furrowed brow. I do this because I love you. Please love me, in return, by believing and trusting in me.
Your loving friend and savior,
JESUS