Monday, 26 May 2014

Remove the ashes Week 21, 2014



Why are you looking so dejected? I have never seen such despair before.
“Is there anything more humiliating than experiencing the result of a wrong decision, a wrong choice? The result is in plain view, and a voice comes repeatedly which says, “How could this happen with you, a representative of Christ?” ”
Perhaps you should say nothing more sobering instead of humiliating. Keep your chin up soldier. The pilgrim’s journey is not yet done. Joshua you have grown old, but there is still much land for you to take control of Jos 13:1(ERV).
“Me? I keep getting recurring thoughts of handing over, throwing in the towel, getting someone else to complete the task.” 
Oh my dear fellow-soldier! Do no such thing; remove the ashes. "The priest is to clothe himself with linen robe and underclothes. Then he is to take the ashes of the burnt offering on the altar that had been consumed by the fire and set them beside the altar. Then he is to change his clothes, dressing himself with a different set of clothes, and take the ashes to a clean place outside the camp Lev 6:10-11(ISV).
“How does this apply to me?”
The failures may be likened to the ashes. But we are commanded to keep the fire burning. So the ashes of failure must be removed.
“How do I do this? Don’t spiritualise; I can’t think straight.”
 First of all set them by the side of the altar (Lev6:10). Present the broken pieces of your experience to God. He who is Great incredibly turns broken lives, and painful memories into testimonies. Offer your ashes to God. By the Spirit He comes to provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a spirit of despair." "Then people will call them "Oaks of Righteousness", "The Planting of the LORD", in order to display his splendor Is 61:3(ISV).
“Ok, ok, it makes sense... but how do I know it won’t happen again?”
Change your clothes (Lev 6:11). Were there factors that made you fail; maybe carelessness, lack of knowledge, or perhaps pride? Change them. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: "God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble." 1Pt 5:5(ISV). 
“The effort to critically examine and find out the causes is so painful!”
If you do not know why you failed before, how can you prevent it happening again? The inventor of the light bulb after failures commented that he had learned how not to make the light bulb. Perhaps this has happened so that a worse thing is prevented. Making a mistake or having a failure is no excuse to stop serving the Lord. Make the necessary changes, learn the needful lessons and return in the morning with fresh wood for the fire. The priest is to burn wood on it every morning Lev 6:12

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