It wasn't so long ago the evening news told the story of a man who had
hitchhiked from coast to coast.
Understandably, when rides were
scarce, he ended up walking. In the interview the man was asked what was
the most difficult thing he had to endure. His reply surprised the
interviewer (and me). I thought he would say his greatest problem was
dealing with the steep mountains or the hot sun. Not at all. Nor was it
the heat of the desert or torrential rains.
What was it that
bothered him most? What was the biggest difficulty he had to endure?
The man said, "It was the very small stones in my shoe."
He
was right. Small things can make life bitter.
Ask any Sunday
school child, "What did Jesus do for you?"
That child will almost
always reply, "Jesus died on the cross to take away my sins." It is a
perfectly right and proper answer. Jesus lived His life perfectly, so He
could be the perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Still, if we could
go to Jesus and ask, "What was the hardest part about Your suffering?" I
wonder what He might reply. Would He talk about the nails that pierced
hands and feet or the whip that ripped His back? That would make sense,
but I wouldn't be shocked if Jesus said the nails hurt, but that was a
pain that was short and quickly over.
Do you think it would be
possible Jesus might say His greater suffering was "the small stones in
His sandals"? Possibly Jesus would say His greatest burden was the fact
throughout His life He was despised and rejected by the people who
should have recognized Him, that He was railroaded to the cross by the
people He had come to save.
What would Jesus say if we asked Him
about His greatest disappointment today?
If He were to speak
about His greatest frustration, do you think He would talk about the
quickly passing persecutions of His people by non-Christian leaders, who
are here today and gone tomorrow?
Or do you think He would talk
about His people who, week after week and month after month, forget to
give thanks for all the things He has done on their behalf?
Would
He talk about the people who forget all His blessings and complain as if
the meal of their lives was composed only of bitter herbs?
I
wonder what Jesus would say.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, with the
Spirit's help I believe I can identify and put up a fair fight against
the big problems of life. It's the small ones that often defeat me.
Today I pray You will keep me faithful in things both big and small. In
Your Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken Klaus
Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
