Because He Lives: The Best and Worst Things in my Life

THE BEST AND WORST THINGS IN MY LIFE

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

The worst thing that ever happened to me in my life was not the verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse I have endured. It was not financial struggles, the death of a loved one, or illness. No, without a doubt, the worst thing that ever happened to me was walking 26 years of my life outside the fellowship of God. It was feeling hopeless and not realizing hope was one short prayer away. It was looking to man or to myself for solutions, and when they failed, denying the truth and living in a world where I did not admit the reality of how bad it was. I couldn’t admit something that overwhelming.

The best thing that ever happened to me was not being freed from the abuse ... or marrying my sweet husband ... or finding security and safety. The best thing that ever happened to me was reaching up and taking Jesus’ extended, nail-scarred hand, letting HIM wipe the tears from my eyes as I confessed my sin and need of a Savior, and walking with Him RIGHT INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD and hearing God speak to my heart, “I’m here.” And He made me new.

Yes, the best thing that ever happened to me was seeing how He threw my sins into the sea, and how He was patiently waiting for me to let Him make me new.

“For God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.” Isaiah 43:25

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” Isa. 49:16a

Because He Lives: "But I'm Scared of God"

“BUT I’M SCARED OF GOD!”

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

Is this the way you feel -- “This relationship with God sounds great, but I’m scared of God. You don’t know what I’ve done ... what’s He going to do to me?” If so, you probably feel very alone - and it may surprise you when I say that I know exactly how you feel. There was a time when I, too, was scared of what might happen if I got too close to God. If He saw what I was really like. If all the masks were dropped. And mostly, if I stopped rationalizing my sin and called it what it really was -- that scared me more than anything.

We’ve seen God as the Father who wants to fix what is broken in our lives. Now let me share with you a beautiful story from Jesus’ lips about another child who faced going to his father after a time away, a time that had brought him only misery. Luke 15:11-24 records the story of the prodigal son:

And Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons; and the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ And he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need. And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of the country, and he sent him into the fields to feed swine. And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’ And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ And they began to be merry.”                        

Luke 15:11-24

Jesus’ parable gives a beautiful picture of God’s reaction when we return to where we belonged all along -- with Him. He is excited! In another parable about finding lost things in this same chapter of Luke, Jesus explains, “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7)

You see, God, in His ever-perfect justice, has already endured the penalty for our sins. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was bearing the sins of the world -- every one of them. Every murder, every affair, every evil thought, every hurtful word uttered by you or me or anyone else. The Bible says that He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). That is why we can come to God through Jesus, with the full assurance that our sins will be forgiven. That is why we receive God’s mercy.

Because Jesus Christ stretched out His arms one day on Golgotha almost 2000 years ago, we have the assurance that God’s arms are eternally stretched open for us.

As the old song goes, that is why they call it “Amazing Grace.”

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

2 Cor. 5:21

“...to Thee, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee.”

Ps. 86:4b-5

“But Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.”

Ps. 86:15

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,

that saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I’m found.

Was blind, but now I see.”

From Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, a former slave trader

who experienced God’s grace and salvation

through faith in Jesus Christ

Because He Lives: My Self-Inflicted Wounds

MY SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

“There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Therefore He humbled their heart with labor; they stumbled and there was none to help.

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death,

and broke their bands apart....

“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”

Psalm 107:10-14, 20

I remember that time in my life so vividly. I was 21 years old and living two lives. To most people, I was a bright student, successfully pursuing a future in journalism by working as editor of my weekly college newspaper. I appeared confident, secure, and “together”. But that didn’t show what was going on inside me.

Underneath, I was hurting. I was involved in a verbally, emotionally, and sexually abusive relationship with my first “real” boyfriend. The confident young woman who stood up to administrators without blinking would cower when “he” appeared even the least bit unhappy. My smiles were often replaced by tears as soon as the door closed.

Something deep within me began to whisper, “You know the Way out.” Yes, I knew God was the answer. I considered turning to Him, asking for His help. But immediately an opposing thought shouted at me repeatedly: “You’d be a hypocrite to turn to God now, after all you’ve done.”

You see, I was raised in a Christian home. I knew right from wrong -- and I knew that my relationship with this person was based on the wrong things. I had wanted to love and be loved, so I pursued what I thought my needs were -- a boyfriend -- and followed my emotions, which told me somebody was better than nobody at all. I knew I should seek God, but instead I sought my own answers to my needs. Soon I was sexually involved with this boyfriend, and spent many weekends drinking and partying. And I knew better.

So at the earliest opportunity, satan reminded me of that fact, telling me that I’d gotten myself into this, so now I had to deal with the consequences. Unfortunately, I listened to that lie rather than the truth -- the truth that Jesus came to heal even my self-inflicted wounds. I married this abusive person, spent 4 more years in pain, committed many more “I knew better” sins, divorced, and re-married. When I looked back at where I’d been, I knew I never wanted to go down that road again. I finally gave myself wholly, completely to Jesus and let Him heal all of my wounds ... those caused by others, and those I had inflicted upon myself.

But it didn’t have to be that way. The truth is, Jesus is God’s Word, sent to heal even our self-inflicted wounds. Anything contrary to that is a lie, and satan is the father of lies. If you are hurting today, healing doesn’t depend on who caused the wounds. What matters is that you believe the truth: Jesus is God’s living Word (see John 1) sent to heal you. He loves you and wants to help you. Ps. 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” And it doesn’t matter how the wounds got there.

“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Ps. 107:20

Because He Lives: God in the storm

GOD IN THE STORM

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

Do you feel overwhelmed by the turmoil in your life? Do you seek for something in your life bigger than your problem? Then friend, let me introduce you to Jesus Christ, who long ago demonstrated His power over storms. Mark 4:35-41 records the event:

“And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ And being aroused, He rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Hush, be still.’‘ And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, ‘Why are you so timid? How is it that you have no faith?’ And they became very much afraid and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’”

“Who then is this?” asked the disciples. This was Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. He has control over the weather because He created the heavens and the earth. Colossians 1:16 teaches us: “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -- all things have been created by Him and for Him.”

You see, just as God has control over the weather and could still the storm so completely that it became “perfectly calm”, He also has created YOU and everything else in this world. He has the same ability to give you peace and calm in the storms of your life as He did almost 2000 years ago when His disciples discovered that even the wind and sea obey Him.

Put your life in His capable hands. Ask Him to calm the storms in your life and to give you peace. As you learn to trust Him, you will see just how powerful and loving He is.         

Because He Lives: Fixing What is Broken

FIXING WHAT IS BROKEN

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

Watching small children at play, I have often seen a toy break -- a doll’s arm falls off, the wheel comes off a fire engine, the motor on a battery-operated car stops working. It is interesting to watch the responses of the little ones to these mishaps. Some try to act as though the toy were not broken; others try unsuccessfully to repair it themselves; many just burst into tears. Sometimes, though, one will take the toy to his or her father, hold it up as high as possible, and say, “Daddy, can you fix it?”

It is important for us to realize God wants us to approach Him as a little child, totally trusting and considering Him to be our perfect father. None of  us had perfect earthly fathers; some of you may even  have been deeply wounded by the men who were charged with your care. But in God we have a heavenly Father who is absolutely perfect -- and who is waiting for us to approach Him with what is broken.

Like a small child with a broken toy, we should take our broken things to Him ... broken homes, broken hearts, broken dreams, broken spirits, broken promises, even broken relationships with Him. In full faith that it can be done, we should lift them up and say, “Daddy, can you fix it?” And He will.

“...and in Him all things hold together.” Col. 1:17

“He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted,

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.”

Psalm 51:17

“...‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter

the kingdom of heaven.’”

Matthew 18:3

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption by which we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

Romans 8:15 [Abba is a very personal Greek word for Father,

most closely translated into English as “Daddy.”]

Because He Lives: The Invitation

THE INVITATION

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

Suppose God gave a party and the whole world came. Millions vie to touch Him, to talk to Him. With whom do you imagine He would choose to spend His time . . . Billy Graham, perhaps, or the Pope? Maybe a selection of world leaders for a very high-level strategy meeting?

Or ... the teenage prostitute hooked on drugs, who cries herself to sleep every night? The young woman who slips away in the dark so she won’t have to face the man who took her to a motel from the bar the night before? The angry middle-aged woman no one understands, who is bitter toward men and mad at the world after her husband has abused her for years? Who would capture His attention?

2000 years ago, while on earth, God did accept an invitation. Luke 7:36-50 records Jesus’ attendance at the home of Simon the Pharisee -- a highly religious man. Yet it is not Simon who captures Jesus’ heart:

“Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him.And He entered the Pharisee’s house, and reclined at the table. And behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.

“Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ And he replied, ‘Say it, Teacher.’

“‘A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?’ Simon answered and said, ‘I suppose the one whom he forgave more.’ And He said to him, ‘You have judged correctly.’

“And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.’

“And He said to her, ‘Your sins have been forgiven.’ And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man who even forgives sins?’ And He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”

Jesus’ heart was captured not by the Pharisee who knew the Law and considered himself righteous, but who had not shown love. Instead, He was touched by this woman who hadn’t been invited but who had come just because she heard Jesus would be there. She simply showered Him with love. She didn’t try to explain herself to Him ... she just loved Him.

Jesus didn’t deny her status as a sinner when He perceived Simon’s thoughts. He didn’t make excuses for her sin or try to rationalize it. He didn’t even tolerate it. He simply forgave her sins, and told her to go in peace. Jesus knew she was a sinner when she approached Him, but as she poured out her love to Him, she found acceptance and forgiveness.

Jesus’ response to this woman’s sin and her love is the same as His response to you today. He won’t try to justify or explain your sins ... but He will forgive them, and give you peace, when you come to Him with your whole heart.

In Matt. 11:28, Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Accepting this wonderful invitation will usher Jesus into your heart and you can pour out your love upon Him and receive His love, forgiveness, and peace ... a peace that will last for eternity.

Because He Lives: He Understands Your Pain

HE UNDERSTANDS YOUR PAIN

  (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

Sometimes people tell us they understand something that we know they have no possible way of understanding. How can a vibrant young person truly understand the hurt of a senior citizen losing her ability to take care of herself? Or how can someone with no children empathize with a stressed mother of seven? On a more personal note, you may be wondering how anyone else can truly understand your pain, the things you have been through, when perhaps you’re too hurt to even verbalize them yourself.

As you have seen, God hates violence and evil. But more than just hating what you may have endured, God truly understands. How do I know such a thing? Because Scripture records the many horrible abuses and persecutions He endured Himself. To recount all of them would take many pages, but Isaiah 53:3-5 summarizes the type of treatment He endured:

“He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face, He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.”

When God came to earth as a man, Jesus Christ, He knew He would be despised and forsaken, pierced and crushed through crucifixion. He endured much humiliation -- being spat upon, beaten, mocked; being displayed naked on a cross while people below taunted Him;  and ultimately dying. And as this passage from Isaiah explains, it was for US -- for OUR sins -- and through all He endured we are healed. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

You probably would never have voluntarily chosen your wounds. Yet Jesus Christ did just that -- He voluntarily chose to come to earth knowing He would endure this kind of treatment -- simply because He loves us so very much. “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [acceptable sacrifice] for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

So when your pain is so deep that you wonder if anyone possibly understands, and you feel emotionally numb -- remember, Jesus understands your pain and He really cares about you. Take your wounds to the One who was wounded for you, who suffered and endured more than you can imagine out of love for you, for me, and for all those who have ever been born.

Because, my friend, He understands. He truly understands.

“And they dressed Him up in purple, and after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they kept beating His head with a reed, and spitting at Him, and kneeling and bowing before Him....And they crucified Him, and divided up His garments among themselves, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified Him....And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, ‘Ha! You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!’...And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’...And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.”

Mark 15:17-19, 24-25, 29-30, 34, 37

Because He Lives: “But There's So Much Evil!"

“BUT THERE’S SO MUCH EVIL”

 (Part of a series sharing my devotional thoughts from almost two decades ago. For the back story & links to other posts, see the first post in the series.)

If you are like most people who have experienced abuse and violence, you probably have some real questions about God. You may even have some wrong concepts about what God thinks of your pain. Would it surprise you to know that the Bible, the Word of God, very clearly shows that God always abhors violence, evil, and sin? He has an especially strong reaction when it is His own who suffer.

In fact, when we are hurting and experience the inevitable pains that come in life, we have the opportunity to experience God’s presence in a special way. Psalm 34:18-19 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” God’s Word is so powerful on this subject. Please just read the following verses, asking God to speak to your heart through them. My comments are in brackets [ ] to distinguish them from the Scriptures.

“For Thou art not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with Thee.

The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity.

Thou dost destroy those who speak falsehood;

The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” Psalm 5:4-6

“The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee;

for Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.”

Psalm 9:9-10

“For He who requires blood remembers them;

He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”

Psalm 9:12

“For the needy will not always be forgotten,

nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.”

Psalm 9:18

“O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt strengthen their heart,

Thou wilt incline Thine ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,

that man who is of the world may cause terror no more.”

Psalm 10:17-18

“The Lord is in His holy temple;  the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,

and the one who loves violence His soul hates.” Psalm 11:4-5

[Remember: Your situation is never hopeless, because God is on His throne!]

“‘Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,

now I will arise’, says the Lord, ‘I will set him in the safety for which he longs.’” Psalm 12:5

“I love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death encompassed me, and the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.

The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; 

He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His feet. And He rode upon a cherub and flew; and He sped upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, hailstones and coals of fire. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of Thy nostrils.

He sent from on high, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.

He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His ordinances were before me, and I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless with Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity.

Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,

according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

With the kind Thou dost show Thyself kind, with the blameless Thou dost show Thyself blameless. With the pure Thou dost show Thyself pure. And with the crooked Thou dost show Thyself astute. For Thou dost save an afflicted people; but haughty eyes Thou dost abase. For Thou dost light my lamp; the Lord my God illumines my darkness. For by Thee I can run upon a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God.”

Psalm 18:1-31

“For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him; but when he cried to Him for help, He heard.”

Psalm 22:24

“How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in thee, before the sons of men! Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the conspiracies of man;

Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.”

Psalm 31:19-20

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

Psalm 34:18-19

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

Psalm 40:1-3

“How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

the Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble.”

Psalm 41:1

“For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise His who are prisoners.” Psalm 69:33

“For he will deliver the needy when he cries for help, the afflicted also, and him who has no helper. He will have compassion on the poor and needy, and the lives of the needy he will save. He will rescue their life from oppression and violence;

and their blood will be precious in his sight.”

Psalm 72:12-14

“Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute.

Rescue the weak and needy, deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.”

Psalm 82:3-4

“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.”

Psalm 140:12

“He heals the brokenhearted,

and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 147:3

[This verse shows how PERSONALLY God takes mistreatment of His own. Saul has been killing Christians. Jesus appears to Saul and says,]

“Saul, why are you persecuting ME?”

Acts 9:4