sanctification

Knee Injury

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I got the MRI results a week ago. All suspicions are now laid to rest. I didn’t know that one knee could have so many issues all at the same time and still function normally. Torn meniscus. Sprained MCL. Deteriorating cartilage because the knee doesn’t track correctly. Whatever that means. And a Baker’s cyst on top of all that. That’s all happening to my knee at any one given moment. And I’m not really in pain. Should I be?

The doctor advised me to schedule physical therapy, so that starts next week. But I don’t think that physical therapy can heal a torn meniscus. The chiropractor said he couldn’t and stopped all treatment. So I wait. And I don’t play pickleball, which by the way, was the initiator of the injuries last fall. I just thought the tightening of the calf was my only problem until it didn’t heal. And it became aggravated every time I tried to play. If only I’d had the MRI back then, I could have been ready for spring pickleball season.

I’ve come to the conclusion that someone needs to tell people who are growing older not to try to act too young. It will catch up with you. But here’s the thing. I wasn’t trying to act young. I was trying to learn a new hobby and stay active. And now look what it’s done to me. I just want to play pickleball. And no. I’m not athletic. I’ve learned a fun sport in my older age, and I love it. And now I can’t shouldn’t play.

I read that a compression sleeve won’t help, even if it is made with copper or bamboo. I’m told to wear a hinged knee brace if I want to play. And yes, I’m trying to avoid surgery. But we’ll see what happens down the road. The chiropractor told me that if I wanted to play pickleball again, I would need surgery. My doctor says to forge ahead with physical therapy, and then we’ll talk.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives. Hebrews 12:6

The Christian lives a life of constant pruning. It’s a sanctifying life that we live, once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And by that, I mean it is a continual growing in our faith. We don’t become a Christian and then stop learning. We must read our Bibles and pray. We must attend church and spend time with fellow believers who can disciple and mentor us. A new Christian will have many questions about their newfound faith. They will possibly have habits and interests that God prunes out of their lives. They may have to extend their friendships to people who will challenge them to grow and not turn away from God. They will experience temptations that they will need to resist. It will not be an easy process, but it is a fulfilling life that’s lived in obedience to Jesus Christ.

During times of trial, our faith is pruned in ways we never imagined. Trusting God throughout the deepest, darkest times may seem ridiculous to those outside the faith. But to those who are true followers of Christ, there is no other way to live. There are moments when God is the only constant in life, and He is enough. During those dark moments, we have to ask ourselves if God is enough even if life never improves. Can we trust God in those moments not knowing what the future holds? And the answer is a resounding “yes”. Always yes.

You may ask how pruning in the Christian life compares to a knee injury. My knee is suffering the attempts I’ve made to establish a new activity in my life. I pushed it to its limits, and it rebelled. Now I have to rebuild the knee in order for it to heal and function normally. The same is true in our walk with Christ. When all our efforts at being the commander of our own life miserably fail, we can turn to God and he will guide us through recovery and healing. Oh. Our sinful attempts at living life our way may have lifelong consequences. But there can be a freeing, trusting relationship with God knowing that he is now the guiding source in life.

I may never completely trust my knee again, but I can work toward as thorough a healing as my body will allow. And I have to be comfortable knowing that. Sure. I should be able to play pickleball again, but I will be cautious knowing what could happen if I twist my knee into an uncomfortable position. The same holds true for my faith. If I try to twist my conscience into thinking that my ways are better than God’s, I will see very uncomfortable results when I stand before God on judgment day.

The soul-master of sin has so marred man’s sweet countenance that it is no more like the comeliness God created than the fiend of hell’s similarity to the holy angel which he had been in heaven. But by His grace Christ has undertaken to heal this wound which sin has given to man’s nature. His healing power is at work in his elect, but the cure is not yet so complete that no scars remain; this, then, is the uncomeliness which sincerity covers. ~William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armour

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-5

Doppelganger

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

In case you didn’t know, I have an identical twin sister. Many say we look alike, but honestly, I see no resemblance. But still others can’t seem to figure us out. Through the years, my twin has told me that she has been mistaken multiple times for a certain famous actress. Judi Dench. I told her that I’ve never been Judi Dench’d. Not ever. But she’s told me many times about her experiences. I can’t figure it out.

Just the other day, I stopped at my favorite new bakery. This small shop makes the most incredible chocolate chip cookies. They’re only open three days a week, for which I’m grateful. Otherwise, things could get dangerous for me. I stepped up to the counter and the owner of the shop waited on me. Here’s what she said. You remind me so much of Judi Dench. My response to the magical cookie maker was “it’s interesting you say that.” And I proceeded to tell her the story of my twin sister and Judi Dench.

I told the baker that I was not Judi Dench. I was not anyone famous. I also let her know that this was my first experience at being Judi Dench’d. I was thrilled. As soon as I got in my car, I called the Judi Dench doppelganger and told her that I was now in the club. She laughed.

I’ve been taking a pickleball class for the past few weeks. On the first day of class, one of the women told me that I looked really familiar and wondered how she might know me. I told her that I was fairly new in town, so I didn’t know many people. But I mentioned that I had a twin sister, so maybe she was confusing the two of us. Since that day, we’ve had multiple conversations about where she and my sister may have seen each other. No where. They haven’t gone to the same places or run in the same circles. So I told her about Judi Dench. The next day at class, she told me that she had looked up Judi Dench. And she said she saw a resemblance. Go figure.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5:1-2

Just as some people may confuse me with my sister or with Judi Dench, the one I most want to look like is Jesus Christ. I know I don’t physically look like him. That’s not the point. He was God come to earth as a man. I’m a woman conceived by my mother and father. So in that way, there’s no comparison. But do I resemble Jesus Christ in my attitude and in my words and actions? Do I have a kind sweet spirit that radiates love to others? Do I forgive as I have been forgiven?

We believers must distinguish ourselves as ones set apart for the Lord. We can’t be like those who don’t profess to be Christ followers. That means we can’t be involved in all the same activities. We must live distinctly different from those who don’t claim Christ as their Lord and Savior. There must be a difference. If there isn’t, then what sets us apart? We are called to be holy. We must separate ourselves from relationships and attitudes and behaviors that don’t align with the teachings of Jesus. There are biblical standards for a reason. And we who have repented of our sins have a responsibility to uphold those standards in our daily lives.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6

And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

You may ask what exactly was the attitude of Christ. Let’s look at that. Galatians 5:19-26 compares the lives of those living against the will of God and those living by the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We can see a big difference in just the words that are used to describe each type of life. Which one best describes me? Which one best describes you? Oh. We can fool ourselves and perhaps others, but we can never fool God. He sees right through us and he knows exactly where we stand in relation to him. Let’s not kid ourselves. Let’s choose the way of the cross and crucify the desires of our sinful nature and walk away from them. Then and only then will we be known as a follower of Christ.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another. Galatians 5:19-26

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2:5

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17

I must ask myself. When others spend time with me, do they recognize me as a child of God? Do they wonder what it is that makes me different from others? Does my life reflect the teaching of Jesus Christ? Do my words and actions speak volumes about my commitment to living a life of Christian discipleship? Do they see that I live a life set apart for God?

The Word of Christ should infiltrate every pore of our being. There shouldn’t be an instant that we’re not saturated in his likeness. As we go about our days, in every moment, the love and grace of Christ must shine through us. Oh. It sounds so lovely. And it is. But we are human and we have moments where we aren’t so godly. And others catch a glimpse of that. What should we do? We acknowledge our sin, repent and move on. We do better. We learn from our failings. We allow others to mentor and disciple us. We learn from the sages of old who have walked before us. The Christian walk is a daily commitment to serving Christ.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:14-16