DARK DAYS ARE FOR HIS GLORY!
(by E. H. Maze)
Chapter 7
The Three Amigos
There is a movie, I believe by
Mel Brooks, called “the Three Amigos” where three out-of-touch-with-reality
actors end up confused with whether they are simply shooting a scene in a movie
or have actually gotten caught up in a real-life situation. It is an hilarious
movie that portrays the ease with which people get confused between reality and
make-believe. But, the point is clear
that the three friends decide to stick through everything together – no matter
what the cost. Even when they (finally)
realized that the outlaws were real and the danger was imminent they stood side
by side and braved the possibility of being shot to death. We love those kinds of movies, whether they
are comedies or dramas, because we all want friends like that – and, we all
want to be that kind of friend.
I have found three friends
like that. These friends are not of the
flesh, however. I want to introduce you
to three friends from the Bible. I call
them the Three Amigos.
Amigo 1
The sacrifice of self
(security)
Lot had set his face (his
attention and desire) toward
The Pillar of Salt represents our desire for
the things that God would have us walk away from. The lesson teaches us that some (not all)
earthly friendships can tear us from the heart of God’s will for our life. When friendship with the world calls you back
from the call of God to go forward, it is important that you know who your true
friends are. Choose your friends wisely.
There are things in your life
that you have, finally, walked away from.
The corruption of those things can linger – just like Lot's wife's
desire for the world she would miss caused her to look back, she knew that she
would soon miss those things that she
was called to abandon. For you and I, we
must realize that although those things that would set us back have been turned
to salt, even the evidence of that pillar can still haunt us. Even when we break the salt and it becomes
only a pile on the ground it could takes months or years for the winds of
change to blow the residue of our past away.
The sacrifice of our security
(security blanket, if you will) requires independence from the salt that has
lost its flavor. Keep walking! Don’t look back at the pillar of salt. Perhaps, the pillar of salt was left there
for those who would come after - to remind them that they should never look
back. Miracles require that you never go
back. The miracle that God has for you is so
powerful that you will never want to look back.
The past has no part in your miracle.
Be secure in that!
The Past has no future, unless you give it one!
The sacrifice of self is one
of your dearest friends!
Amigo 2
The sacrifice of Singing
(thanksgiving)
Paul had an attitude of praise
and set his heart to sing under the worst of conditions. He was in prison at the time. He was chained up at the time. It was, or so it would seem, pretty
depressing. When he decided that his God
was bigger than his problems, that God would come into his cell and be with
him, he lead a song service. He wasn’t
singing “Swing low, sweet chariot,” by the way.
He was singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”
Suddenly, the jailhouse rocked. The earthquake came not because God was trying to get in – as if He had to shake the earth to accomplish His will – but, the place was rocking because He was there - inside the cell with Paul.
Here is your next miracle! When you are in dire straights, God wants to join you - because He has a plan.
You
think His plan is that you suffer in your pain.
That couldn’t be further from the truth.
What He wants is to join you where you are; when He is where you are
then where you are is not able to contain Him.
He is not a God of bondage and suffering. He hates bondage and suffering. He loves freedom. When Paul began singing, God inhabited the
praises and because He was in the cell, well, the cell couldn’t contain Paul
and God. The jail shook. The freedom that occurred was so powerful and
so complete that even the chains around Paul’s feet fell open.
He will inhabit your worship, if it is born of faith.
Remember something - this is
essential to your walking in the miracle - the chains were off, but Paul had to
walk away. Many of us carry our chains
with us - like trophies. We end up being
chained to things that don’t really have any power anymore. We tell ourselves that we are still in
bondage to things, but what we are really in bondage to is the habit of being
bound. The chains have been with us for
so long that we naturally assume that we are not truly free. But we are.
You are free from that bondage (whatever it is) - you are just bound to the
habit of being bound. Practice singing in the spirit next time you
want to surrender to those chains. I know you don't believe it
to be that simple. But, it is the fact that it is so simple that makes it a
miracle.
The sacrifice of singing is a
friend who will cheer your heart at its lowest!
Amigo 3
The sacrifice of Suffering
(Surrender)
Jesus. Here is the greatest picture of someone
setting his face to a task: “Who for the
joy set before Him (what He faced every day of His life) endured the Cross,
despising the shame.”
Love Sets Its Face Toward the
Object of Its Affection!
Like the angels, who went to
Like Paul, who was bound by
the very people he wished to set free, Jesus sings a song of victory in your
midnight hour. Shake off the shackles of
fear that are pressed against your lips, and sing a song of freedom.
Like Jesus, who because of His
suffering has been given a name that is above every name in heaven and on
earth, you can set your face toward the Father.
The sacrifice of surrender is
a friend who can carry you!
Be Bound & Determined to
Live for Him.
Lot Set His Face Toward Sodom
(wickedness) but the Lord redirected him - toward righteous living. Paul Set His Face Toward a Righteous Heart
and was set free from his chains. Jesus
was purpose-driven toward one goal - we are to be purpose-driven toward two
things: Love the Lord and love your
neighbor as yourself.
Personal Note:
If you are going to err, it is
better to err on the side of love.
I have come back from the
prison where my jailors were the very people I tried to help. My midnight song of praise shook the chains
from my heart and I have now been returned to the people who loved me,
supported me, and believed in me. Just
like when Jesus returned to the right hand of the Father, when you are set free,
you will return to the right hand of fellowship.
May our churches become such a place; rather than a place where the chains are simply rattled by those around us as reminders of our past.
May you be accompanied in your life by my dearest companions; suffering, security and singing.
My 3 Amigos broke me out of
jail; they brought me a horse, the craziest cowboy outfit you have ever seen, and
now we call ourselves the 4 Amigos.
end of Chapter (click here to go to Chapter 8)- if link is not active, the chapter is not yet ready. Check back later, please.
Please let me know if you have read (and enjoyed) this chapter by sending me a quick email to: ehylandmaze@aol.com
bless you.....................................Eugene H. Maze
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