“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…” Colossians 3:16

I’m feelin’ kind of blue this morning and don’t know what to do about it. I’m just glad that it doesn’t happen often. Ever since last night I have been digging and searching and weighing and measuring, like a gold miner looking for something of value to salvage from all the effort. Looking back, I can say what happened was not intentional. But it DID happen.

It all started with a teaching on Colossians 1:24 where Paul is rejoicing in the fact that he is “filling up in his flesh, what is lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions!” The verse bothered me because; the implication is that Christ’s sufferings were somehow incomplete and not enough! Teaching turned to discussion, then to questions, and then something in me snapped. Admonition crept in like the pistol shot starting a race. Not very subtle!

I live with a VERY serious, VERY good, teacher of little children. In fact, she is so psycho about being good at it, there are times her frustrations are understandable. I believe she is the BEST in the WORLD, and possibly EVER! Truly! She gets SOOO frustrated when kids and parents don’t get it! The parents are the worst! Then she blames herself! To her, failure is not an option. So she presses on. I don’t know if I rubbed off on her or she on me…but let’s just say that frustration hangs around our house…a LOT!

Being a Christian changes a person. It’s supposed to! Once the light goes on and Christ is seen for who He said He was, decisions must be made. And the decisions never stop! He calls us to die to our way and live His. And His way, though the most blessed beyond imagination, creates conflict. We Believers are commanded to live and tell about our New Life. But He PROMISES that when we do, we will see a lot of refusal and frustration.

I hadn’t planned on admonishing ANY one. It just started coming out! When it does, I know that NO ONE can sound more like a jerk than ME! On the way home, even Katie added her weight to the other side of the teeter totter! Hanging in the air…I’m singing the blues. But I can’t stay here forever. So…I’m sorry for sounding like a jerk. But the subject doesn’t lend itself well to frivolity. And it never will!

Hanging with Christ on the Cross is PAINFUL. In God’s eyes…I was right there. His death became mine, my life became His! Some are called to teach, and occasionally even ADMONISH (drive home HARD) STRONGLY, the truth that, suffering and pain are inevitable when becoming, and being, a Believer in Jesus Christ. We are at war with the world, the flesh and the devil. Loss and pain are inevitable. So much so that I can actually MEASURE my effectiveness for Him with a question…”how and where am I suffering for Him?”

What is Jesus Christ costing YOU in your suffering for Him? And can you point to where it hurts?