Susanne Scheppmann
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
The bullet grazed across my friend’s cheek upward toward his forehead. The physician in the emergency room told him that he was lucky to be alive. My friend just shrugged his shoulders and exited the sliding door. I could see revenge in the depth of his eyes, framed by the purplish-red slice that would soon become a scar for life.
I wish that was the only scar my friend brandished. However, pockmarks from the methamphetamines mix with the freckles on his face. Tracks the size of pinpricks run up and down his inner arm from heroin needles. Hepatitis wastes his liver. And those are only the physical marrings. The scars of drug abuse penetrate his heart and mind.
The fire of hatred and revenge sears my friend’s soul. The years of drug abuse twists his thoughts. His personality is lost in the torment of heroin highs and downer lows. Peace of mind eludes him as the potent drugs delude his senses.
Thankfully, no one - not even my addict friend - is beyond redemption and healing. Jesus loved the scarred people of society. He hung on the cross for every drug addict. He died for those filled with hate. He rose from the grave, so that every drug dealer could experience the full extent of God’s love through His nail-scarred hands.
Lord Jesus, Help my friend to discover and believe that You were pierced for his transgressions. Grant him the understanding that You were crushed for his iniquities. I ask that my friend accept You as Savior and be healed by Your wounds. Touch my friend with Your nail-scarred hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Perplexing Proverbs by Susanne Scheppmann
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Submit a prayer request
Application Steps:
Search your local library or the Internet for information on helping family or friends with drug addictions.
Set an appointed time each day to pray exclusively for your relative or friend to find freedom from the drug addiction through Jesus Christ.
Reflections:
What words of encouragement can I give them?
How can I offer assistance without enabling my friend or relative?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (NIV)
Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (NIV)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
The bullet grazed across my friend’s cheek upward toward his forehead. The physician in the emergency room told him that he was lucky to be alive. My friend just shrugged his shoulders and exited the sliding door. I could see revenge in the depth of his eyes, framed by the purplish-red slice that would soon become a scar for life.
I wish that was the only scar my friend brandished. However, pockmarks from the methamphetamines mix with the freckles on his face. Tracks the size of pinpricks run up and down his inner arm from heroin needles. Hepatitis wastes his liver. And those are only the physical marrings. The scars of drug abuse penetrate his heart and mind.
The fire of hatred and revenge sears my friend’s soul. The years of drug abuse twists his thoughts. His personality is lost in the torment of heroin highs and downer lows. Peace of mind eludes him as the potent drugs delude his senses.
Thankfully, no one - not even my addict friend - is beyond redemption and healing. Jesus loved the scarred people of society. He hung on the cross for every drug addict. He died for those filled with hate. He rose from the grave, so that every drug dealer could experience the full extent of God’s love through His nail-scarred hands.
Lord Jesus, Help my friend to discover and believe that You were pierced for his transgressions. Grant him the understanding that You were crushed for his iniquities. I ask that my friend accept You as Savior and be healed by Your wounds. Touch my friend with Your nail-scarred hands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do you know Him?
Perplexing Proverbs by Susanne Scheppmann
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Submit a prayer request
Application Steps:
Search your local library or the Internet for information on helping family or friends with drug addictions.
Set an appointed time each day to pray exclusively for your relative or friend to find freedom from the drug addiction through Jesus Christ.
Reflections:
What words of encouragement can I give them?
How can I offer assistance without enabling my friend or relative?
Power Verses:
Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (NIV)
Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (NIV)
Labels: God's Perspective, Relationships
2 Comments:
I have someone I love and close to my heart that I am still praying for to be free from the slavery of pornography and drugs. It's so hard to see him hurt himself and I feel like I have done everything to help him, but it is up to him to seek God for healing.
I too, walk next to someone who is reaping the results of drug addiction--but Jesus is setting free over time. We are believing that.
I was thinking of my past tonight driving home...viewing the whole history. Salvation, being filled with the spirit, to the point of my life was perfect, because He had made it so. That was when I was 14. Then---all hell broke loose---and the hurts came. Through Him - I came out alive, but scarred. I have prayed for years, to forgive my father for the hurts he caused, and through God I did forgive! It was God's forgiveness, nothing of my own that I could give. But it wasn't until today that I realize and have THANKED God for counting me worthy to suffer. If we suffer with Him---then we will also be raised with Him. What a privilege to fellowship His suffering and bear some scars. How GREAT is His love for us!
Robin, 35 years old
Post a Comment
Home