Lord
your way is mercy
your way is steadfast love
so
you treat me with compassion
you treat me with patience
you don’t fixate on my sins
instead you remove my transgression
far from your sight
you whisper to me that
I am loved
I am understood
you see my struggles
you see I am trying my hardest
and you do good to me
you lift me up
you take my burdens away
you strengthen me with your words
you treat my most hurting wounds with tender, gentle hands
you are a masterful, careful surgeon
handling your word
in my heart
with a delicate, skilful touch.
but
my way is brutal.
my way is judgment and haste.
I grasp at being like you
believing I have
the ability to see
into the nature of a matter
and the power lies
in me
to bring about your purpose.
like Peter
who slept
then picked up a sword in Gethsemane
to slay the one who was taken captive by the evil one
he used his reasoning
his strength and
the weapon nearest at hand
to cut down the pawn
not seeing
that by resting on his wisdom
acting in fear of man and
in haste
he made a move
not for the King of Light
but for the King of Darkness
a little bit of understanding is a dangerous thing
Peter imagined he saw God’s will
clear as day
black and white
“Jesus is the Christ!”
surely he
must not
be taken prisoner
and with thinking inebriated by fearful pride
he fell prey to the lion
and was devoured
to do Satan’s will, not God’s.
but the King of Mercy
was standing near
and held out his hand
to heal the bleeding ear
the King of Compassion
who had sympathy
for his attackers
seeing them as the
helpless pawns they were
held his cool
remained quiet and calm
and carefully
masterfully
Made
His
Next
Move.
Nothing.
No wisdom.
No counsel.
No stumbling follower.
No false moves of his closest friends in favour of the enemy
could stand in the way
of his victory.
all the enemy’s best moves
played
right
into
His
Hand.
every strategy of the evil one
failed.
he fired his worst
deployed his most devastating tactics
and
manoeuvred himself
into
checkmate.
The King of Light brought down
The King of Darkness
with mercy, compassion, patience,
steadfast
unflinching
steely
determined
LOVE.
Oh High King of Heaven!
King of the Morning!
King of the New Day!
deliver me from the powers of darkness!
fix my heart on you
help me forget my wisdom
help me
stay broken
sober with humility.
help me treat others as you have treated me
and so make me your light
in dark places.
where brothers and sisters have
faults and burdens
help me carry them
washing any offence as far from my mind
as you have washed my offences from yours.
clothe me with your compassion
patience and mercy.
help me walk in your way
not the arrogant way
I once walked.
JMF
