Written and posted by Jean-Louis Mondon. http://thelightseed.blogspot.com
(To read the preceding and following
chapters, click on the right lateral bar on the numbered chapters under
the title "The Seasons in the Life of a Christian" - Brokenness.)
IV. GRINDING (Lord, It hurts)
Up until now, we had individual grains of wheat from individual stalks that require still a further process before there can be any bread making as such. Verse 28 of Isaiah 28 tells us that: “grain must be ground to make bread”. It is impossible to make bread that stays in one piece with individual kernels. The gluten, sticky substance that holds the loaf together is inherent to the wheat, but the individual grains of wheat have to be ground in order to provide the right consistency and the (glue-like), binding quality that causes the bread to hold together. The flour, ground product, still has everything that was contained in the individual separate grains of wheat, now unrecognizable as kernels because of the transformation process into a workable substance. In the same way, the loaf of bread baked from the flour contains every grain of wheat (minus the chaff) that has been submitted to the processes of grinding, mixing, kneading, rising and finally baking.
I believe this binding substance, the gluten, illustrates very well the passage in Colossians 3: 12-15 that reads: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
IV. GRINDING (Lord, It hurts)
Up until now, we had individual grains of wheat from individual stalks that require still a further process before there can be any bread making as such. Verse 28 of Isaiah 28 tells us that: “grain must be ground to make bread”. It is impossible to make bread that stays in one piece with individual kernels. The gluten, sticky substance that holds the loaf together is inherent to the wheat, but the individual grains of wheat have to be ground in order to provide the right consistency and the (glue-like), binding quality that causes the bread to hold together. The flour, ground product, still has everything that was contained in the individual separate grains of wheat, now unrecognizable as kernels because of the transformation process into a workable substance. In the same way, the loaf of bread baked from the flour contains every grain of wheat (minus the chaff) that has been submitted to the processes of grinding, mixing, kneading, rising and finally baking.
I believe this binding substance, the gluten, illustrates very well the passage in Colossians 3: 12-15 that reads: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Another
insight from Oswald Chambers is that “Personality is the characteristic
of the spiritual man as individuality is the characteristic of the
natural man. Our Lord can never be defined in terms of individuality and
independence, but only in terms of personality. “I and my Father are
one”. Personality merges and you only reach your identity when you are
merged with another person”. (See Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His
Highest. Dec. 12th. On Personality).
Paul
in I Corinthians 10:16 speaks of the loaf of bread as a symbol for the
body of Christ that was broken for us, but also of the Church, His body
on earth in these terms, “the bread which we break, is it not the
communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and
one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread”.
As
Christians we are called to deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily and
follow our Lord Jesus and be the servant of all. As out of His great
love for us, He laid down His life we, in turn lay our lives down as an
expression of love for the benefit of the body of Christ, so that
individually and corporately, we will reflect the life and the glory of
Christ for the praise of the Father.
In
all four examples of breaking, plowing the ground, threshing the wheat
and grinding the flour, the farmer doing the breaking is using the help
of an implement like the sharp edge of the plowshare, or an instrument
such as a rod or a grinding wheel. In like manner God, will allow into our lives a specific tool of His own choosing, a
particular circumstance or person fit for the job.
When
it happens we have a tendency to look at the instrument and not beyond
at our Master-Teacher who is using the instrument for our benefit. Are
we able to say at this point, “ not my will, but thine be done”?
This is what Peter says about fiery trials12 Beloved, do
not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to
test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But
rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may
also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[e] which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.[f] 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. Check alsoin I Peter 1:7; I Peter 2:21; and what James says in
James 1:2 about trials and testing as they relate to faith, perseverance
and maturity.
V. CONCLUSION
Acceptance, willingness and obedience
What
is most important is the spirit with which we receive the trials the
Lord gives us, and our reaction to the suffering they bring. Let us have
the same attitude as David who said in Psalm 16:5,6 “The LORD is the
portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The
lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly
heritage”.
We want to live in the blessed presence of our Lord, don’t we? David poses a pertinent question when he asks in Psalm 15: “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? (v.1), He who keeps his oath even when it hurts”(v.4b).
We,
as disciples, have promised to follow Jesus no matter what happens, no
matter where He takes us. Well, in John 12:26 Jesus says: “Whoever serves me must follow me and wherever I am, my servant will be also”.
Is
our Lord grieving over the condition of His church and that of the lost
people in the world He so dearly loves and died for? If so, we will be
grieving with Him and be moved to obedient action directed by the Holy
Spirit.
However, my brothers and sisters rejoice, for He also said to His disciples: “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve but your grief will turn to joy”. And then, we can say like David:
“You
turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me
with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my
God, I will give you thanks forever”. (Psalm 30:11,12).
Remember also that Psalm 126: 3 declares:
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” . Amen
“The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” . Amen
“All this also comes from the LORD Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom”. (Isaiah 28:29).
Brother Jean-Louis. Thanksgiving day 1998.
Revised and corrected June 2007.
Revised and Illustrated January 2013
Related essay:Tempering our weapons
Revised and Illustrated January 2013
Related essay:Tempering our weapons
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