Inflammation

My husband and I are quite a pair.
He has bursitis in his shoulder.
I have tennis elbow.
Each of our injuries happened for a reason.

My husband took a trip to Nicaragua back in February.
He went there to build homes with the Fuller Center for Housing.
He takes a trip like this every year and is usually gone for two weeks.
On this trip, he lifted many large bags of concrete.

His shoulder didn’t bother him right away.
It became aggravated over time.
Wear and tear from daily activities and everyday lifting increased the pain.
I noticed that he was moving his right arm in a strange way.

Typical man, he did not want to go to the doctor.
He decided to take care of his shoulder himself.
I’ll ask about my shoulder when I go for my check-up next month.
In the meantime, he is very uncomfortable.

I recently convinced him to put ice on his shoulder, after he refused many times before.
He was sure that it was heat that was required.
When it is inflamed, you put ice on it, I said in a matter of fact tone.
He finally agreed but his shoulder is still hurting.

I am walking around with a compression band on my elbow.
My left elbow on my left arm; the arm I use all the time.
I am completely left-handed; ambidextrous I am not.
My right hand is quite inept when it comes to any fine motor activities.

How did you hurt your elbow? I was just asked the other day.
Using the garden hose for half an hour every day, I answered.
Forgetting that the hose has a little metal bar that will hold the setting in place, I squeezed.
I kept my hand in that position day after day, every morning for weeks.

First my elbow was just sore.
Then it was hard to pour milk from the gallon or pour tea from my teapot.
I did put ice on my elbow.
I did have a doctor look at it and had therapeutic massage on my elbow to help it heal.

We are a pair, my husband and I.
He with a sore shoulder.
Me with a sore elbow.
Each injury happened for a reason.

I thought about how everyday activities aggravated our injuries.
I thought about how my typing for an hour and a half each day did not help my elbow.
I thought about how painting his office a few weeks ago made his shoulder worse.
I thought about the affects of wear and tear on our bodies.

Then I considered other kinds of injuries.
Sore fingers from turning the pages of the Bible.
Sore knees from the time spent in prayer.
Sore arms from lifting them in praise.

Imagine.

Repetitive motion often aggravates an injury.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the repetitive motion of our spiritual walk caused inflammation?
The repetitive motion of prayer, praise, and Bible reading each day inflames our hearts.
An inflammation that is wonderful to experience and not painful at all.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them named, Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” He asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.  The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” He said to them, “How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:13-32)

Spiritual Inflammation.
Our hearts are burning within us when the Scriptures are opened to us.
Our fingers are sore from reading out Bibles; our arms are sore from lifting them in praise.
Our knees are sore from spending time in prayer.

Wear and tear of the best kind.
Repetitive motions that enhance our spiritual walk.
Everyday activities that draw us closer to Him.
Inflammation that never goes away.

Is your heart burning with passion for the Lord Jesus?
Are you taking part in everyday activities that increase your spiritual inflammation?
There is no cure for this kind of inflammation.
Once you meet Jesus in His Word, your heart is forever inflamed.