Accidents happen, as most have heard. When the thing that is broken, or hurt, is another human being, we may urgently seek a first aid kit. The things we do to the physically injured are just as necessary for the spiritually wounded.
The first step is to clean the hate out of the wound (Colossians 3:8). He instructed the Christians at Rome put aside wrath, remembering, “it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19-21).
The cleansed wound often needs a salve applied to it. God’s people need to apply the salve of love, even for our enemies (Matthew 5:44-45). John told his children in the faith, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Our love is a response to the great love displayed by our Father who sent his Son to die for people without strength (Romans 5:6-8).
The injured might take an aspirin to relieve the pain. God’s children need to take an eternal view to relieve their pain. Paul told the brethren at Corinth, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). He urged the Colossian Christians to keep their focus on heaven (Colossians 3:1-4).
Open wounds are often covered with a bandage for protection. Christ’s disciple has the assurance of the Father’s protection. Israel’s singer saw God as his shelter (Psalm 91:1-6). Isaiah wrote of the strength God can provide (Isaiah 40:27-31). The writer of Hebrews helps us realize God is always near (Hebrews 13:5-6).
This would be a good time to check our spiritual first aid kits. We need to be able to clean out the bad, apply love to the area, take the eternal view to reduce the pain and put on the bandage of God’s protection.
Gary Hampton