Ouch!

My husband picked this beautiful wildflower bouquet for me, not knowing that thorns hid amid the leaves. His pricked hands made me wonder why some plants have thorns, spines, or prickles, so I researched to satisfy my curiosity. One source said it was an “evolutionary adaptation by the plants,”—but we know God equipped the ones susceptible to predators with protective assets. Some have visible protection, while others produce bad-tasting or poisonous chemicals. Both protectors are to ward off intruders who want to feast on them since they are rooted and cannot escape. Like my husband, those who proceed with their intrusion pay the price.

People sometimes develop “thorns, spines, and prickles” or dispense “chemicals” to keep others at bay. Why? They grow tired of being taken advantage of, bullied, or hurt by others. They finally said, “Enough!” No one would “feast” on them again. With their walls of defense in place, they felt safe. But isolating ourselves as a protective measure is not the answer.

No one was bullied or harassed more than Jesus. He knew the pain of abandonment by his comrades and humiliation, yet He kept doing what His heavenly Father called Him to do:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He hath appointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18

God appointed Jesus to preach glad tidings to the helpless and distressed, heal the grieving, free those held captive by sin, restore the spiritually blind’s sight and set free those crushed or broken in spirit. Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but God can and holds everyone accountable for their actions. Forgiveness toward those who wronged you sets you on the right path towards freedom and lowers your defensive walls. Jesus is the Good News, saving souls and saving us daily in our times of need—sometimes from ourselves.