God Can Heal Any Wound

A devotion by Vince Lichlyter based on the Jonah33 song

Track #2: "TELL ME"

 
As a musician, my songs are often inspired by other people’s music. I wrote "Tell Me" because my heart had been broken by the anger that poured out of the music of a popular mainstream band. In this particular case, the lead singer of the group had been emotionally and sexually abused as a child by his father, who also happened to be a minister. 
  
Sexual abuse is rampant in our culture. Statistics say that the majority of girls and a minority of boys will be sexually abused at some time in their lives. In Luke 17:2, Jesus himself says that it would be better that a person have a large stone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea rather than do harm to a child. The blame for abuse shouldn’t fall on God. Rather, the Bible clearly tells us that sexual perversion is mankind’s fault:
 
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.... Therefore God gave them over in the sexual desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." Romans 1:18-19, 21, 24 (NIV)
 
I wrote this song to tell that singer, "that I am not your enemy." I want him to know that I would apologize if it would help him recover. But rather than seeking wholeness and health, he seems to be exploiting his pain by attacking anything connected with God. Like I had been earlier in my own life, he’s been blinded to the only Person who can actually help him. What this guy doesn’t understand is that God hates every sin so much that He sent His own Son to deal with it once and for all (John 3:16). Jesus’ sacrifice was not only for those who’ve been abused...it’s also for those who have abused others. The cycle of brokenness will never be broken by human anger; it can only be healed by divine love. 
 
I would tell him that his only hope is to confess his own rebellion against Christ and to ask God to heal the scars in his life, just as He has healed the scars in mine. I would tell him to seek out competent, professional Christian counseling so that he could begin that process in earnest.
 
Today’s prayer: Lord, I first pray that You would deliver me from any rebellion in my own heart that would cause me to fall into sin. Then, Lord, I pray that you would help me be sensitive to the many people around me who have been deeply wounded by emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Help me to firmly and lovingly share Your plan for redemption and restoration. In Christ’s Name I pray. Amen.