A woman of influence

I played my part in the drama this morning. I was permitted to focus on the sponge of my choice--of your choice. I was permitted to enlarge the tent of focus broader than to look solely at the sponge that would deaden Your senses with its anesthetic, but rather on the one that was given in answer to Your thirst. Thank You for that.

It is a difficult thing, to be a woman of redeemed influence. Often times, I expect she appears strange whenever she fulfills her most sincere role in life. The Eldredge's state in the book, Captivating, that "Eve is God's relationship specialist given to the world to keep relationship a priority. Men have a way of letting these things slip. They'll go months without checking in on the health of their relationships. Years, even. And the World simply uses people, then spits them out when they are worn out and no longer 'on top of their game.' Our Enemy despises relationships, hates love in any form, fears its redemptive power. This is why God sent Eve. Women are needed to protect relationships, bring them back to center stage where they belong."

So in retrospect of this little drama and the study it solicited from me I see that I could have turned all my attention to the sponge that represented the threat to Your mission as the Son of God. But I am Eve. So instead I was drawn to the one that represented Your mission as Husband to a Bride.

There is such a delicate balance to it all. Both sponges--whether drugged or not--bore as a base liquid sour wine mixed with water. I have tasted wine that has been too long in the refrigerator. It is indeed quite bitter. So I think of that first sponge when I read these words from Isaiah, for it surely would seem sweet mercy to be given anesthetic elixir, to have that small measure of physical comfort at the onset of such agony as a crucifixion; but He knew better than to submit to that. And, that the Cross happened at all is a large testimony of how very much dark and light, evil and good were confused in the hearts of the powerful:

Isa 5:20

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

But I think of the second sponge as I read the words of Solomon. Humbly, I thank You for allowing Yourself to awaken to the full depths of Your hunger, rather than determining that Your soul was full while You were yet alone and while we were yet a sweetness waiting to be tasted. I thank You for being hungry enough for Us that You would see the sweetness hidden in such a bitter thing as the Cross.
Pro 27:7
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

May we learn to return Your humble longing. You are worthy of such adoration, and more.