How we see people has so much to do with how we can really help them. If we see the way a person acts or struggles and immediately make a judgment in our minds that they are "hopeless" and "not likely to be saved," then we may tend to treat them that way, and actually confirm the accusation of Satan against them (which is totally false!). Jesus has modeled to us, in how He treated Mary Magdalene, the way to help a person who really struggles with sin, mental illness (in her case, demon possession), or any other greatly difficult sinful struggle. Jesus was very patient, but a key in the whole experience was how Jesus inspired her with hope! In Christ's manner of interaction with Mary, it was clear to her that He understood her circumstances, so He was not ready to accuse, but to lift up from despair, depression, and ruin that often comes upon a person when they see and feel so broken and helpless.
I think of how floods of redeeming love surged over and through my soul when I was so utterly broken mentally after my last (and final) fall into a manic phase of bipolar in 2010 (I nearly froze to death in an attempted and not-well-planned move to Nevada, was re-hospitalized and medicated, and in utter brokenness). Realizing the mediations I was on a few weeks after the incident were really causing incredibly horrible side effects, I went off the medication, and at a time when it seemed that the last bit of my sanity was about to leave me, I listened to the incredible words of the hymn "My Song Is Love Unknown," and contemplated that Jesus left heaven to take frail flesh and die to save me--yes, me personally--and tears flowed from my eyes as I was kneeling and melting under the revelation of Jesus' loveliness. The powerful combination of seeing my utter brokenness and sinfulness in the simultaneous experiential realization of Jesus' infinite love was a turning point for me in that end of 2010. "My Song Is Love Unknown" became my favorite hymn, I prayerfully started in 2011 to read the Bible through that year, and started to really apply the principles of NEWSTART (Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God's Divine Power). By early 2011, I was restored by Jesus fully from bipolar, never again to go under its manic and depressive control, no longer to need or use drug medication, but was enabled through divine grace to overcome--because of the power of the love of Christ that gave me hope! I share this testimony that all who are suffering in whatever way may turn everything over to Christ, and find healing and hope in Him!
May we surrender fully to Christ this day, that He may, through us, manifest this love--this hopeful, understanding, and patient way of reaching hearts as the Holy Spirit lifts up soul after soul through the beautiful and effective method of Christ!
"Mary had been looked upon as a great sinner, but Christ knew the circumstances that had shaped her life. He might have extinguished every spark of hope in her soul, but He did not. It was He who had lifted her from despair and ruin. Seven times she had heard His rebuke of the demons that controlled her heart and mind. She had heard His strong cries to the Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive is sin to His unsullied purity, and in His strength she had overcome." {The Desire of Ages, page 568, paragraph 1}
For those of you who may not know the hymn I referenced, may the medication on these beautiful words (and you can sing it, too!) bring you a deeper intimacy with Jesus as you appreciate and experience His love!
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I,
That for my sake
My Lord should take
Frail flesh, and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed-for Christ would know:
But oh, my Friend,
My Friend indeed,
Who at my need
His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries!
Yet they at these
Themselves displease,
and 'gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they save,
The Prince of life they slay.
Yet cheerful He
To suffering goes,
That He His foes
From thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death, no friendly tomb,
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb
Wherein He lay.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King,
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend,
In whose sweet praise
I all my days
Could gladly spend.