Schadenfreude.

 Schadenfreude When another person's bad luck secretly makes you feel good, that's Schadenfreude.

 

Even attempting to pronounce this word is just a wee bit difficult—much less spelling it! But then, it’s German. Sometimes we find that it is difficult not to practice the bad habit of gloating when someone who acts righteous gets caught out in what they have been doing behind doors. But the question is going to bug you when you do it: what is the sin that is best hidden? Is it mine or his/hers? Then we have to realize that NO sin is hidden from the one that really matters. When we get right down to it, we are blessed that we can ask for forgiveness—for ourselves. Thinking about Job and his friends who told him that he must have done SOMETHING to have caused his distress. It always amazed me that Job thought that he could ask for forgiveness for his children in case they had had some bad thought. Honestly don’t quite believe that forgiveness works that way. But who knows everything in the mind of our Creator? Certainly not an old woman.

 

Some of the things that happen in this world are pretty horrific. We might suspect that Satan has an influence on all of us to some extent, but certainly it seems that God gives him pretty much free rein to hurt people in one way or another. It seems to me that our job is to resist temptations that would hurt others especially. But we also have some heavenly support on our side. It’s called the armor of God. Most are familiar with the New Testament and its description of that armor. Kay Brough mentions it every once in a while. The reminders make me happy. Sometimes it would be nice to be one of those super hero types with the helmet of salvation shining out to blind the foes in life. Just for a reminder: Ephesians 6:10-18

 

Pretty sure at least a couple of readers have already closed this one up for the night, but two or three of these verses tell us that it is not a simple thing to live a Godly life: vs. 12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 

For all the imaginary heroes in this silly life, none can stand up to a real battle like the one whose faith is in God.

 

May we pray tonight for those who are cold, weary, hungry, without hope, and grieving the loss of life around them. May we remember those who are striving against addictions, depression, heartaches, and the physical effects caused by an all the unsound practices we face in life. We are blessed to know that a greater One stands behind us to support our faith.

 

Rest well, my friends, for you are loved.