Pause, open your arms to soak in strength from God before you face the day.
In late October it is chilly here in my part of the world. So chilly that the hummingbirds have headed to warmer parts of the world and the rest of us are pulling out long sleeves and sweaters to ward off the chillbumps. The maple trees have already dropped almost half their leaves to blanket their roots for the coming winter.
Meanwhile, this little guy finds himself a sunny spot and silently opens his wings. I thought at first he was posing for a picture, but I realized he purposely landed in a sunbeam and was simply soaking in the warmth. Isn't that a beautiful picture? Not of the butterfly, but of how we can live. Life all around us may be cold and harsh, but we can always come to Him and find comfort and strength.
I watched him for a few minutes as he gathered his strength for his mission and then fluttered to the pickerel reed and the Mexican petunias and some wildflowers (I refuse to call them "weeds') that are still bravely blooming. He was created for a mission, and he was brilliant enough to pause to soak in what he needed before he faced the day.
I am guilty of rushing into the day headlong sometimes, and I can tell you it leads to a frustrating tizzy (Southern for "discombobulated") kind of a day, maybe you are too. What if we dollowed the example of this butterfly? What if you and I opened our arms up to the One who created us, and paused to soak in His Word to strengthen and encourage us for the path God has set before us today?
Come'on! Let's do!
Father,
I look to You today first and foremost. I do not know what the day ahead holds for me, so I pause and remember that rather than looking at the problems down here I need to "Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the [fn]strength of His power, Not one of them is missing...Yet those who [fn]wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." Isaiah 40:26,31
Thank You for strengthening me. Help me to focus on You and be obedient to You. I trust You and love You, and pray these things in Jesus' name,
Amen.
I never had been formally introduced to a cuckoo (bird, that is) before today. This meeting was not one of niceties, but of necessity.
This one made a bad decision; a really bad decision. He flew
into a garage. Mind you, that in itself isn’t such a bad thing – unless you don’t
know the way out. He didn’t.
After a long while of avoiding his rescuer and trying to fly
out of the ceiling and knocking down the garage door rails, he tired enough for
my husband (you will remember Mr. Tall Dark & Handsome) to nab him.
Mr. TD&H presented his catch to me wrapped in a chamois,
from said garage. Mr. Cuckoo was a mess.
His bloodied little head told me he butted against walls with all his little
bird strength to find his way out. A closer inspection (much to his disliking)
revealed that his little head feathers were broken off at the nub. Just a guess but, he might have a stubborn streak.
Once a rehabber, always a rehabber (you may remember my
adventure with Oscar the extraordinary hummingbird, baby blue birds…) I
gathered supplies. Rubber gloves, paper towels, water, aloe were my initial
tools for this job.
We found a spot in the shade and started to work. From the
look in his eyes he didn’t appreciate it one little bit, but he needed
attention so, I took the end of a paper towel and wet it to clean his bloody
head. His protests quieted so the cool water must have been some comfort. After
a few dabs I found no lacerations, so I finished cleaning and applied a little
aloe for healing.
With him safely wrapped like a chamois cuckoo burrito, and turned
him over. There were no other obvious wounds. His screams of protest began again when he
was upright. I can’t give you an exact translation because I am not fluent in
Cuckoo. I can tell you if Mommy Cuckoo was listening, he may be in for a “washing
of the beak!” The video only includes his "nice words."
We found him well enough to try for a release. With his
patience with me drawing to an end, I took a picture. Notice his "sweet smile?" Stubborn and unhappy.
We
no more than unwrapped his burrito than off he flew. No thank you. No tender
good-byes. Off to the nearest tree and life as before. He may have some
explaining to do about his head injury but, should be fine.
If the little guy had used a helmet – he could have avoided
his injury. I am sorry he had such a rough day. Because he didn’t listen when
Mr. TD&H tried to explain the way out for him, he probably wouldn’t have
listened to me either. We did what we could in light of his situation. It is up
to him whether or not he learned any lessons.
The same is true for us. The helmet of salvation protects us
from injury to our heads. Indeed our enemy wants to get in there and bloody us
up with false teachings. He is the father of lies and will do his best to fill
our heads with them – unless we have our helmet.
Things I learned
Without God, we are likely to go places and be found in
situations that cause us harm and from which we can’t find our way out.
When (Christian) help comes, it would be beneficial to
listen.
When offering help (Truth) to one in distress, you may encounter
screams of protest. Be willing to wait and offer Truth anyway. Earnestly
contend for the faith.
When offering Truth you must be prepared for both reception
and rejection. Offer Truth anyway.
When you give life-saving
Truth to one and they reject it today, it may open a door to another day. Don’t
be discouraged – one plants, another waters – God gives the increase.
If you reject the Truth, you can expect to make harmful
decisions over and over again.
If you see a little guy who looks like this,
tell him I said "hi!" and he is
welcome to come back and visit,
and finish our conversation.
Cuckoos are
considered “brood parasites.” They often lay their eggs in another’s nest. If
you find a cuckoo in your nest,
Take care of them as if they are your own.
Teach them the Truth.
Give them access to a helmet.
Realize – the decision is theirs.
“Stand firm therefore,
HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS
WITH TRUTH,
and HAVING PUT ON THE
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION
OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;
in addition to all, taking
up the shield of faith
with which you will be
able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
And take THE HELMET OF
SALVATION,
and the sword of the
Spirit,
which is the word of God. “
Ephesians 6:14-17
Dear Father in heaven,
I confess that I was
just like this little bird, lost without a clue how to get out of my sin. Thank
You for Your patience and love toward me while I was still flying on my own.
Father, it was Your
love that provided my escape from sin. Your love paid a price above
comprehension to rescue me from the eternity that I deserved. Thank You for
your provision for eternity and Your provision for today. I especially thank You for Your Word that lights the path for my feet, that I will not stumble or stray.
I pray for all those
reading this right now, that they will know You and know of Your love for them.
Make Yourself known to them in a real and personal way today. Help them to see
the need for You and help me find ways to minister to those who need to hear.
I am so thankful that
You have provided all I need for the battle while I am here on earth. I trust
You with my today and my eternity.
I pray in the precious
name of Jesus, my Rescuer and Redeemer,
My job is to be in subjection to those in authority over me, to pray for our leaders, all of whom are there because God has established it. (Read Romans 13:1-7 here) Having said that know that I pray for my elected leaders. I pray that God will guide and direct them. I pray that they are submissive to Him in every aspect of their lives and their decisions in regard to their position. I pray that for myself too. I am obliged by Scripture to be obedient to those in authority over me. The only exemption for that submission is when those rulers go against the Word of God. I will render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, but I am also going to stand in the gap of a crumbling wall of righteousness.
I will not endorse those who call right wrong. My standard of right is according to His standard of right - His Word. The Word of Truth. I will not bow to political correctness and "fairness" according to what others believe. I stand on the Word of God.
I will not endorse those who believe more government will bring us into line, because I bow to God alone. My freedom came at great cost - from Him. More government is NOT the answer. More God is the answer.
Illegal is illegal. If it is against the law, that equals illegal. Illegal is not subjective. We have slid into a country that finds an excuse to argue escape from consequences. Aborting an inconvenient child, lying to avoid punishment...the list is long. The fact remains that sin earns a reward - punishment.
We are all guilty of sin. Those who bear the name of Christ, who are forgiven under His grace and mercy, must not shy away from calling out the Truth. I stand unashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God for salvation! If the truth is not accepted, then our sin is not recognized!
We are in the middle of a heated election. Regardless of the direction the U.S.A. takes, we MUST stand for God. We must stand for truth. I encourage you to recall the words of Daniel. This is spoken about the Antichrist - but applies today. “By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action." Read Daniel 11:32 here. Much of this land has turned to godlessness. It is up to the believers who know God to display strength and take action.
I believe that action is to preach the gospel in and out of season. I believe our job this very day is to proclaim the truth of God's Word, that people will recognize their sin, turn from their wicked ways and turn to Him.
Submit to God and His truth. Everything else will fall into place when that happens. To find His truth, study His Word. His Word will not change, It will not contradict Itself, and in It your life will find direction. study It diligently, over and over.
Submit to the fact that you are a sinner. There are two types of sinners. Those who are saved (by His grace and mercy) and those have not. They are either in denial of their sin (perhaps trying to justify according to man's idea of right or fairness or what they think they deserve) or do not realize they are going against the will of God.
Submit to the truth that the payment of sin is death. Granted, both the saved and the unsaved will lose their earthly lives. The unsaved will serve out the payment for their sin in an eternal Hell. The saved have their eternity in Heaven because their sin debt was paid by Jesus.
Submitting to Jesus changes everything. Submission to Him means you admit your sin, turn away from it and accept His payment for that sin. It allows Him to direct your life in a right path going forward.
Submitting to Him requires you submit to those in authority over you.
For those who carry His name, are called Christians, our commission (job) is to share that good news! To make disciples of those who have not heard this truth! Submitting to those in authority does NOT mean we submit to things displeasing to God or stop sharing His Word!
Stand in the gap as Daniel's friends, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, (you may remember them by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) who obeyed the King who held them captive until they were told to bow before a golden statue and worship it. They did not. It is against the law of God to worship any graven image or any god other than the one Almighty God. They didn't launch a riot or a revolt they simply did not comply. It cost them a plunge into a furnace. You remember Who was there with them? Read their story here, in Daniel 3. God was with them and chose to allow them to go through the furnace unharmed, without even the smell of smoke. The King recognized their faith, and the power of God.
Stand in the gap as Daniel who did not hide his prayer. When evil men made a decree against praying to anyone other than the King, they would cost them a visit to a den of lions. Daniel could have hidden to pray but he did not. He could have caused a scene, he did not. He simply prayed in the open window in unashamed obedience to God. It cost him a trip to the lion's den. Read his story here in Daniel 6. God was with him and he was not even touched by the lions. The king recognized his faith and the power of God.
Stand in the gap as Ezekiel who lived in a time when the judgment of God was upon his land. The people had turned from God and brought corruption into the land and their worship. God asked for someone to stand in the gap of the crumbling walls of His sanctuary to prevent this corruption, and there was no one. Read from Ezekiel 22:30 here. Their sins (in chapter 22) included profaning the holy things of God, making no distinction betweeen the holy and the profane, not teaching the difference betweeen the clean and the unclean. Sounds familiar.
Dear friends, I fear we are in a similar time, facing the judgment of God for our wickedness and our lack of standing in the gap. I pray you will both submit to Him in every aspect of your life today AND share the truth with those in your reach that sin is sin. Their sin will require payment and the days are growing nearer and nearer for the payment to be due.
Merciful and gracious heavenly Father,
I see sin so rampant that it physically hurts me. I see those immersed in sin that will cost them an eternity of horrific punishment if they do not repent. Help them today to become aware of their sin. Make their hearts tender to You, that they will repent and serve You.
Father, I see leaders on every level that have misguided goals. I see so many that neglect You and Your will. I pray You will make Youself known to them and they will seek You. I pray they will take a stand for Your Truth that will filter down to all those under their authority. Give an extra measure of strength and purpose to those who are serving You.
I pray for my brothers and sisters in the faith. I pray we will be diligent to give proper honor to those You have put in authority over us. I pray will be will faithful to honor You above all.
I pray these things in the name of Jesus, my Savior, Redeemer, and my Rock upon which I stand.
For
it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That
they may be ready on your lips.
So
that your trust may be in the LORD,
I
have taught you today, even you.”
Proverbs 22:17-19
Dear LORD and Father,
King Solomon asked only for a discerning heart, and You gave him both
a wise and discerning heart, like no other man before or after him. In these
words from this wise king, he instructs his son to listen to wisdom; to lean
his ear toward the words of the wise and apply it to his mind.
Help me today to lean my thoughts and hearing toward wisdom. Help me
to digest and apply Your words of truth to my mind. Let me be nourished in the
truth over and over, that I will trust You more and more. Let Your Word of
truth flow from my lips that I will be able to wisely advise others.
Let my hunger for Your Word and the wisdom in it never diminish. Let
Your Word teach me, and fill me, and let It flow from me as a result.
with all wisdom
teaching and admonishing one another
with psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs,
singing with
thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16
Yours might be a vacation at the beach or camper by the lake or perhaps a trip to the mountains. Toes in the sand with the ocean in view is one of my favorite pictures. It evokes memories of the ocean breeze, the crashing sounds of the waves and "caws" of seagulls with deep breaths of salty ocean air. Others have mountain trails and peaks to climb with rocks and trees and deer that bring awe and wonder at this marvelous Creation and Creator. Either can bring refreshing relaxation, and renewal of spirit. We long to go there and let our cares melt away.
I pray that the Word of God does that for you too! A trip to His Word refreshes the soul, and heals the spirit. It causes my heart to sing in praise and admonishes my errors causing me to walk correctly in the eyes of God.
This trip does not require travel. It only involves opening The Book, The Holy Book, The Word of God, The Bible. How precious that when His words are read, they don't just touch our eyes, but dwell within us! His Word changes our entire being! His Word dwells - stays - abides - in our hearts, as a rich treasure! Meditate on it and let it dwell richly within you today!
Dear Father God,
Your word is such a treasure to my heart. It gives me wisdom, insight
and understanding to live according to Your will every day. It teaches me truth
and points out my shortcomings. Oh, how I need the wonderful truths within!
Thank You for watching over Your word to preserve and perform it.
Help me be diligent in the meditation and study of it that I will
handle it accurately in my life and as I teach others. Let Your Holy Spirit teach
me new insights that relate to my life and the lives of those I touch.
My heart rejoices with thankfulness that You have given me this
treasure that dwells so richly within me!
If you are a pet owner (or have a
pet that owns you – I’ve never really been sure how that works) then you know
the back story to this photo. For those who live lonely lives or have sparse
imagination, this picture was taken in the bathroom. Keep in mind that there is
only one door in and out of that particular room and he was standing in front
of it. All of that is irrelevant after 30 seconds when you know who doubts what he knows to be true and implements his locksmith
skills to confirm my location and dispel his doubt.
I used to bask in the thought he
just loved me so very much he couldn’t stand a moment without me. Now, I face
the reality that perhaps he just doesn’t want to lose me. I wear many hats, one
of which is the feeder of the dog,
which places me in high standing with him. I hold onto the notion that he loves
me, but understand that love might be somewhat related to the contents of (or
lack thereof) his dinner bowl.
The groomer of the dog hat is also mine, although I can’t say he
particularly likes that part. Well, at least he feigns a dislike of the
b.a.t.h. part (don’t say it out-loud or he will immediately gain 1,282 pounds of
gravitational pull). Despite his protests, he does like the part where he is
lying on a warm towel in front of a heater blowing his fuzzy belly hair
backwards as if he were on a tropical island with an ocean breeze. This is also
the part where I remind him how special he is to me and how handsome he looks…as his eyes roll back into his little head and the snoring begins.
The protector of the dog hat is one that fits my head from time to
time. If there is a loud noise, he immediately begins to try find me. His story
would be that he is alerting me to the danger but, his big, bad-dog woofs from behind
my legs tell me he is afraid and wants my help.
Early on, I was the teacher of the dog, and he was eager
to please. He would eagerly find any toy I named and follow several commands.
Again, there were treats involved – so I admit that might have played a part. Nevertheless,
the bright eyes and stubby tail wags told me that pleasing me was the main goal.
Schnauzer patrol. You still there?
So, my little buddy follows me whether
I am going to the kitchen or inspecting the flowers in the yard. He is happiest
when we are in eyesight, specifically making eye contact with him. Likewise when he can’t see us or worse yet, sees
us leaving him (GASP) the crying begins. I’m talking about “screaming like his
toes are in a guillotine” crying. We
call affectionately call it the “EEEOOO” song. Some have compared it to a siren. It serves as “you forgot the
dog!” and “I see you going out the door!” all expressed with volume that denies the “miniature” in miniature schnauzer. He just wants to be with us. That is basically
all he asks (well, besides the dinner bowl).
As I considered his silly
forgetfulness at the bathroom door, I was reminded of my very own. When I leave
him, I always remind him “You be a good boy, we’ll be back in a little while”. When
he is required to stay outside for a moment while I go in for something, I let
him know it isn’t permanent abandonment by telling him “I’ll be right back, you
stay here”. He is OK with that - as long as he can see me through the glass
door. The problem with the bathroom door is that (for reasons beyond his
comprehension) it is opaque. So despite my reassurance of a quick return, he is
not satisfied until he sees for himself.
My Lesson
Understanding that, just between
us, I tend to leave the door un-barricaded. I do it because I understand. I
know God is real. I talk with Him and listen to Him and know He is as real as
the sky above and the earth under my feet. I know He is faithful to His
promises. I know that God will never leave me or forsake me. But…at times, I am
tricked into doubt. (Beware of the Father of Lies who tells you such things. He
has been around since the Garden and is still roaming around.)
You and I are not the first to
experience it. Perhaps you remember that God demonstrated great signs and Pharaoh
released the Hebrew children only to give chase after them. The people (who had
witnessed these great signs and wonders) came to an impasse with Pharaoh and
his soldiers behind them and an un-crossable body of water in front of them. Their first thought – they were going to die.
Moses reminded them “Do not fear! Stand
by and see the salvation of the LORD…The LORD will fight for you while you keep
silent” Exodus 14:13, 14. Their salvation came that day in the form of the
parting of a great sea, and “the sons of
Israel went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and the waters were
like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. And when Israel saw
the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people
feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and His servant Moses.” Exodus
14:22, 31
Now that’s something we wouldn’t
easily forget, right? Sure, easy for you to say. Three days later they were in
the wilderness and found no water. Of course, you know the story, God already
had it planned out and provided what they needed in a way they just couldn’t
see at the time. They needed to learn to trust Him. Years later, just before
they went into the promised land, Moses reminded them “Be strong and
courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them for the LORD your God is the
one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you”.
God came to earth in flesh to
demonstrate His profound love for us, and how we should walk before Him. Jesus
told His followers He would be killed (give His life actually) and then rise up
on the third day, yet when it happened they reacted in fear. After the
crucifixion, they were waiting in fear behind closed doors when Jesus appeared
to them.
Before Jesus ascended into heave,
He promised “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. I’m guessing He knew we would need to hear
that again.
If the Hebrew children saw miracles
and were still afraid and doubted what they could not see, the disciples who
walked with Jesus had fears, then perhaps fear is a bridge that leads to doubt.
It could be a fear that God has abandoned
us, or is not watching or will go back on His promises. Satan, our adversary,
our enemy, the father of lies would have us believe that. If these two examples
dealt wrongly with fear and doubt, then how should we deal with them?
Things to remember when dealing with fear and doubt.
We abide in Him. Like the schnauzer looking for assurance that all
is well, we stay near Him. Whoever confesses
that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God”. 1 John
4:15
God abides in us and is infinitely more powerful than our enemy. “The word of God abides in you, and you have
overcome the evil one”. 1 John 2:14
Abiding in Him brings His love within us.“God is
love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”1
John 4:16
His love casts out fear.“There
is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18
Without finger-pointing at all, I
recognize myself in both the doubts of a certain schnauzer, freed slaves, and the
disciples of Christ, simply because I am tempted to fear instead of trust. Any
and all of those fears are dispelled when I look to Him. I like to think that
is why He left the door cracked a bit – just so we can see Him and remember He
said “I will never desert you, nor will I
ever forsake you”, so we can confidently say “The LORD is my helper, I will not
be afraid.” Hebrews 13:5, 6.
My prayer
Most gracious and loving Father
in heaven,
Thank You for being so worthy of my trust,
and for the amazing patience You show me
even when I allow my fears blind me to Your presence.
Thank You for giving me Your
word
so rich in promises and assurance.
Show me new and fresh ways
to abide
more fully in You and Your word and
share that with a world filled with fear.
Help me to draw near to You
every day,
seeking Your face in all I do.
Thank You for giving me courage
in the face of fear,
by being with me and never leaving me.
Prod me to remember
to always look to
and trust Your hand to provide in ways
I might not be able
to see.
I pray in Jesus' name,
Amen.
~~~
From the Temple Institute. This Rabbi shares insights about the time of the exodus and the quick return of bitterness by those who had just been rescued. A very insightful look at human nature and the hand of God.
I don’t know how he came in. He might
have been exploring a tiny little crack-tunnel somewhere and explored until he
found himself inside. He might have come through the doggie door. He might even
have ridden in on my shoulder or sneaked in when we opened the door. His little
lizard lips were sealed.
He was sunning on the window when
I spotted him. I promptly advised him baby lizards belong OUTSIDE. His little
lizard ears were equally sealed.
Whether he wanted to go or not, I
knew the best place for him was outside. My hands were no match for the squirmy
reptile, and he promptly jumped to freedom, he thought. I could have chalked it
up to teenage rebellion, and just let him figure it out for himself, but knew
the outcome, so back in the ring
I went. This battle was NOT over yet.
It wasn’t a real fight, more of a
mutual understanding. I agreed not to hold him, and he agreed to go along for
the ride on the chair. Once outside, he reconsidered his original decision and agreed
that outside was indeed the best place for a handsome young lizard. What he
thought was an adventure of freedom would have been his tomb. Hallelujah! He
saw the light!
I have known people like that,
maybe you have too. They are headed down a path of adventure and fun that lands
them in a place that seems to them like sheer bliss. The problem with them is the same as that of
the lizard. It is actually a prison in which they will eventually die.
Often they don’t realize that
truth because they are so enchanted by whatever desire brought them there, that
it is very difficult for them to see it on their own. That is where we come in.
The book of Jude calls it contending “earnestly for the faith.” The word “contend”
(epagonizomai in the Greek) has to do
with being a combatant. (Literally, epi – intensive + agon – contest = intensive contest.) “Fight the good fight” was the
instruction Paul gave to Timothy. Both suggest we may have to spend a little time
and energy to help people see the truth.
I could have easily just turned
my back, left the baby lizard in the sunroom and rationalized “he didn’t want
to be picked up” and “let him figure it out.” Instead, with a little effort the
little guy understood a better way, ended up in a better place, and avoided a
death sentence.
There was a little contention but
I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a contender. If we go out of our way to
help a lizard, couldn’t we extend a little more effort, contend a little more
earnestly for a person? Don’t wake up to the regret that you “could have been a
contender!”
Things to consider when contending for the faith –
There are many who believe errors.
You have probably heard some of them “there is no God” or, “being good will be
enough to escape any punishment” or, “everyone who dies goes to heaven” or, “there
is no life after this”…on and on. Many
are misled. Believing it (no matter how
earnestly) doesn’t make it true.
The only way to know the truth is
to study it - the Word of God – the Bible.
We must know the truth before we can accurately share the truth. Study
His Word – in its entirety, the whole counsel of God. (Many errors are
dispelled when you let Scripture interpret Scripture.)
We are required (not suggested)
to share that truth. Matthew 28:19,20 lists going, baptizing, and teaching as
three parts of the requirement.
When we encounter one who is lost
he may not want to listen to the truth. He might even jump away and plead to be
left alone. Don’t give up.
Instead, spend a little effort to
try to find some common ground to help them see the truth. Contend earnestly
with them with all love and gentleness. They may just see the light for the
first time! What a privilege to lead one out of certain death to life eternal!
Dearest Heavenly Father, how precious it is that You love us so much and
have given us all we need to have eternal life. How we thank You for giving us
our very lives.
Help us be diligent to reach out to share this good news with a world
that so desperately needs to hear the truth. Prompt us when we need to contend
even more earnestly. Thank You for giving us the wisdom, insight and
understanding from Your Holy Spirit to know when and how to best relate this
life giving truth.
How about YOU? Did someone
contend with you? Are you thankful?
Have you contended for the faith?
How did it work out? Was it worth it? I look forward to hearing your story!
It certainly looked like an acorn, and any smart mouse would
recognize one. So, the intelligent rodent at our house proceeded to try to pilfer it
for his winter stash to feed himself and his family. It seemed like a great
plan.
I’m guilty of decorating everything – even a potting table
on our back porch. It is a treasure made
by my grandfather and passed down to me. That makes it far too special to just
sit there waiting for dirt and pots. So, I situated a grapevine wreath on it as
a crown of sorts. The wreath is just right for inserting a variety of jewels such
as interesting twigs, blooms and feathers that need a showcase of their own. I should have known when a couple of
abandoned bird eggs disappeared that the crown was attractive to more than just
me.
Rodents however, are constantly seeking out both furnishings
and food. From the pellet evidence
at the base of my wreath/crown, they have found my wreath again. This time I
had no rotten eggs for them but they apparently thought the acorn looked
particularly enticing. I found it on the ground with one bite missing. I didn’t
try to do a bite print match-up, but the size and shape are suspicious for a field
mouse that has been seen lurking in the area.
He is a clever mouse though, because after a single bite he
realized it was a counterfeit nut. Nothing
nutritious, satisfying or real about
it. So, he left behind the pretty little deceiver and continued his search for
real food. His life depended on it.
I can’t blame him, we depend on nourishment too. Physically,
we require food at frequent intervals. I expect some about three times every
day! Without it we become weak, unable to perform tasks or think clearly and
eventually unable to sustain life.
The dilemma we often have is whether we nourish our bodies
with food that is good for us or food that simply satisfies our tongues. It is called "junk food" for a reason. Even though
it smells good, looks good and tastes good – it isn’t real food. It doesn’t satisfy
or give nutrients necessary for healthy bodies. And we “can’t eat just one.” Not only are they deliciously addictive,
they have so little nutritional value that we remain hungry.
Spiritually speaking, we also depend on nourishment and
encounter the same dilemma. We can feast daily on the Word of God and be filled
with satisfying truth, but there is also the temptation to chew on things that
seem good on the tongue, simply inspirational sayings or uplifting thoughts. Sadly, some mega churches are built on such
things with no real biblical truth, just nice thoughts. "God loves you"…true, but not the whole truth.
We also need to know the truth about our sin and what we deserve because of it.
Some thoughts on why we need to spend time in the
Bible – the Word of God:
His Word needs to
be implanted in our hearts – “Putting aside all filthiness and all
that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is
able to save your souls.” James 1:21
His word brings
blessing – “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of
the wicked,…but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he
meditates day and night. Deal bountifully with Thy servant that I may live and
keep Thy word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law.” Psalm
1:1,2,17
His Word keeps our
eyes away from bad things and toward Him– “Make me walk in the path of
Thy commandments for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Thy testimonies and
not to dishonest gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in
Thy ways. Establish Thy word to Thy servant as that which produces reverence
for Thee.” Psalm 199:35-38
His Word keeps us
away from sin – “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it
according to Thy word. ..Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not
sin against Thee.” Psalm 119:9-11
His Word is the
source of truth – The people of Berea who listened to Paul examined “the
Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 “If you
abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the
truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31
His Word must not
be mishandled – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a
workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
His Word is the
source of sound doctrine and teaching. “Holding fast the faithful word…that
he may be able both to exhort (urge) in sound doctrine and to refute those who
contradict. For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers…”
Titus 1:9-10
His Word will not be
heard by those who want to hear only something pleasant – “preach the
word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, exhort, with great
patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but wanting to have
their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance
to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will
turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
He is His Word. Jesus
= Word – “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the
Word was God…and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:1,14 “ When
Jesus returns “He is clothed with a rove dipped in blood; and His name is
called The Word of God” Revelation 19:13
Dear Father, we are so
very thankful for Your Word. We are thankful that You have given it to us. Help
us to meditate on it day and night so that it is so firmly implanted in our
hearts we live our lives and bear fruit for the kingdom. Steer us clear of
doctrines that only tickle our itching ears with what we want to hear and feed
us instead with the powerful truth of Your Word.
Precious one, I pray you know Jesus and seek Him in His
Word. That is the only measure by which we can discern real v. counterfeit. If
it matches the whole counsel of God (Scripture) it is good, if not – toss it.
Like the plastic nut – it is hollow, will not satisfy, if you eat it – you will
die. Leave it behind and dig into the meat of the Word. There and only there,
you will be satisfied.
