Someone else may be depending on us
getting things together on the inside of our own property line…Do we belong to
God and have a fence that includes Him on His own property (us) or is He limited
to access just beyond our fence, as if we are telling Him He can come this far
and no farther….Better stated in Romans 12:1 (expanded
version): So [Therefore] brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I ·beg [urge; appeal to] you to offer your
·lives [selves; L bodies] as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be ·only for God [holy] and pleasing to him, which is
the ·spiritual [or authentic; true; or
appropriate; fitting; or rational; reasonable]
way for you to worship.
My son and I compare the still small
voice to a moth, it is a picture he could relate to from a young age and there always
happened to be moths on his window that we noticed in a new way after we talked
about this. I taught him this was a reminder from God that He is always there
speaking, regardless of how busy we are, how easy the “moth” is to miss, or
whether or not it is welcome that moment.
Like the moth on my window, so
gentle, not intruding into my life, not forcefully boasting what good He
could do if only I would pay attention...simply ever so gentle showing up
as if to say- here I am waiting. But I don't always want Him there- by my
mere actions (how sad). Just not right now, too busy. Just like the moth,
silently waiting- He is there while I've missed the point of what really
belongs in priority in my life. The voice is gently saying what I am
not ready to hear, I am too moving in my own direction to turn back now,
I am on a roll after all. But when I wake up from my trip, I realize I got
nowhere fast and cost myself more than I can ever get in return from the
expenses I paid going my own way. His voice, it is a constant still. So true
and so counted upon. He says, "you are my treasured possession",
and we are to fall into His arms. He placed the fence, He cared for
the land, He dug the well, He made the land what it is...how dare I try to get
so busy and miss who I belong to. That trouble is open arm trouble- I cannot
receive from Him if I am so full of my own stuff, my own purchases, ideas and
plans. Closed heart syndrome is a hurt induced illness, it happens when I have
every right to be hurt, but I take it too far. I super-size my order of guilt,
hurt, offense, pain, emotion raw. Instead of walking the legitimate something
that happened to me out with God, I put up my own defenses and man the guns. No
one will hurt me again. My heart slowly and certainly closes off, to
self-protect. Not what God designed, He wants us open to receive. Like flowers
open up to the sun.
Plugged ears occur when the
resounding themes we hear, the false and the broken cause us to shut
down...or maybe we desensitize slowly again, very slowly to everything. We are
to be renewed in our minds but if we cannot hear and be vulnerable to listen in
response- we won't act on the right sounds. We can't respond by being humble to
the Word, if we cannot hear. And so I consider the estate house on a hill I am
meant to be; we are all meant to be. As a city on a hill, as a light shining
uncovered. We are to be God's chosen possession for His kind purpose that
leads us all to repentance, to turn our faces all over again to the Light.
Therefore the property line is not my own, I didn't put up the white picket
fence, I didn't maintain it, I could never count the cost of maintaining the land,
however, our God did count the cost He did pay the ultimate price for the land
and we are more esteemed in His sight than we can ever value ourselves. I need
to move the property line out from just what I see and include the still small
voice in ownership. I need to broaden my horizons and believe God still does
BIG things, and it can be through me and through you, if only we act.
Psalm 62 speaks to this belonging
through trust evident only through God, power only accessible in Him. The fence
in this Psalm is trying to be toppled by another man, leaning and rickety it is
delicate in power and easily moved. But for our God, who establishes the other more
noble fence, the property line of being God’s chosen possession, where He calls
us His own and protects what belongs to Him, it may not always be easy for us
but His promises endure and we can trust in Him alone for our salvation, this
must be a daily choice and mindset.
Psalm 62 New International Version
(NIV)
For
the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation
comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of
you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple
me
from
my lofty place;
they take
delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in
God;
my
hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be
shaken.
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out
your hearts to him,
for God is
our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn
are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are
nothing;
together
they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain
hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set
your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I
have heard:
“Power
belongs to you, God,
12 and with you,
Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward
everyone
according
to what they have done.”
Next time you see a moth on your window stop
and listen, maybe it is time to slow down.
No comments:
Post a Comment