Love Is Patient

 Occasionally on a social media news feed I see a story about a neglected or abused animal which has been rescued.  There was the little pony whose hooves had overgrown so it was unable to walk properly, a cocker spaniel with hair so matted it dragged heavily on the ground, and other animals which had disabilities or were abandoned.  The video goes through the transition of recovery, fostering, and re-homing animals that often the rescuer love too much to let go.  There is an understanding these animals need help, patience, and an investment of time to earn their trust with continued love and gentleness.

These animals that have suffered from abuse and neglect can be quite skittish and hostile toward those who desire to help them.  They growl, bare their teeth, and even snap at any who invade their personal space.  Because of what the animals had suffered the animal lovers who hope to help them are compassionate and patient, realising their present condition is largely a result of their circumstances.  Neglect of proper care, food, training, and affection leads domesticated animals to become wild and dangerous to others.  Unwilling for an abused animal to be put down out of convenience, people make it their life's work to rescue, rehabilitate, and love on these animals who have never known love.

It is a sad and tragic reality that many people have experienced a life without experiencing the love of God.  They also can suffer the pain of neglect, abuse, and abandonment.  When I worked with fostered kids I met caretakers at their wit's end to know how to love and help a very angry, manipulative, and vindictive child who did everything possible to bring havoc into the home.  These folks did a wonderful job to continue to be patient with this little one who was hurting and continued to lash out in response to inner pains.  It is not just small children we ought to be patient with but to keep reaching out to hurting people who have suffered and are suffering.  Jesus knows exactly what they are going through and is able by His grace to give us wisdom, gentleness, and patience to demonstrate His love with compassion.

I remember one video where a rescuer moved a bit too close and attempted to pet a neglected animal and was bitten on the hand that drew blood.  "That's my fault," he said.  "You're not ready for that yet."  There would have been some people who would have taken that dog to be destroyed because the dog hadn't progressed quickly enough according to expectations.  Instead the rescuer took the blame for the incident and kept on showing love to the dog with gentle words and embraced slow progress.  This is what God's love looks like, doesn't it?  After coming to Jesus in faith He doesn't disown us because we lash out in anger and are blinded to His kindness and forgiveness by our pain.  Like a good shepherd who knows His sheep and calls them by name, the LORD seeks us out when we have been lost and neglected.

In 2015 "Chris the sheep" was found and rescued in Canberra with a uncut wool coat he had been carrying for an estimated 6 years.  Because no sheep can shear itself he required rescuing to be relieved of his own wool which weighed a whopping 41 kilos!  In a similar way Jesus rescues people from the burden of our sin, neglect, and abuse we have endured.  Removing the fleece occurred at once but Chris then needed to learn what it was like to live with a caretaker and among other sheep.  I do not know what goes on in the heads of sheep, but there is an incredible amount of thinking, feeling, reacting, worrying, fearfulness, and assuming which goes on in the minds of people.  It takes time to grow and develop as a person, and it also takes time to gain dexterity when an injured person needs to learn to walk again after a significant injury.  Let us be those who are patient and gracious to hurting people, that we would not just receive people into a church fellowship but into our lives, homes and hearts with joy.  We love God because He first loved us, and may we keep loving others as unto Him.

God Draws Near

How good is God to draw near to unworthy sinners who draw near to Him!  God promises if we seek Him with our whole hearts we will find Him (Deut. 4:29).  An example of this is seen after the children of Israel sinned through idolatry when Moses met with the LORD on Mt. Sinai.  Exodus 33 describes how Moses daily went into the tabernacle to meet with God and from their tents the Hebrews witnessed the presence of God descend in a cloud upon it.  Overwhelmed with the dire consequences of their sin of which resulted in separation and distance from the Almighty God, the people grieved over their transgression.  The people worshiped when they saw the presence of God who spoke with Moses face to face as a man speaks with a friend.

Moses provided insight concerning one of these private meetings with God.  After Moses asked to see God's glory Exodus 33:20-23 records, "But He said, "You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live." ²¹ And the LORD said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. ²² So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. ²³ Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen."  The God who is unapproachable in glory descended and met with a mere man he had a place for.  Isn't that amazing?  God said, "Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock."  Moses drew near to God, and God drew near to him.  God also had a place by Him where Moses was invited and welcome to stand.  God promised to protect and shelter Moses from harm.

Now for those familiar with scripture, the place on the rock God offered extends beyond sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic rock.  Like the rock from which living water flowed to sustain the lives of God's people in the wilderness, it alludes to the rock of salvation and chief cornerstone who is Jesus Christ the promised Messiah.  David sang in 2 Samuel 22:47, "The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!"  It is through faith in Jesus Christ we stand as it is written in 1 Peter 2:4-6 reads, "Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, ⁵ you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."

The scene of the interaction with God and Moses is an awesome foreshadowing of the relationship made possible through Jesus.  Moses was permitted to see some of God's glory, but it was revealed fully in Christ the Word in John 1:14:  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  The Jewish religious leaders did not have a place in their rigid legalism for Jesus, yet Jesus promised He would go and prepare a place in the heavens for all who trust in Him (John 14:2-3).  After Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven the Holy Spirit came upon followers of Jesus without measure.  To think God who descended in a cloud and offered a place on the rock to Moses would prepare a place in heaven for redeemed sinners and make our hearts His holy habitation is amazing beyond belief!  As the song "Joy to the World" exhorts, may every heart prepare Him room as we joyfully declare Him our King.

Doing God's Work

"Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: ² "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ³ And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, ⁴ to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, ⁵  in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship." Exodus 31:1-5

When people think of people gifted in work and ministry, I'm not sure Bezalel comes to mind.  I love the fact that the Holy Spirit filled him not for the purpose of preaching, prophesying, or speaking with tongues, but gave him wisdom and understanding to design, work with metals, cut stones, and carve wood.  His calling was just as important as Moses or Aaron his Creator gifted him with wisdom to work with his hands.  He did not have the privilege of wearing the ephod, but he was gifted to engrave and place the stones in it.

God has different callings upon people and has given the Holy Spirit who provides skill and wisdom to work.  The God who makes us spiritually fruitful enables us to be mechanically profitable.  There are people God has gifted to work with wool, linen, to design electronics and machines, and to fix engines.  In all God has given us to do we ought to do it heartily as unto the LORD because it is He we serve.  The One who has given us understanding and ability is the One who deserves honour from all we do and accomplish, whether it be labouring in the scriptures, playing instruments in worship of God, sanitizing doorknobs at a church building, or vacuuming floors at home.

It is lovely how God delights to gift His children He calls by name in countless ways with artistic gifts, talents, and skills.  He doesn't just give us talents but fills us with His divine presence to do His work.  Bezalel was given wisdom, knowledge, and skill to work, and I believe God would hold Bezalel to account for honing his craft.  In the parables Jesus told when the masters gave talents to his servants they remained his talents for them to invest productively.  Upon the return of the master there was a settling of accounts:  they returned to the master the original talent and all they gained by trading because it was all the master's.  So it is with the gifts and abilities God has given us to use:  they are His and best used for Him.

May we never discount the value of the wisdom and understanding God gives by the Holy Spirit to His people to work unto Him.  Perhaps Bezalel would not be recognised on the street as the artisan who crafted the ephod like Aaron who wore it, but God knew, called, and gave Bezalel the skills required to fulfill his calling.  Praise the LORD for filling us with the Spirit of God to do His work! 

What Only God Gives

 King Solomon made his share of blunders (as we all have) but he answered wisely when God appeared to him and dream.  God said in 1 Kings 3:5, "Ask!  What shall I give you?"  Instead of imagining he had won the divine lottery to benefit himself, Solomon asked for what only God could provide with a view of God's calling upon his life.  On the basis of the mercy and kindness God had shown David and that Solomon was God's servant he responded in 1 Kings 3:9, "Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?"  Solomon demonstrated wisdom in asking God to meet his need by supplying wisdom to rule well.

I wonder:  if God revealed Himself to you in a dream and asked you the same question, how would you answer?  Would you be pleased for God to give you what people in the world possess or something only God can supply?  I recall an occasion years ago I didn't know what to pray.  I felt like I was in a bit of a rut, asking for the same things day after day.  I was surprised almost instantly when I heard the LORD's answer with a thought I hadn't considered:  "Pray for the impossible."  All along I had been praying for things that did not require God at all:  people apply for visas, find employment, and immigrate without seeking the aid of God.  After that clear directive I had a special time of prayer because I was intentional to pray for God to do impossible things only He could do.  Without God's help to pray according to His will it was an empty, fruitless exercise.  How different and profitable was my experience when I sought God to do what only He can do.

God created mankind needy, and He alone is able to supply our every need according to His grace.  1 Corinthians 12:4-7 reads, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all..."  God who chose Solomon to be king after David is the God who gives each one of His adopted children by grace through faith at least one spiritual gift for the profit of all.  Do you know what your gift is?  Have you asked God what your gift is and how to minister it to others for their benefit and His glory?  Our God who is wisdom for us and gives spiritual gifts knows the best way to cultivate the use of it.

Believer, take courage to ask God for what only He can give.  Why settle to ask for things of this world like money or careers or stuff or health when He has true riches of the kingdom of God He delights to supply which will endure forever?