Sunday, December 21, 2014
What Really Matters
We woke up in the middle of the night to our daughter being sick in the bathroom in the hall. She is 11, and there is something about a child being not well that tugs at a father’s heart. I stayed with her through the night and have been nursing her back to health today, with God’s help. It occurred to me that we are meant to pattern after our Father in heaven. We are His image on the earth. He, too, cares for us when we are not as well as we could be. Parents just want to protect their children, and He is no different. In fact, it is us that get this trait from Him and us that are not different from Him. We are meant to be like Him.
Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God says He created us to be like Him. We are His representatives here on this planet. And He gives us the provision and ability to be that here. There is a desire from God to comfort His people. We see it in the words of the Messiah when He was entering the city.
Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
God’s heart is towards us, and He is with us. He longs to care for us and be our King forever.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. You alone are worthy to be placed on high. You alone are worthy of all our praise. You alone are King. We love You. Give us Your overwhelming provision today. Forgive us when we do not follow Your ways. Heal and deliver us. Make us whole that we might make others whole in Your name. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.