Saturday, August 16, 2014
A Day For Reading, A Day For Rest
On a Sabbath day like today, it is good to rest and contemplate God. As I look out the window into my garden, it causes me to think of this world that God has created. For example, I have suspected that first gophers and then rabbits were eating the lettuce from my garden. It upset me because I kept seeing this very large rabbit come up near the house and hop over the low barrier straight into the garden to eat. Last night as I was watering I discovered that there was an entire family living in the one section where there are some weeds! It made me laugh because God had given these creatures a home in my garden. In these moments I think of how God provides for all his creatures through the weaving together of life in His creation. He does that for us, weaving together our thoughts and emotions, when we read scripture, I think.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Here James is encouraging us to look at the scriptures to see what manner of people we are. When we do this, looking at how God has commanded that we live, we see where we fall short. This is the school teacher that brings us to the Messiah. Only through Him can we make up the difference. We are to strive to do all we can, and seek forgiveness and assistance from Jesus. In this way we can be the spotless bride.
Prayer
Father, we exalt You. You alone are worthy of our praise. Please move on our behalf and give us Your provision for today. We long for Your kingdom in the earth. Help us to do the right things and to follow Your ways. Send us to those that need to hear about You, the need Your healing and Your deliverance. Send us to heal them. Please use us as Your ambassadors. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.