MY NEEDS YOUR NEEDS

 

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

 

MY NEEDS YOUR NEEDS

 

Ps 27:10

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

 

2 Sam 16:11

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life:

 

Isa 49:15

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

 

This general thought has been rattling around in my mind for the past couple of days. I’m not sure why except that someone reading this may need these thoughts. I hope to list in some reasonable order what is on my mind and to simply say that Jesus can’t be compared to any other relationship. The psalmist expressed the need of the orphan. David described the pain of having a son pursue him in battle. Isaiah could not imagine a nursing mother forgetting her duties. Yet our closest relationships sometimes fail.

 

1. What will I do when the one I rely on FAILS me?

 

This circumstance calls to our strength and independence. We dry our tears, and we lie to ourselves and say that we did not need them anyway! We may pout, complain, or seek retribution. Some solid rock in our life has crumbled and we have lost our moorings.

 

The simple reality is that the most reliable of friends sometimes fail. They are, after all, only human and the frailty of being human makes them susceptible to failure. The next question is more difficult.

 

2. What will I do when the one I rely on NEEDS me?

 

This is a greater strain on relationships and often proves whether love is the glue that holds it together. What will I do when the one who always lifts me up needs to be lifted? How will I respond when I must be the one to minister? Will I be strong enough or dependable? The Widow of Zarephath found herself responding to an impossible request. How did she respond? She simply gave what she had – she did what she could.

 

1 Kings 17:12

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

 

3. What will I do when I feel I can’t do ANYTHING?

 

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater!

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

 

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus…

He giveth – and giveth – and giveth again!

 

Dear Lord, someone today feels drained and down! Please fill them and lift them up. AMEN

LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

 

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

 

LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

Matt 9:36

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

 

          This observation was made by Jesus as the “woman at the well” returned with a large following from Samaria. Their traditional white garments made them look like a flock of sheep but there was no guard and no guide.

          Sheep are anxious animals driven by many fears. So are we! The various news outlets have capitalized on this and have become rich by maintaining a high level of stress for which their advertisers have various snake oil remedies.  

 

         

          Sheep will eat the pasture down to the dirt. They need a shepherd to find green pastures. They will drink polluted water from a muddy puddle rather than find crystal springs. Rushing waters scare them and so the shepherd must find still waters.

 

          Sheep are prey to many predators. Sheep have a field of vision of around 300 degrees. It can see behind its head but has poor depth perception. It compensates for its poor vision by using its very good hearing. The shepherd’s voice is easily and quickly recognized by the sheep and the tones and nuances of his calls guide them. The relationship of sheep and shepherd is built upon trust.

 

John 10:4-5

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

Heb 13:20-21

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

DO YOU NEED A SIGN?

 

Monday, February 21, 2022

 

DO YOU NEED A SIGN?

 

Judges 6:37-40

37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.

38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.

39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

40 And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

 

          God had revealed His opinion of timid Gideon, calling him a mighty man of valor. Gideon disagreed with God and preferred to retain his self-loathing, calling himself the least of all his father’s children. Certainly, Gideon doubted his own ability to save Israel.

 

          Often, we doubt God because we so deeply doubt ourselves. When this is the case, we urgently and unreasonably desire a sign to quell our questions. Ah! The sheepskin will prove God true or not. Toss it on the ground and allow the dew to form upon it but not a drop on the ground. The result was what should be a very convincing bowl full of water. But what if some stranger had come in the night and poured water upon the fleece? So, tomorrow night Gideon asked God to keep the fleece dry. God patiently yielded to this man’s fear and need.

 

          Confusion is not of God (See 1 Cor. 14:33). When we are confused, we can be certain that we can’t be certain. We wait – as perhaps we should – or we act without sufficient information often with disastrous results. The other option is a “sign” from God and God is not generous with His signs.

          The reality is that Gideon had a visit from an angel who delivered God’s promise. He had the Word of God! That should have been enough but as most of us can witness, it is often insufficient. Our doubt is so strong that we need some tiny miracle. Why God doesn’t turn to a more trusting person is proof of His patience with us and His desire to overcome the enemy’s strength with our weakness.

 

1 Cor 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

Dear Lord, we have your Word but many of us are moving into an area of uncertainty and we long for a sign. Replace our timid heart with a heart of faith but, please Lord, maybe a tiny sign would also be helpful. AMEN