In a home, a mother does not throw away the last morsels of a child’s un-eaten food but eats them herself, because she put in her labor and resources to prepare it. The same mother, in a wedding feast, has no qualms about the plateful of food that the same child is unable to eat, she very casually asks the child to simply throw that food in the garbage. That which we get without charge is used very casually, with scant concern regarding its worth. This is the nature of man.
The Lord has loved us so much with such a magnificent love, a love beyond human words & expressions; but because He gave us this love freely, you & I neither value this love nor care for it. He gave us a wonderful life, gave it freely; we do not care for its worth. He gave us His wonderful Word, gave it freely; but we did not distinguish how invaluable it is.
Worry paralyzes a man; it fills his heart with uncertainty, causing him to think what will happen? How will it happen? A wavering heart is tossed too & fro with every wave of doubts. When we put on worry, it clearly shows on our countenance and is evident in our behavior. I stop seeing my dear wife’s loveliness, the best food becomes tasteless and ordinary, appetite goes, sleep is lost and the thoughts of ‘what will happen now’ take away the confidence in life. But “the just shall live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). Because of our worrying we can in no way lessen the troubles of tomorrow, but we certainly erode our strength to face those sorrows.
If God had given the ability to worry to birds, they would have committed suicide long ago. They lack both strength & ability; they scrounge for each crumb of food and with the same crumbs they feed and bring up their offspring. For a place of living they put together bits of grass and twigs to build a nest that has little strength to withstand a storm or an enemy’s attack. But the Lord uses a small bird as an example to illustrate His care, He says “look at the birds of the air ... are you not of more value than they?” “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 6:26, 10:31). Therefore just consider, how can I ever leave you?
Jesus was given a physical body in this world, only to be sacrificed for this world because He loved this world. He did not just love the good and righteous of the world but He loved even a thief. He gave His life for the thief who takes the life of others. There is no one in this world whom the Lord does not love. No matter what kind of a person you may be, the Lord still loves you all the same.
The day that Lord Jesus was put to death was the darkest day of this creation. But God has made it a day of light for eternity. On the cross where man exhibited his worst, God showed His greatest love and His best. The most man could do is take life and he did it. The most Jesus could do was give His life and He did that to demonstrate His love for you and me.
When I accepted His sacrifice and handed myself over to Him, He then gave me the assurance that He will bring to completion the good work that He is starting in me, i.e. to change me into His likeness. He will not sit back till He makes me free from all fault, stigma, spot or wrinkle; for one day, as a citizen of heaven, He will have me stay with Him for all eternity.
Once, a servant of God had to bury 40 people, one of whom was his dear wife too. That evening as he sat at the table for the evening meal with his children, he prayed and thanked God saying “Lord, with-out rages war and death and with-in profuse sorrow, but I am grateful that even these travails you have enabled me to be thankful to you.”
Many-a-times we accept gifts and enjoy them too and conveniently forget the giver of the gifts. We are very vocal and demanding when asking in our prayers but very low key when we worship, we are often left searching for words to express our adoration. Is it because within us there is hardly any cognizance left for all His favors towards us? “... Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 106:1).
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