Sunday, December 26, 2021

Blessed




"The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place."
Proverbs 15:25

Upon returning home after spending the holiday with my daughter and her family I found a gift on my front porch. The above verse was written among these beautiful sentiments...

"The gift He wanted my family to give Him for his birthday was to love you and pray for you so that you might know just how deep His love is for you. He is near."

During this busy season it's easy to, not necessarily forget, but to become so busy that important people and opportunities get pushed a bit to the side. I'm talking about myself here.....I did just that....placing all of my energy in one place and ever so slightly justifying I could push something.....someone to another day. 

Yet, I come home to find that not only had I been prayed for by a special family but time was taken to bring a gift. I was so touched, felt such love, saw God's hand so clearly....and....I.....was ...convicted. Convicted that this family did for me what I did not do for a member of my own family. 

Funny as I sit here this morning, in the dark, rested after a good night's sleep, I'm actually sad that I didn't do it right. I can justify my choices and to some it would sound perfectly acceptable.....but I am without excuse....

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4:17

"James knows that it is far easier to think about and talk about humility and dependence on God than it is to live it. Yet he makes the mind of God plain: as we know these things, we are accountable to do them." (EWC)

"Here James returned to his consistent theme through his letter: the idea that genuine faith is proved by action. “However high and orthodox our view of God’s law might be, a failure actually to do it says to the world that we do not in fact put much store by it.” (Moo)

How many times I've said, "God, I don't know what you are doing!" WELL....how could I have possibly seen this laid out so perfectly!? One family's act of obedience to love me, during an incredibly busy, often difficult, season showed me that they did for me what I wasn't willing to do for another.

I am so grateful (actually blown away) by such kindness....my heart overflows with joy. This family prayed for me and was obedient to God's calling to love me in a difficult season....and through their obedience God has taught me how to do the same....even when I'm busy (doing good things), even when I'm exhausted, even when I don't have the "want to" even when I feel justified, even when I'm pretty sure I'll be forgiven....

As the sun rises this morning on my favorite day of the week, Celebration Sunday, I am in awe. I stand amazed in the presence of a God who teaches me hard lessons, corrects my heart and loves me like no other.

One commentary explains this verse in Proverbs like this:

"The widow is the picture and representative of a humble, needy person who looks to and depends on God. She represents the opposite of the proud, and God takes special care of those who humbly depend on Him."

As I sit at the feet of Jesus this morning I've been humbled and I'm grateful.

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