As
the deer pants for streams of water,
so
my soul pants for you, O God.
Psalm 42:1 NIV
Watching the television news broadcasts
last night made my mind spin, my heart hurt and honestly just made me crazy. As
I listened to the unfolding stories of fallen man I thanked God for His grace.
A story about a pastor tried by leaders of
his own denomination for performing a same-sex marriage for his son caught my
attention. Being found guilty and sentenced to thirty days of probation, the
report said he was unrepentant and would possibly do it again as three of his
four children are gay and he believes God has called him to stand for the
rights of homosexuals.
Then there was the story about the “church”
(and I use that term very loosely) in South Carolina that invites you to bring
a beer and your Bible as you study the Word together. I don’t mind telling you
that this one sent me over the edge. So I looked up their church and found it
is based upon the teachings of a man named Matthew Fox mixed with the Bible.
Finally the weatherman showed a photo and
explained the process of tumbleweeds. The light bulb clicked on at 300 watts! As
tumbleweeds blow across the land going wherever the wind takes them, they
spread their seeds along the path. Those thousands of seeds germinate and become
more tumbleweeds blown by the wind from place to place.
I believe that each of us is born with a “God
hole” in our heart. The only thing that will fill that hole is God. Individuals
look for, even long for something to fill that hole and go searching. Often their
heart hole is filled with drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, creating wealth or even
doing good deeds. Sometimes, however, it is filled with a mixture of Biblical
truth and man’s desire to be his own God like the slogan that says you can have it your way!
Thus seeking carries them from place to
place and from search to search like a tumbleweed blown by the wind. In the
meantime, God’s grace is in place and available. He lovingly waits for those
with erroneous theology or no theology or belief in God. He lovingly waits for
the child raised by Christian parents who refuses to believe. He lovingly waits
for those who have not yet heard that He loves them. He lovingly waits for
those who claim to be doing His work yet disobey God’s own principles. He
lovingly waits for His children to love and give grace to the hurting of this
world. He loves. He waits. His grace still flows in a fountain of mercy.
I believe that God is looking for men and
women who will long for Him as a deer longs for streams of water. Remember that
Jesus did not come into this world to condemn the world but to save the world.
(John 3:17) But how will they know unless we share the love of Christ?
Heavenly
Father, today I ask that you put me and my brothers and sisters in Christ in
the path of the human tumbleweeds of life who are longing, searching and
seeking to fill that God hole in their hearts. Enable us to love them and point
them to your grace. Give us the resources to help them with physical needs as our
Christ-like love draws them directly to you. May God be glorified in the name
of sweet Jesus. Amen
©JPowell 2013
No comments:
Post a Comment