Have you see on the news the videos of floods in various parts of the world this past week? One video particularly grabbed my attention. A dog was walking down a street carrying a bone in his mouth. He suddenly stops when he sees a wave of water rushing down the street! How unexpected! The dog had probably trotted down that street many times in safety, but now a torrent of water flowed swift and strong toward him. He stood frozen but when the water reached him it carried him along with its strength of flow. Amazingly the dog sees a wide window ledge and manages to take hold with his front legs. Grappling against the rush of water he pulls himself onto the ledge and sits watching in astonishment as the newly formed river keeps rushing along.
Later in the day, inflatable rescue boats were coming down the street, no doubt looking for people in need of escape. The dog was spotted. The boat came close and stopped. One of the rescuers managed to grab hold of the dog and bring him into the boat. When they returned to their headquarters the dog leapt out of the boat and followed them inside. A blanket was spread on the floor for him. The dog sat on it looking all around him. Whenever anyone approached he wagged his tail, appreciating any pats on the head and words of comfort. He had long ago lost the bone, but that now paled in comparison. All he then wanted was safety and comfort,
This reminded me of Job in the Old Testament. He suffered tragic loss in the death of his children, financial devastation, and painful illness. Even so, Job said of God in Job 23:10, He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. James wrote about Job in the New Testament, Indeed, you have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. As the book of Job concludes we see that God blessed him twice as much as before. He suffered greatly, and some would say, unfairly, but he was blessed abundantly.
When we feel we are drowning in troubled seas, and all you can manage is to grab hold of a ledge of some hope, hold fast! The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). You will not be on the ledge forever. He will rescue. He will comfort. He will feed you with reminders of His love and help. Like the dog on the ledge who waited patiently, forgetting the bone once so important, may we also sit before the Lord, forgetting the tangible things here today and gone tomorrow, focusing instead on Him — just Him. When we know He will comfort, strengthen, and be our peace in the midst of any storm, all else becomes a bit trivial. Our Father truly does know the way that we take, and when we are tried and tested, learning that clinging to bones is temporary, but clinging to Jesus is for eternity, then indeed, we shall come forth as gold.
It was an ordinary afternoon when our dog, Jack, and I were having a stroll around the neighborhood. Just a few blocks away from where we live there is a community park with a children’s play area at one end. To one side is a wooded area where Jack loves to scout for squirrels. We wandered for a while along the paths beneath the trees, then made our way toward the children’s playground.
School had dismissed for the day so it was no surprise that many of the parents, who had collected their children from school, were now gathered together at the park before heading to their homes. The actual children’s area is fenced in. The parents were sitting together on benches nearby the swings and slides. Much laughter and happy chatter filled the air when suddenly a loud cry of alarm shattered the joyous sounds of children at play.
Jack and I stopped quick when we heard the cry. I saw every parent’s head turn but only one stood up declaring, “That’s my Jenny!” She ran to the crowd of children now standing in stunned silence. Jenny had fallen from the slide. Her mother quickly came to her little girl and tenderly moved legs and arms, no doubt, to ascertain if anything was broken. She gently brushed bits of leaves and grass from the little girl’s dress and gave her a hug. Soon enough all was well in Jenny’s world once more.
I rather marveled at Jenny’s mother. Out of all the children and noises galore, how did she know it was Jenny who cried out? Her mother’s ears knew her child’s voice. There was no mistaking it even amidst other noises mingling loudly in the air. Jenny cried out. Her mother came quickly to the rescue.
It reminded me of Psalm 34:17-18, The Lord hears His people when they call to Him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. How are you feeling today? Are you hurt in body or heart? Are you feeling all alone? Are you feeling forgotten or betrayed? Are you feeling all hope is gone? Cry out! Cry out loud and wait. Wait in anticipation. Your Father has heard you. He cares. He loves you without measure. He knows how to soothe away what troubles you. He is able to hold you up when you feel too weak to face what lies ahead. The Lord is near. He hears. He rescues. Call now and be comforted in His loving and strong arms.
The other day I was walking with our dog, Jack, when he suddenly took off in fast speed. I looked in the distance to see one of Jack’s friends, a Rottweiler named Doris. Now, there is something in the name Rottweiler. One may immediately think huge, powerful, mean. Then one hears the name Doris which probably melts away any fears that sprang to mind.. Rottweiler sounds ferocious; Doris sounds meek and mild. There is something in a name.
As we get to know someone, traits may be associated with that name, be it a good trait or less favorable one. By example, perhaps you know someone, we’ll call her Cindy-Lou. Let’s say this person is always grumpy; finding a cloud in every sunshiny day. Now let’s say you are talking with someone and he or she says something pessimistic You may say, “Now don’t do a Cindy-Lou on me.” (Apologies to anyone named Cindy-Lou). We identify and are identified by a name.
Thinking of our dog again, two weeks ago I took Jack to the vet, just for his annual check-up. As we walked in the door the receptionist happily calls out, “Jack!” A nurse standing nearby stops what she is doing to come say a personal hello to Jack. “Jack is the sweetest dog,” she tells me. “We just love when we hear Jack is coming.” Of course, I swell with pride in knowing just the mention of his name evokes great joy in the vet clinic.
As Christians, you and I are identified with the wonderful. powerful, saving name of Jesus. We read in Philippians 2:9, God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven, and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (ESV). Since all who receive Jesus’s gift of salvation are counted as sons and daughters of God, then our names are written in the Book of Life. We are identified with Jesus for eternity.
To be so identified is a badge of honor. After all, Jesus saves. Jesus comforts. Jesus gives strength. Jesus is the Word and the Word is sharper than any two edged sword, able to cut through our pretenses, thereby able to mold us more and more into the image of Jesus. There is no other name as great and wonderful as the name of Jesus.
When we hear the name — Jack, Doris, Cindy-Lou, Vickie, or any other name, they evoke some emotion within, be it love or fear, courage, distain, or indifference. These emotions are ever changing and passing, but there is a name, above all names, that is eternal in love and power and salvation — Jesus. The sweet name of Jesus. The powerful name of Jesus. I hope you love this name. I hope you identify with this name, for then, no matter the trials of life, in the name of Jesus, you have everything you need to get through anything at all.
All praise and honor to that lovely, life changing name — Jesus.
Yesterday I watched a live news event of King Charles III of England meeting with Pope Leo at the Vatican in Rome. In particular, they were in the Sistine Chapel with its famous ceiling painted by Michael Angelo in the 16th century. I was curious about how long it took to paint this amazing work of art.. The entire ceiling was covered in scenes from the book of Genesis. I looked up details to discover it took four years to complete the work.
I began to imagine, after just a month, someone may have come in to observe the painting and thought to themselves, “nothing special about that.” In sixth months the same thing might have been said. After a year someone could have said, “you can’t even tell what it is.” In another two years one might have declared, “looks much better.” When four years had passed, the completed work of art was seen as magnificent.
This reminded me of Philippians 1:6, when Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, and to all of us, I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. When we first come to Jesus, receiving the wonderful cleansing and forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life with Him in Heaven, we are a work of art just begun. No doubt, still battling with the carnal nature within, perhaps still prone to bouts of anger, or a tongue that spoke unkindly, we may have been declared, “nothing special about that.” As the years passed, with us yielding ourselves to The Master Artist, the One who created the world, it can then be said of us, “looks much better.”
The longer we walk with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us, thereby, molding us into the image of Jesus, we begin to take on family resemblance. We are letting our light shine that others see Jesus in us (Matthew 5:16). Therefore, when demonic forces hiss their lies of, “you don’t look like anything special,” shout back, “My Father is still working on me! He’s not finished yet!” Then in peace and joy, walk on, allowing the Holy Spirit each day to do His work in your life, painting into your being the fruits of the Spirt — love, joy, peace, long-suffering,, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Do not allow self-loathing to take root. Do not entertain thoughts of giving up. Never consider for a moment anything the devil hisses at you. Instead, stay focused on Jesus, sitting still on His potter’s wheel, and breathe in His goodness with inner peace and joy. When He returns, taking us to be in His presence forever, we will then be a magnificent work of art. Until then, be thankful — He’s not finished yet.
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