What a Shame!

What a shame it would be if a great artist created a beautiful work of art but did not share it with the world. What benefits to others are withheld if a musician creates moving music, but the music is never heard? In the same way, blessings are never received when we withhold our treasures and abilities from serving others.

Proverbs 25:14 says, “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” When God gives us treasures and abilities, He expects us to use them to bless others, not just keep them for our benefit.

Looking Into the Clouds

I don’t know about you, but I often look at the sky for some sign of incoming weather. Dark clouds threaten rain, while white clouds bring the promise of nice weather. Since I spend a lot of time hiking outdoors, these signs help me to dress properly and know where I may be able to go or not be able to go. Sometimes, we do the same thing with God. We are constantly looking for outward signs as to what we should do when God is assuredly and softly speaking to our hearts.

Exodus 13:21 says, “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” Many times God leads His people with outward signs, but more often than not He leads us with inward promptings of His Spirit and with His Word. It is then our responsibility to follow these instructions, as God’s people followed the cloud and the pillar to go where God led them. Ignoring the inward promptings and God’s Word will assuredly lead us to wander in the wilderness rather than go directly to the Promised Land.

Instructions in Faith

As a child, we learned truths in different ways. Our parents and teachers told us some things that we just believed and needed no further instruction. However, there were always some truths that we needed to learn by experience. We were told not to touch the fire, but some of us needed to touch the fire in order to know the why of this instruction. Those of us who mature slowly or not at all, have to repeatedly learn the basic instructions.

Hebrews 6:1 says, “So let us stop going over the basics of Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” In we saved by faith in Jesus, let us grow in that grace by walking with Him and serving Him by faith. Let us move on from the basics of faith to maturity by continuing to walk closely with Jesus, listening to His instructions and experiencing His truths.

This Is Who God Is

God’s Word tells us that those who trust in Him will spend eternity in celebration. In this eternal celebration of God, we will sing words like those spoken in Revelation 15:3-4:

“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

This is our God! This is who He is! This is why we love Him and worship Him.

Fatherhood

Those of us who are fathers have a wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility. We contributed DNA, with physical, emotional, and mental attributes. But, initially we don’t have much say in which of these attributes come forth in our offspring. We then have the responsibility to assist our children to grow up to be the kind of person who is respected and admirable.

Deuteronomy 32:6 speaks of God and says, “Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?” When God created each of us, He formed us with just the right attributes and abilities that He wanted us to possess. It is only right that we should want to become more like Him. We can choose to follow in His steps or to reject His work in our lives. Submitting to His work in our lives brings us much joy, godliness, and fulfillment of His purposes.