Sacred Vending Machine

We step up to a vending machine, put in our money or scan our credit card, and instantly receive the product that we desired. Many of us treat God as a sacred vending machine. We put our requests before God and begin to anxiously wait for His answer. Many times, we don’t wait very long before we begin to form our own answer.

Psalm 62:1 says, “For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.” God wants us to make our requests to Him. But sometimes, after we have spoken to God, we should be quiet and at peace, waiting for His answer. This demonstrates our faithfulness and trust in Him.

The Good Hands God

In I Samuel 5, the “hand of the Lord was heavy” against the Philistines. They thought that they had won a major victory against God’s people by capturing the ark of God. But everywhere they took the ark, the hand of the Lord was heavy against them and they suffered disaster. For God had said, “Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.” (I Samuel 2:30) The Philistines despised God and suffered for it. Nehemiah 2:18 says, “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good.” God’s hand brings good through the person who walks in sincere faith. When we honor God by faithfully walking in His ways, He will do good for us and through us.

Healing Close-by

What if your most trusted advisor was also right next to you? You could ask for advice at any time and they could provide timely counsel. What if your doctor stayed by your side constantly? Any time you felt pain or even slightly ill, you could ask the doctor for help. Unfortunately, these systems and processes do not work this way. We have to schedule appointments with advisors and physicians when they have an opening, not just when we need them.

Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” One of the most amazing attributes of Almighty God for me is the fact that He chooses to be near to me. Once our pride and stubbornness is humbled, He chooses to heal our broken hearts and revive our crushed spirits with His kind touch.

Protection of Everything Dear to Us

I worked at a bank for over 20 years, so I have seen many bank vaults. The walls are thick and the opening mechanism is complicated. Entry is granted only to authorized personnel. These designs are intended to keep the valuables safe and secure from attack or theft. Individuals do their best to safeguard their valuables with things like personal safes, tornado shelters, locks, and gates.

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” It is God’s perfections of faithfulness, power, mercy, and wisdom that we must rely upon for security. We run to Him for protection from evil and a secure relationship with Him.