(1 Peter 5:7) …because he cares for
you.
No matter where
we may find ourselves in this life; no matter how hard the struggle when we
strip down all of life’s paraphernalia as Christians we can and must above
everything else remember that our God most certainly cares for us. His
compassion is not but a fleeting moment where when we see someone in need; I
see a homeless child living off the streets and then feel empathy rise up
within me. I know I often feel pity for them as I drive-by but sadly that emotion
is soon forgotten as the day progresses.
Our God is not
like that, “He cares for you”! This is a continuous caring, not just a
fleeting moment. It is not dependent upon us and what we do; sure all the “must
do’s” according to the Holy Scriptures have their place; we are commanded to
seek, knock and then we shall find; we are told to ask and then we shall
receive. We have been instructed to come to the throne of grace with boldness
and so on. But what of the times when we are weak as the walls of this life
close in on us and we find it difficult to breathe, let alone speak. The times
when we are unable to cry out and be bold in character, when zeal is no longer
our companion, when thoughts about wanting to end our own lives, now a reality,
where it once was a weak and ridiculous thought and anyone who thought like that
was pitiful. It is especially in these times that our God most certainly cares
for us.
Obviously God
is so brilliant he is able to process the happenings of life with all its
intricacies simultaneously. Why then if we are in such a hopeless place and
seem to be so pathetic to others, why does God care for us? We all have heard,
“God helps those who help themselves” – Rubbish! That is a misrepresentation of
what the Bible teaches and is a lot of poppycock. It is especially in the
weakest state of a Christian’s life that God gives special attention to his
adopted son (child). This truth really excites me and it should also motivate
you. This is the God I serve, He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and He
is my God.
Can I back this
up from scripture? Isn't the Lord Jesus the good shepherded? He most certainly
is! Here is a parable He Himself uses to explain the extent of His own faithfulness
to all those who have truly believed in Him and found forgiveness for their sins; “So he told
them this parable: "What man of you, having a
hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in
the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders,
rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls
together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I
have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I
tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”” (Luke 15:3-7)
If you’re sole
intention when coming to Christ was to find an easier path for your existence,
then I would strongly suggest that what you have is a false conversion and you
are not born of the Spirit. Salvation must start with us acknowledging that we
are sinners and that the Lord Jesus Christ is the One in whom we need to find
refuge, for He alone paid the price for our sins. Does a healthy person
frequent a doctor? It is the sick that need the physician and not the healthy;
so too did Christ not come for the righteous (those who class themselves as
good) He came to save sinners. Are you a sinner then call out to Him, if you
have no strength to call then pray for the forte; if this then is not possible
ask for the fortitude from God through His beloved Son the Lord Jesus Christ
that He would have mercy on you and give you the strength to call out to Him,
and so on… there is always hope for those who still breathe.
Now for those
who truly belong to Him I will leave you with these thoughts…
“God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of
this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until
near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of
Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord
thrice that “the thorn in the flesh” might be taken from him, and he received
no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that
God’s grace should be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the
gate of mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty
Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons peculiar
to himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show his power and
his sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to
withhold. More frequently the delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept
waiting in order that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay
will quicken and increase desire, and that if he keeps thee waiting thou wilt
see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou
wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be
something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before the joy of the
Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or thou
mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead of trusting simply
and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that he may the
more fully display the riches of his grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all
filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not
forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight and
satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue instant in earnest
supplication.” (C.H.Spurgeon)
May we never
forget to callout in time of need, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he
cares for you.” (1Peter 5:7)
Signing off
Tyrone
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