Many months ago, I ordered a few things online that I thought might help us if the need arises. My expectations were crushed as when I received them, the instructions were more than I could digest. I thought I could work them manually and not from my “smartphone.” Although I must be among the lower percent today, that still has not given into the tide of smartphones. I decided to send all the items back. Early one morning, I loaded them up in a torrential downpour of rain and when I ran into the UPS station, two strong young men offered to help me unload the products. They assured me not to worry and that they would take care of the packages. Wet and tired I drove away. While I was driving, my thoughts messaged me to get the receipts from the returns, but I kept driving. The little voice kept telling me to, “turn around and take the time to get those receipts.” Instead, I ignored the little voice and kept driving. In the past, I always took the time to get a receipt. I knew I was doing the wrong thing and I should have turned around. Instead, I drove all the way home. After two days passed, I could not deal with the practical advice my conscience was giving to me and jumped in the car and went back to the UPS station to see if I could get the receipts. Nope. As she looked on their computer there was no record and no way to track them. The kind lady said, “I can assure you, they are out of this building!” Well, that was of little consolation and right then I knew this was going to be a test of my faith. Driving home, my imagination started to turn into fearful thoughts: “Anyone could have taken out those returns as they could not be traced.” Then, another thought: “I had refused to listen to God’s voice and we could stand to lose quite a bit, because of my disobedience in not wanting to drive back in the pouring rain that morning and follow through on the legalities.” After I got home, I asked for forgiveness and repented and prayed. Time passed. I called the place where I purchased them and emailed the company who sold the products and received no encouragement. Only, “You will get your refund, when we receive the products.” Many months passed. I continued to pray, telling God I had learned my selfish and reckless lesson. I resigned to reaping what I had sown. Finally, I came to the area in my faith, to just let it all go. I had prayed in faith believing and knowing my Father had forgiven me and had asked once again to be rescued. I did everything I could think of doing. Then, one day I opened up my account and there it was, all the money I had spent, completely returned to us!
I was reminded of:
“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:10, 11. niv
Oh the JOY!
This is how we learn to stop being so foolish and selfish. We do not learn completely from our studies, but also from the experiences we receive in our trials. God’s Holy Spirit reveals what still needs to be cleaned up inside of us. We are still in school. The closer we draw to our Father, the stronger our faith will be, because He keeps drawing nearer to us. Everything has to do with love and faith in Jesus Christ and His word in our life. In fact, Paul said,
“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Ga.5:6b niv
Take a minute and think about that small verse. How can we express our faith through love? By obedience in and through our Counselor, The Holy Spirit. That day He was Counseling me, but I did things my way, instead of His way.
The full verse in the amp, “For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.”
I love those words, “faith activated and expressed through love.” Sometimes, we love in faith, don't we?
We choose to be obedient by faith because God first loved us first.
Our faith and love is the only thing that gets our Father’s attention and we cannot have His eye and ear, unless we first humble ourselves and think of the consequences of not walking in His Covenant of Love. I wasn’t walking in the Spirit that morning, I was walking in selfishness. I wanted to get out of the pouring rain. I had gotten out of the will of God, only to be reminded; that if I live by the Spirit, I will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. I learned my lesson well.
The fiery trials we go through will strengthen our hope, if we respond in Love. Our faith is watered and then, turns into joy! Can you receive this? Yes, I think you can.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
You care about how we respond in our daily events. Your eyes see all the motives in our hearts, our intents and deepest desires. You created us in love and in Your image and Your Son gave us Your Holy Spirit to speak to us and for us to abide by every word He has given to us. You have reassured us that He is standing along side of the You making intercession for us. Thank You Father. We are a blessed people, and today we give You heartfelt thanks for all the training and experiences we go through that increases our faith and conforms us into Your Son’s likeness. Forgive us for any unthinking fretting, any fears or doubts that we entertain when we walk through our testings. We will declare,Your word abides inside of us and through Your Holy Spirit we are the victors and overcomers you have called us to be. In Jesus we declare, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment