TWO ABSOLUTES
The longer I live for Christ, the more difficult it is for me to accept easy, cure-all solutions. But in my own struggles, I have found great comfort and help in two wonderful absolutes.
The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME. God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
I caught a glimpse of that love recently while walking in the woods around our ranch. Not once did I stop to consider the birds flying about, free and healthy. But suddenly, on the ground just ahead, a crippled little bird flopped around. Struggling so hard to fly, the baby bird could only flip over helplessly in the dust. I stooped to pick it up. It was then a familiar Scripture came flashing through my mind. "Not one [sparrow] shall fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29).
I once thought that verse read, "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it." But Matthew's version states, "One shall not fall without the Father."
God is with us, even when we fall. The Father does not fall into our sin, but He does come down to our fallen condition. He does not abandon us on our way down. For, you see, we are that sparrow.
Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition. Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love. Just rest in that wonderful love. Don't panic. Deliverance will come.
The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST! "Without faith, it is impossible to please him" (Hebrews 11:6). God counts our trust as righteousness. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
I may not understand why He sometimes seems to take a long time to intervene, but I know He will keep His word to me.
The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME. God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
I caught a glimpse of that love recently while walking in the woods around our ranch. Not once did I stop to consider the birds flying about, free and healthy. But suddenly, on the ground just ahead, a crippled little bird flopped around. Struggling so hard to fly, the baby bird could only flip over helplessly in the dust. I stooped to pick it up. It was then a familiar Scripture came flashing through my mind. "Not one [sparrow] shall fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29).
I once thought that verse read, "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father knowing about it." But Matthew's version states, "One shall not fall without the Father."
God is with us, even when we fall. The Father does not fall into our sin, but He does come down to our fallen condition. He does not abandon us on our way down. For, you see, we are that sparrow.
Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition. Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love. Just rest in that wonderful love. Don't panic. Deliverance will come.
The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST! "Without faith, it is impossible to please him" (Hebrews 11:6). God counts our trust as righteousness. “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
I may not understand why He sometimes seems to take a long time to intervene, but I know He will keep His word to me.