Thursday, May 17, 2007

Consider

Reading Sister Michelle's post today reminded me of some reflections I've had over the past few weeks.

The Lord calls upon His people to "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah" (Psalm 4:4) and "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth" (Psalm 46:10).

Too often we fail to pause and consider (inspect, perceive, regard and know) the wonders of the Lord's creation.

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29).

According to all evidence I can see, Solomon was one of the wealthiest men in the Bible, and probably the wealthiest of Israel's kings. Yet according to the Lord Jesus Christ, that in all his glory, Solomon still didn't reach the glory of the raiment of the Lord's lilies.

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs 6:6).

Like Sister Michelle, I've also had a problem with little ants this year. They've been frustrating at times, yet at other times I love to sit and watch them. They really are amazing little creatures. Very social, they travel great distances to find food, work together to bring the food home, defend themselves and one another, work very hard in the time of harvest to prepare for times of want.

Many today are so dependent upon the government, their parents, or a multitude of others to provide for them, instead of considering the ways of the ant, being wise by following their method of organized, hard work.

"Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God" (Job 37:14).

At times when we're distressed, and begin to question the reason of our affliction, or wish to demand an audience with God to plead our cause, perhaps, we as Job, just need to "stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." Job would've been wise, and probably would have avoided the hot answer from God out of the whirlwind - yet, even in God's response (Job 38 & 39), we see the wondrous works that God has done, that we so often fail to recognize.

"He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion" (Psalm 111:4).

1 comment:

Dani said...

Ok, I really don't intend to comment on all of these tonight. Last Sunday, Brother Sonny Hucklebee preached an amazing sermon about when we need to be sit and when we need to move. Told us that we know which by praying and listening to the Lord's response. Talked about David going to the Lord in prayer about the Philistines. The first time the Lord said move and smite them and they won mightily, then the next they were told to be still until they heard in the tops of the mulberry trees, and when they did they won mightily.

It's so are to know when to stand still, and even harder to actually wait patiently on the Lord. Thank you for the thoughts.