Recently I watched an hour-long documentary about ravens.
Yes, I do that kind of thing because I love to learn. I was fascinated by the complex
social structures that ravens create. They pair up for life and adopt a home
territory which they defend.
Together, they build a nest and raise young together each
year. They are devoted to each other, and the male tirelessly feeds his mate
during her time of nesting. When the chicks hatch the adults feed their
offspring for the first three months of their lives, carrying food to the nest,
then teaching them to forage for themselves even after they become fledglings. It
might be a stretch to call it ‘love,’ but it sure looks like it to me! (https://youtu.be/7RGmh_C3Kyg?si=QE92p07pdklRJjX_)
As I watched, I was reminded of my Father’s care for me!
Do you realize how much you are loved by your Heavenly Father?
When you think of Him do you think of a remote God or a caring Person?
Is He angry or welcoming?
Jesus tells us "He will give you all you need from
day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. “So don’t be
afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you
the Kingdom.
“Sell what you have and give to those in need. This will
store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven have no holes in
them. Your treasure will be safe—no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy
it. Wherever your treasure is, your heart and thoughts will also be."
(Luke 12:31-34, NLT)
What a revelation about the nature of our God. He loves to
GIVE. He grants us access to the resources of His world as His children. Meditate
on that fact. One of the persistent lies about God rooted in the deceptions of
the Devil is that God is an angry Person, uncaring, and demanding. Jesus tells
us the exact opposite truth. Secure children of God need not live in fear, nor
should they feel orphaned in this world.
John underlines that fact in one of my favorite portions of
the Scripture when he writes - "How great is the love the Father has
lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we
are!” (1 John 3:1, NIV) The love and care of our Father is profusely given,
not meted out from a miserly heart. He gladly identifies with us, calling us
His children. Yes, I am a child of God through adoption by the Spirit,
through the mercy and grace of Christ Jesus. This is the Gospel. Believe
it, my friend, and live with joy.
Jesus says that there is a visible result in the lives of
those who live the richly resourced life of a child of God.
*They do not need to cling tightly to their wealth for they know that God will
provide what they need when they share with others.
*They will invest in true spiritual wealth because they are assured of the value
of treasure in heaven where “they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and
where they will be safe from thieves.”
*They know the meaning of real wealth, not merely that of earthly treasure.
Knowing these things, by faith, they will become generous in
every way. Loved and secure people are peaceful people.
The words of Paul close these thoughts today. I pray they
will inspire us to live joyfully in the Father’s love today. "My God
will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To
our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Philippians
4:19-20, NIV)
Live as one whose every need – spiritual, emotional, and earthly
– are cared for by a loving Father.
Amen
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Video at https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55
