The Sparrow
The man trusted Jesus. Living in a small, rented room in a house of idols, he needed a place where he could have Bible studies. He saved his money and God provided him a nice little place of his own to call home. Now he had a kitchen, bathroom, living room and two bedrooms all to himself. He had many books, papers, clothing and one bath towel and a home in need of furnishing. The Lord, the PROVIDER would take care of this man's needs, and He did just that.
On the other side of things, a list was made to help identify his needs. It was exciting, a church could come together and show their love and give. It was a time to act. Sometimes humans have expectations on how things will appear; with eagerness and zest, with excitement and a flurry; we can't wait to see God's work occur through our fellow Christians. Sometimes, it is quiet instead. Someone will provide everything for the bathroom, 'thank You God..." The clock ticks on... Someone has many items for him to look through, 'thank you God..." "Tick, tock, tick, tock..."
"Lord, where are your servants, where is the church who is eager to serve? Are they eager? Lord, I want to see a people excited to serve you, excited to respond. Did they not get the message? What is happening Lord? But I know that YOU will provide; but Lord, where is everyone?"
More offers to complete items on the list come in and some items come from unexpected places such as people who are connected with people on the list who aren't even part of our church, but they love God. You see, God the PROVIDER knows how to provide, and He knows just who has the items that are needed. God also knows exactly WHEN the gifts will come. Our job as Christians is do to the work God sets out for us to do REGARDLESS of us not seeing things according to how we "expect" to see them.
Meanwhile, the man who had only one towel, who is rich in faith and rich in God and knowing how to trust the PROVIDER has been being showered with items in abundance beyond what is even on the list. He sees it raining blessings from above. He knows who it has all come from.
A lesson in patient expectation for the list-maker; who although she knew God would provide; she wanted to see it in the way she imagined; a church coming together in excitement and eagerness. Think of it, isn't that what God longs to see in His children? Doesn't He just long to see His children fervent, willing and excited to serve Him? He provided in HIS own way and time. He did not falter. He provided through HIS church. g to take for the Lord's church to return to tho
The listmaker was looking for items to be provided through the church she was a part of... It turns out that her perspective was waaaaaay smaller than God's perspective... God was providing through various members of His Church which exceeded the borders the listmaker had in mind...
Let's remember the early days of fervent excitement when He first revealed Himself to us, when He called our hearts, when we took hold and received His gift of salvation and He wiped away our past sins; they were all behind us, they were no more. When He removed our sins so far away from us that it was as far as the east is from the west...
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are dust." Psalm 103:11-14
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Do you remember the joy and the newness that you have felt at times along your Christian walk? The zeal, the excitement, the gratefulness to God for a new life? I'm reminded of the "Letters to the Churches" in Revelation Chapters 1-3. I'm sharing this as an encouragement, Let's be a church who RETURNS to it's first love, who is no longer weary, who stands against false teaching and more... We can read Revelation 1-3 and be reminded of where our hearts and minds and hands need to be and we can pray, pray, pray.
During Covid times we have often been separated from people, church, Bible studies and all kinds of various fellowships we used to be part of at times; some of us have grown weary. We may have become alone and focused on other things; we might not have seen very many ways to be out doing things for God since maybe many people were somewhere inside behind closed doors, and us too.
Are we expecting the church to look fervent when we ourselves are not feeling it? We've grown weary and we're in the battle to simply read our Bible and get on our knees to pray? We're longing for conversation over coffee with the Bible with a brother or sister in the Lord; and some are afraid to get too close to other people? We're busy, we're tired and honestly staying home feels nice; don't have to face the world and we can stay in our sweats and slippers.
It's time to get 'back in the game,' let's start now. We have the opportunity as long as we have breath to ask the Lord to awaken us again; to renew our heart, to remind us of how to serve and to even ask the Lord to fill us with zeal to do His will and for Him to show us what He wants us to do... Let us awaken and renew in the Lord Jesus.
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The man with one bath towel has more than one bath towel now; he has couches to welcomes guests to sit. He has plates to serve food and mugs to serve hot beverages while they discuss the scriptures. He's got lamps to light the pages they read and a bookshelf to place his many books and his free Bibles.
He loves God and trusts God for all that he needs and how the Lord lovingly provides it all, the Lord has provided for the sparrow.