I am standing in a stable. They tell me the Son of God was born here tonight. I stare. I am shocked. The baby! The baby is so small! This is God?!?
Mary invites me closer. "Would you like to hold him?" she asks. I nod.
As I cradle him in my arms, I am mesmerized. All the hope of the world, all the good, all the peace that exists, all these and more were contained in his tiny features. And I, I am holding him.
His eyes are closed. He turns his head, shifting in his sleep. So delicate, so beautiful, so unassuming. Overwhelmed with gratitude, I begin to softly hum.
A refuge for the poor, a shelter from the storm,
This is our God.
He will wipe away your tears, return your wasted years,
This is our God.
Oh call on his name, he is mighty to save
This is our God.
He hears me. The child stirs and opens his eyes. And the world is suddenly awash with Love.
This is our God!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
EXTRAVAGANT
Work pressure has been slowly building up lately and I've been fighting to see myself as valuable apart from my work. One such morning, I sat there desperate before the Lord. I prayed that He would help me see myself as He saw me.
I was surprised when the text that came to mind was Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." What did that have to do with my question? I wondered.
Then it made sense. I had always taken the verse to mean that we are to be like the man who sells it all for the joy of finding the gospel. I suddenly realized that the man in the story is more like God and that we are the treasure that He finds and gives up everything to acquire! The parable was about God and His heart towards us! We are the field that He sees the value hidden in and He did give everything He had in order to buy us.
It makes me think about my response as one who claims to follow Him. Do I look at each person I encounter and see their hidden treasure? Would I pull out all the stops to let these people know how valuable they are?
I am God's treasure. So are you. How amazing is that?!
I was surprised when the text that came to mind was Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." What did that have to do with my question? I wondered.
Then it made sense. I had always taken the verse to mean that we are to be like the man who sells it all for the joy of finding the gospel. I suddenly realized that the man in the story is more like God and that we are the treasure that He finds and gives up everything to acquire! The parable was about God and His heart towards us! We are the field that He sees the value hidden in and He did give everything He had in order to buy us.
It makes me think about my response as one who claims to follow Him. Do I look at each person I encounter and see their hidden treasure? Would I pull out all the stops to let these people know how valuable they are?
I am God's treasure. So are you. How amazing is that?!
"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
~ Luke 12:7 ~
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