11/05/2020
Is our love for God, and the strength of our faith with us always, or do we pick them up and put them down at our convenience? When we are experiencing times of ease, and fair breezes, do we praise our Father, and tell Him how much we love Him, but turn our attention elsewhere, and need a reminder, when we are confronted by trouble? In times of hardship do we ask God “Where are you?” When perhaps the better question is to ask ourselves “Where am I in relation to God?”
“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3 ESV
I carry a prayer rock in my pocket everywhere I go. There is nothing sacred about this stone, it is just a small smooth riverbed rock with a cross etched into it, but every time I place my hand in my pocket I feel it there, my finger traces the indention of the cross, and I think about my faith in Jesus, and love for God. In this way I have written these things on my heart; I am reminded in the good and bad times alike that Jesus died for me and my God loves me.
“As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives— the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.””
Luke 19:37-40 ESV
I pray that the small stone in my pocket never has cause to cry out, and that I rejoice and praise God with my own voice... all the days of my life. Yet that rock whispers to me as I am reminded to pray, praise, worship, and more that all else, love my God. What do you have in your life that writes your love and faithfulness in God upon your heart? Is it a scripture you repeat over and over again, a hymn you sing, or a cross that you wear around your neck? Sometimes we need a physical reminder of our spiritual faith.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18 ESV
Jesus gave a new name to His disciple Simon Bar-Jonah, and called him Peter, the rock on which He would build His Church, and later Peter emphasized that he would be a reminder to us of our faith, and love, in Christ, and those things that are Christ-like.
“Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.”
2 Peter 1:12-14 ESV
So, what is it in our life that serves as the reminder of the faith and love we have in Jesus and God? What, or who, is our rock? Maybe it is a cross we wear, a small stone we carry, a verse, a hymn, or a Saint who mentors us. Whatever it is that leads us to a steadfast life of prayer, praise, worship, and love... carry it with you always as a constant reminder of what is in your heart, and let it be something that gives voice to that which guides your soul to righteousness.
“Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for loving us, and providing us with reminders of who you are, and your presence that is with us always. Thank you Lord for these reminders, small and great, that are written on our hearts, and worn about our necks. Thank you for each touchpoint in our lives that gives rise to our greater faith and love in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you who provides us with reminders of where we are in relation to you. Praised be your name for your presence that is with us always, and for the physical touches you provide us as reinforcement for the unseen spiritual attributes of your faith and love for us. Merciful are you our God who calls out to us by name, and who reminds us in scripture, love, and even by the shouts of the rocks, that your Son Jesus has redeemed us, and now pours out your grace upon us as our undeserved gift from you. Wash us clean, and make us pure, in the blood of Jesus, and make us worthy through His sacrifice to be with you in heaven for eternity... reveal to us then that reminders of your love and our faithfulness will no longer be needed as we bask in the glow of your glorious presence forevermore.
Rich Forbes