09/10/2024
How do we come before the Lord? Do we come boldly, or timidly? Do we come in expectation or in doubt like a mistreated dog or a street beggar? Do we come in fear or with confidence? The answer to these and other similar questions lies in our relationship with the Lord, how well we know His character, and our faith in the promises He has made through His word. But most of all it depends on the strength of our love for Him and our understanding of the depth of His love for us. Those who know Him, love Him, honor His commandments, and follow Jesus our savior, enter into His presence with confidence and great expectation.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
Psalms 24:3-5 KJV
When we understand the character of God we have confidence in His Holy Word. We know that in Him is only truth, and that His promise is firm and forever. In the shadow of that promise, and by holding firm to the garment of Christ, we can enter into His presence without fear.
As a boy I was given a dog by a Game Farm that raised hunting dogs. She was an English setter that was afraid of gunshots and in so being was worthless to the hunters. To make matters worse she had been beaten and any time you extended your hand she would cower. No one wanted this dog and she was mere days from being put down. I took her because she needed me, and I needed her. All the way home she lay on the seat of my car with her head fearfully in my lap. She moved nothing but her eyes as I petted her and spoke gently to her. I loved her despite her afflictions and she didn't know quite what to make of me.
When we reached my parent’s home I began the long tedious process of teaching her that I loved her and that I would not hurt her. I always walked her on a leash because I knew she would bolt if I tried to let her run. She didn't love me yet, and she hadn’t developed much of an attachment to me.
Weeks went by and at last I thought she was growing accustomed to me. She wasn't shying from my hand any longer, and would lay by my side calmly as I ran my hand through her fur. So I decided I would take her into the fenced back yard and let her off the leash. My parents lived in a rural area at the time and there were few distractions that might spook her.
So, one day after school I took her into the yard, made certain the gates were secured and let her off the leash. For a moment she stood beside me, but then suddenly she bolted to the bottom of the yard, climbed the chain link fence and was gone. I searched days and days for her, but never saw her again. I was heartbroken. Years later I would see a dog in a field and look quickly to see if by some chance it might be her, but it never was, and my heart would sink.
You see, as much as I loved her, she could never get over the fear that she had of people. Sometimes the world puts that same fear in us, and try as we might, God can't cure that fear we harbor... He can't seem to win our confidence and heart. We all know people like this who are running about the world everywhere. People like this have confidence in only themselves; and can't see the incredible love of God, Jesus, and His other children, who are trying so hard to win their hearts.
These lost people who the world has made to shy from God's hand because of the mistreatment of others, will approach Him with fear, and have little confidence in his provision. They might eat the meal He provides them right now, but have no true faith in His continued favor.
Then there are those that God takes home. They will walk with Him while tethered, but will run astray the moment they are released to follow Him on their own. However, unlike my dog and me, God knows exactly when He should let them run free. He knows when their love for Him is full, and when they trust in Him completely. He knows when they will come before him unafraid, confident in His love, with full expectation of His provision, and longing for His touch. He knows when they will not run back into the world.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
On the day when we are freed through Christ Jesus, our love and faith in God has been made complete and we can come before him boldly and with confidence. On that day we want nothing more than to be in His presence, and to feel His touch.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 KJV
I pray this morning that each of us will lay still in the lap of God and receive His love without fear. I pray that we don't hesitate to run boldly to Him when called, and that our expectation of His love is sufficient for all our needs. May God bless us today; those who are tethered to Him, and those who now run freely in His presence.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love and mercy, and for calling us to you despite our weaknesses, and shortcomings. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that leads us, and for your Son Jesus who demonstrates to us the life we can have in you. Thank you Abba for loving us perfectly, and taking away the fear that causes us to shy away from your hand. Thank you for overcoming the pain we have been handed out by the world and by those who are in it. And, thank you too for changing us, and the people who are of various degrees of knowing your love and kindness, who may have mistreated us in church as we search there for you. Open our hearts to your loving kindness, and teach us all to love, and to be loved, as you have always loved us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us despite our lost ways, and who calls us to Jesus in an effort to overcome the damage that the world has done to us, and to redeem us. Holy are you who extends your hand to us in peace, and in a gentle act of love and humility, as you ask only that we gingerly make our way to it, and come to accept your goodness and know the love of your caress. Father we pray today will be that day when the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil will fall from our mouths, and we will once again take every good thing you offer us as manna in its place. Let this be the end to our suffering and fear, and the beginning of eternity with you.
We pray too Abba that you continue to help those who are struggling within your Church, and change all those who are still lost there so that they will do no physical or spiritual harm to the other seekers who are praying and worshipping around them. Let every heart come to you, and each one learn to love you, and love their neighbors as they love themselves… let them love even more Lord, and forevermore.
Amen, Amen, Amen!
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
Romans 14:13 ESV
Rich Forbes