A word from the Lord was rare ∙∙

A word from the Lord was rare ∙∙

A word from the LORD was rare in those days, and visions were infrequent. – 1 Samuel 3:1

1 Samuel 3:1-11

 1 Now in those days messages from the LORD were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

 4 Suddenly, the LORD called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”

 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.

 6 Then the LORD called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”

 7 Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before.

 8 So the LORD called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the LORD who was calling the boy.

 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.

 10 And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

 11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.”

George was a master persuader. He had an uncanny ability to move a roomful of people to his perspective. How did he do it?

George would ask thought-provoking questions and then retreat into silence. George created a space for others to provide their viewpoints and allowed their voices to take center stage. He had perfected the art of active listening. He was mindful of the underlying guiding principles and perspectives contributing to what was said.

Consequently, George cultivated a deep understanding of others’ viewpoints and unspoken desires and motivations. He then acknowledges what he had heard (which is, most likely, more than has been said). There is almost always more substance below the surface of what people say than there is in their words. George would present his own arguments in a manner that corresponded to the underlying needs and aspirations of the audience. The result was a persuasive, resonating impact. George was always willing to learn something from others’ perspectives and to let them know when he was shifting his view as a result of theirs.

Because George had listened to them, people did not argue with him. Due to the fact that he had heard them, his perspective became the wisest in the room.

Listening is far more persuasive than speaking. If you want people to listen, Stop Talking (Peter Bregman, HBR).

The Father is always listening. Some people talk more with their deeds than they do with their words. At the right time, He speaks.

1 Samuel 3:7 Samuel did not yet know the LORD because he had never had a message from the LORD before.

When the Father first spoke to Samuel, the boy did not know or recognize His voice. He had never heard the Father speak before. Samuel was actively engaged in fulfilling his responsibilities at the Tabernacle, assisting Eli. He was serving the Lord, but he had not yet met Him.

Eli realized that the voice that Samuel was hearing was the Father speaking to him. The Father was calling out to the boy. Eli was wise enough to tell Samuel how to respond the next time he heard the Father’s voice.  

1 Samuel 3:9 “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”

There’s no longer a need to wonder how to act upon hearing the Father’s voice. Eli provides us with clear guidance on how to respond when the Father speaks. With a straightforward declaration, we surrender control and recognize the Father as our Lord. He is the Master, and we are His servants.

Samuel stands out in stark contrast to Eli and his sons. Eli was a passive and absent father. Eli’s performance as a priestly leader was marked by failure. His sons were worthless men who did not know or respect the LORD (1 Samuel 2:12).

At the same time, the people of Israel were defiant and distant from the Father. Could this be why messages from the LORD were very rare and visions were quite uncommon?

REFLECT & PRAY

It is all too possible to serve the Lord without ever knowing Him (Matthew 7:23).

Father how I long to be like Samuel. Let me quickly respond when You speak: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”

INSIGHT

Now that Samuel was ready to hear and respond appropriately, he did not have long to wait. But this time, there was more than just a voice.

1 Samuel 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

This was no mysterious voice nor mystical experience. The Lord was there, physically present.

Was all that preceded this moment preparing Samuel to hear and take in what the Father said? Samuel was still just a boy but a prophet, a man of God in the making.

The Father’s words were dreadful and terrifying. No doubt, Samuel was already intently listening and focused. But now, his eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. I can imagine that under his breath, Samuel whispered, “Oh God no!” Perhaps he wept.

1 Samuel 3:11 Then the LORD said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel.”

The Hebrew could be literally translated, “When anyone hears about it, both of his ears will tingle.”

Habakkuk had a similar reaction to comparable unnerving news.

Habakkuk 3:16 I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror.

What was the Father about to do? The world, as the Nation of Israel, knew it was about to collapse. “The catastrophe was the impending defeat of Israel by the Philistines, the death of Eli’s sons and Eli himself, the capture of the ark of God, and the desolation of the national sanctuary at Shiloh” (Smith).

But there was a new world coming. The time of the Judges was ending. The Nation of Israel would no longer be twelve loosely confederated tribes. It was about to become a kingdom. And Samuel was being prepared to anoint the first king, the people’s choice, Saul. But Saul was a poor choice.

Samuel would also anoint the Father’s choice, David.

When the Father is silent, it’s not always a bad thing. Perhaps He is preparing you for the day that He speaks. Get ready. His perspective is always the wisest in the room.

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© Dr. H 2023

Money does stupid things ∙

Money does stupid things ∙

Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” – Hebrews 13:5

Psalms 119:35-40

 35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

 36 Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

 37 Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

 38 Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.

 39 Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.

 40 I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.

One of the unforeseen consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic was the accumulation of substantial amounts of money in the bank accounts of individuals who remained employed and had nothing to spend it on. Apparently, money, akin to energetic individuals, thrives on being active and engaged rather than just lying around gathering interest. What would all this money do? “The money has nowhere to go, so it’s doing stupid things” (Howard Lindzon). Money learned to do stupid tricks (Erin Griffith).

A buying frenzy erupted. In March 2021, a Tom Brady trading card sold for $1.3 million, setting a new record. Additionally, a work of digital art created by the relatively obscure artist Beeple, previously unrecognized, astoundingly fetched $69.3 million at Christie’s auction house, surpassing initial bids that began at a mere $100. Meanwhile, the value of Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, soared past the remarkable milestone of $1 trillion.

Of course, money learned or did nothing. Money is not alive and sentient. It is devoid of the ability to learn or take action. Instead, the individuals who possess money are the culprits. They sprang into action. When faced with prolonged periods of boredom and confinement at home, people eventually reached a tipping point and burst out. Investment manias of all types, many unheard of, exploded. People’s hearts follow their treasures. But what do these people treasure the most?

Solomon had this worked out 3000 years ago. He provided great insight and wisdom for all to absorb and consider. Solomon’s teachings offer invaluable lessons.

Ecclesiastes 5:10-15

 10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

 11 The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth – except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!

 12 People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.

 13 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver.

 14 Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost. In the end, there is nothing left to pass on to one’s children.

 15 We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Money in itself is neither good nor bad, but the love of it may lead to evil. With it, people may selfishly serve their own desires . . .. Money is not itself an evil, but it is a great responsibility. It has power for good and power for evil” (Barclay).

Father help me to be wise with my priorities. Encourage me to treasure what You treasure. Help me to align my heart so that my greatest treasure is my love for You and Your precious Word.

INSIGHT

Treasuring money, wealth, and material things put us at odds with the Father. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed an unchanging principle that encompasses and informs all we do.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

A remnant of children of the King displays a clear and sincere affection for the Word of God. This profound love for scripture naturally stems from their deep-rooted affection and intimate connection with the Lord Jesus Christ.

When our treasures do not align with the desires of the Father, redirecting our hearts begins with a crucial question: How do we repurpose our affections? When a new child of the King asked this question, seeking guidance. He was advised to spend time in the Word of God every day and earnestly pray to fall in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. Remarkably and delightfully, after several months, the transformation began to happen.

Most of us know what it is like to be in love with another person. Our hearts dance with delight at the mere thought of them, and the anticipation of being in their presence becomes nearly irresistible. Emotions well up within us, occasionally leading to tears, as our overwhelming joy bursts forth, impossible to contain.

Have you ever contemplated what it is like to be deeply in love with the Lord Jesus Christ? Imagine the sheer joy, boundless joy, and exhilaration that accompanies such a profound connection.

Wonder of wonders, every child of the King can fall in love with Him.

Have you ever considered or imagined what it would be like to have a passion and a deep heartfelt love for the Word of God itself? This is more than a desire for the pure milk or the delight of tasting and consuming it. It is so much more than that. What a thrill, a sheer delight, to be passionately in love with the Word of God.

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk . . .. Cry out for this nourishment,

Psalms 119:103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

Take a moment to reflect on the marvel of honey. This extraordinary substance is marvelously manufactured by industrious honeybees using raw nectar. Beyond its delightful sweetness, honey possesses many remarkable qualities, some recently discovered by nutritionists. Honey contains an array of antioxidants and antibacterial and antifungal properties. Honey is healing and soothing. Furthermore, it fortifies the immune system, protecting against harmful elements in the natural world.

The Word of God far exceeds honey in all of these areas and so much more.

The power to choose what we treasure ultimately rests within us. We control our priorities. In the present moment, it is wise to reassess our priorities and humbly request the Father to search our hearts, bringing to light any concealed sins lurking within. The potential negative consequences of neglecting this introspection are explicitly outlined and serve as a cautionary reminder.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and with many sorrows.

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© Dr. H 2023

The G Factor vs. going it alone ∙∙

The G Factor vs. going it alone ∙∙

Two people are better than one. – Ecclesiastes 4:9

Ecclesiastes 4:8-13

 8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

In 2020, the population of the United States of America was approximately 330 million. According to the Census Bureau, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Americans living alone. This reflects a global trend. The percentage of Americans residing alone has shown a consistent upward trend since the 1920s, with figures of 5% in 1920, 25% in 1990, and 35% in 2018.

The term “G factor” serves as an abbreviation for general intelligence or commonly referred to as intelligence (IQ). Historically, intelligence was primarily associated with knowledge and skills. However, in recent times, intelligence is defined as a mental capacity encompassing various abilities such as reasoning, planning, problem-solving, abstract thinking, grasping complex concepts, learning from experience, and acquiring knowledge rapidly. Additionally, when individuals collaborate collectively, a phenomenon known as the “group mind” emerges.

Are two heads better than one?

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, paints a rather dark, bleak, and somewhat meaningless picture of being alone. Loneliness often involves lots of hard work but diminishing rewards.

Ecclesiastes 4:8 This is the case of a man who is all alone, without a child or a brother, yet who works hard to gain as much wealth as he can. But then he asks himself, “Who am I working for? Why am I giving up so much pleasure now?” It is all so meaningless and depressing.

Solomon envisions a person who was driven to achieve success in life. This individual has now reached the pinnacle of success, becoming the king of the mountain, but all alone. They are contemplative and introspective. They realize that ceaseless labor without fulfillment ultimately leads to unhappiness.

The example of John D. Rockefeller, renowned as one of the wealthiest individuals of his time, comes to mind. When asked the question, “How much money is enough?” Rockefeller famously replied, “Just a little bit more.” This raises the question of what truly constitutes “enough.” If even Rockefeller always felt the need for more, who will ever have enough?

But Solomon, in his great wisdom offered an alternative. Two are better than one. Working side-by-side, wise people are more effective. They get more “bang for the buck.” Achievement is often accompanied by increased productivity and reward, contentment, and help in times of need. Work is sweeter and more successful when done with another. Working well together is a life skill well worth pursuing.

Life is full of challenges! Given the choice, why face them alone? Initially, who first advocated that going through life alone was not a good idea? The answer is familiar but surprisingly just off the radar.

Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.

According to this simple comparison, it is better to share our life and work than to try to make it on our own. With very few exceptions, the Father did not design children of the King to go it alone!

But this is more than simply talking about having a mate. This is about finding the person tailor-made for us. Togetherness is better than loneliness. Connection is better than competition (Ryken). This applies to long-term, life-long relationships and short-term partnerships, and more casual ad hoc alliances or projects. The “buddy system” is the Father’s plan for life. Such relationships provide practical and emotional support, strength, and reassurance.

The Father rarely calls on children of the King to “go it alone” in their walk with Him. We need each other not only to receive help and encouragement but to give it as well (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

In the challenges of life, having someone to help us is a gift from the Father.

Father thank You for putting people into my life who have my back. Encourage me to reach out and help others in need.

INSIGHT

Ecclesiastes is a long lament about living life for this world only, or as Solomon puts it, “under the sun.” Living life with solely an earthbound view is cruelly dissatisfying. We toil and strive, yet we remain haunted by a vague sense that we’re missing something (Tim Gustafson).

Against this grim background, Solomon offers simple, homespun wisdom: companionship is better than loneliness. Companions are there for each other and help each other out. They provide warmth and comfort. There is strength in numbers, and they defend one another. A threefold cord describes a rope or cord formed of three strands twisted or plaited together. A rope with three strands is harder to break than a rope with two.

“It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies” (Thomas Paine).

Ecclesiastes 4:10-13

 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?

 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 13 It is better to be a poor but wise youth than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice.

How does the old king demonstrate that he is foolish? He refuses to take advice. He is inflexible and unwilling to learn. Sadly, as we age, many not only become rigid in body but also in mind. The old king’s problem was not simply age but being closed to the advice and counsel of others. Is this king the individual who chose to go it all alone?

This need not be the case. Regardless of our age, we should be willing and open to admonition, correction, and instruction. We should seek it out.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

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© Dr. H 2023

A new creation, our paradigm shift

A new creation, our paradigm shift

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new creation. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Romans 6:4 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Ephesians 4:22-24

 22 Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.

 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy.

The phrase “paradigm shift” is used frequently in modern colloquial English across many fields of endeavor. What does it mean, and what is its origin?

Thomas Kuhn, a twentieth-century physicist and philosopher of science (1922-1996), coined the term “paradigm shift” in his influential work titled The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, published in 1962. To understand the meaning of “paradigm shift,” it is necessary to know what a paradigm is.

Initially, a paradigm denoted a framework or model encompassing a collection of beliefs, assumptions, and practices that guide scientific inquiry and research within a particular discipline. It was a “conceptual framework” comprising the accepted theories and methodologies influencing scientific research and understanding.

A paradigm shift signifies a fundamental change in a scientific discipline’s underlying assumptions, concepts, and approaches. A new scientific paradigm or framework replaces the old. For example, Ptolemy’s astronomy gave way to Copernican astronomy. The physics of Einstein supplanted Newton’s physics.

Eventually, the term paradigm shift spread to social sciences and beyond. It became a buzzword in popular culture. It now refers to a revolutionary and dramatic change.

All children of the King have experienced a significant paradigm shift. Regrettably, few know this, and fewer still live it out.

2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

When we become children of the King, we are in Christ. This term is used 27 times in Paul’s writings. “This phrase, ‘in Christ’ can mean several things that are not mutually exclusive: that one belongs to Christ, that one lives in the sphere of Christ’s power, that one is united with Christ, or that one is part of the body of Christ, the believing community” (Garland). Practically speaking, being in Christ means having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ based upon our faith in Him and identification with His Death, Burial, and Resurrection.

Being in Christ is a dramatic and remarkable change from what has come before. It should bring about a radical change in the way we think, live, and relate to others.

The Greek word translated as creation, creature, being, or person is ktisis. In Paul’s writings, Ktisis nearly always means creation rather than creature. New creation, in Greek, is literally “kainos ktisis.” This Greek phrase has no verb or pronoun. Therefore, translators typically supply he is, or there is.

What does this paradigm shift entail?

REFLECT & PRAY

“Whenever a person comes to be part of the body of Christ by faith, there is a new act of creation on God’s part. One set of conditions or relationships has passed out of existence; another set has come to stay” (Murray J. Harris).

Father thank You for providing a whole new way for me to live. I can hardly take it in. I am no longer a prisoner of the past. I have been redeemed and set free to live a new life because of my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Encourage me to make it so.

INSIGHT

2 Corinthians 5:17 Old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

What are the old things? The old things characterized our lives before we became children of the King. The REB renders it “the old order.”

The term “old” (archaios) refers to something that has existed since the beginning, being “ancient,” yet has become ridiculously old-fashioned, outdated, or worn-out, akin to polyester leisure suits, bell-bottoms, and avocado kitchen appliances. These items were once fashionable in the 1970s, but their obsoleteness becomes painfully apparent when compared to the new, what is currently in vogue.

This parallel can also be drawn between the old creation and the new. The contrast between the old life and the new life in Christ, experienced by the transformed believer, is like night and day. There is truly no comparison.

We are no longer prisoners of our former days, bound by the shackles of our past. We are freed from the limitations of the past. We are no longer bound by the memories of darkness and shame. We are no longer victims. We have emerged, redeemed from everything that has held us fast.

Take a moment and reflect. What do you want most side of life? What are you seeking after and longing for? What are the deepest longings of your heart? What drives you and motivates you?

“To Paul, the Christian is, in his favorite phrase, in Christ; and therefore the old self of the Christian died in that death, and a new person arose, as new as if freshly created by the hands of God.”

“In this newness of life, Christians have acquired a new set of standards. They no longer judge things by the standards the world uses. There was a time when Paul had judged Christ by human standards and had set out to eliminate the Christian faith from the world. But not now. Now his standards are different.”


“Now the man whose name he had sought to obliterate is to him the most wonderful person in the world because [the Lord Jesus Christ] had given to him that friendship of God which he had longed for all his life” (Barclay).

Colossians 3:9-10

  9 You have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

 10 Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

The implications of this are utterly staggering. Being in Christ should bring about a paradigm shift, a radical change in a person’s life. We are to look forward, not backward. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we become Christ-centric.

Philippians 3:13-14

 13 Forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

“Paul could think more deeply than anyone who ever tried to express the Christian faith; he could travel along uncharted pathways of thought; he could scale the heights of the human mind, where even the best-equipped theologians find it hard to follow him; but always at the end of his letters, he turns to the practical consequences of it all. He always ends with an uncompromising and crystal-clear statement of the ethical demands of Christianity in the situation in which his friends are at the moment” (Barclay).

Paul lays down an explicit, unequivocal demand. “Put to death every part of yourself which is against God and keeps you from fulfilling his will” (Barclay). A radical transformation is required of our desires and actions. Any elements preventing them from fully complying with God’s commands or completely submitting to Christ must be meticulously excised.

Romans 6:4 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

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© Dr. H 2023

Just ask the animals ∙∙

Just ask the animals ∙∙

Some things on earth are small but unusually wise: spiders are easy to catch, but they are found even in kings’ palaces. – Proverbs 30:24, 28

Job 12:7-10 

 7 Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.

 8 Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.

 9 For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD.

 10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand and the breath of every human being.

Dr. John Dolittle is the title character of a series of children’s books by Hugh Lofting that began in 1920. Dr. Dolittle lived in a small English village. He spent little time with human patients. He specialized in caring for and communicating with animals. He could speak to them in their own languages. When word of Dolittle’s ability spread, many animals sought him out for medical advice.

No doubt, there is much we could learn from animals. If only they could really talk to us, but they do not.

In the book of Job, Job’s friends are trying to get to the bottom of why Job is suffering. After much lively debate, they conclude that Job must be responsible. Indeed, the Father is punishing him for his sins. Job defends himself and declares his innocence (Job 10:7). He asks a rhetorical question. Is it possible to understand and search out the depths and mysteries of the Father?

Job 11:7 Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?

No doubt, after much soul-searching and reflection, he came to his own conclusion. There are some things in this life that we will never really be able to comprehend fully. They are simply beyond our intellectual grasp.

Job offers a whimsical suggestion, “Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you” (Job 12:7).

Try as we might, we are unable to figure out how animals know things and do things simply by instinct. For example, how does a spider know how to build a web? Where does it get the architectural plans? How does the spider engineer it? How does it know where to begin and end? How does the spider perfectly carry out the design to completion? Once the web is finished, how does it maneuver around it?  How does the spider evade entrapment within its own creation?

REFLECT & PRAY

Since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. – Romans 1:20

Father so many of the things that You have made are irreducibly complex. Father, teach me to look and listen to the message of Your creation.

INSIGHT

If animals could talk, perhaps they could explain how the Father designed, planned out, fabricated, cares for, and controls His creation. But with very few exceptions, animals are mute and cannot communicate with us in a way we can understand.

But, without uttering a word, animals teach, birds tell, the earth speaks, and the fish inform (Job 12:7-10). Animals are programmed with instinctive intelligence. Some animals are born fully wired and ready to cope and function in their real-world environments. Ants and locusts know precisely what to do and how to do it.

Proverbs 30:25,27

 25 The ants are not a strong people, but they prepare their food in the summer;

 27 The locusts have no king, yet all of them go out in ranks;

Some animals, for example, birds, marsupials, and mammals, require protection, nurture, and a bit of parental direction and coaching to grow to mature and fully functioning adults. 

The Father is the Father of lights and all things that exist. He intelligently designed and created all things.  All of the animals, without a word, proclaim the Father’s existence, wisdom, excellence, and greatness.

But there’s more. He cares for what He has created.

Matthew 6:26-30

 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

 28 Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,

 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.

 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. 

The wondrous and fantastic truth is that the Father cares for what He creates. If He cares for animals and plants, how much more does He care for people He created in His own image? “The point that Jesus is making is not that the birds do not work; it has been said that no one works harder than the average sparrow to make a living; the point that he is making is that they do not worry” (Barclay).

When we realize how much He loves and cares for us, our anxiety diminishes, and we can experience peace and tranquility. How does this become a reality? We develop the skill of depending upon him and transferring our cares to Him. We gave Him the burden of our heavy load, and He carries it for us.

“Jesus wants you to throw your cares on Him and leave them there. You depend on Him for life itself, and you acknowledge this reliant relationship by saying, ‘Here, Jesus. Take my problems. You have the answers! I trust You to show me what to do and to take care of the consequences’” (Stanley).

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© Dr. H 2023