Saturday Devotional - 7/6/13 "Joyful Simplicity" In Genesis 3:9, “the Lord God called to Adam and said to Him, ‘Where are you?’” Meanwhile, Adam, who was formed and fashioned by the very hand of God, who walked with God and enjoyed sweet fellowship with Him in the cool of the day, was now hiding in shame in his own naked appearance from his creator. Did God lose track of Adam? Was He really asking the location of the man that He had created? Here and throughout the scriptures, God will ask questions not for Himself, but so that those who hear Him might ask the same thing of themselves. Where are you? Where am I? Where are we in our willingness to present ourselves before our Living God as vessels ready to be used by Him? We are told in John 21:17 that the question grieved the heart of Peter as the Lord Jesus posed it for yet a third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” But this third time was different. It was no longer, “Do you love me with an unconditional, selfless agape love?” as He had asked the first and second time and to which Peter could only truthfully respond, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love you” (John 21:16) meaning, “Lord, You know that I love You phileo with a deep brotherly affection.” The third time the Lord asked the question, He met the honest and grieved heart of Peter at the very place where Peter was ready to serve. “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me [phileo]?” (John 21:17) And Peter’s response? “Lord, You know all things; You know that I You [phileo].” (John 21:17) Where are you? Let’s face it, God knows ALL things. He knows when we fail—yesterday, today, and always. He knows how hard we can be on ourselves in our shame, even as we attempt to hide ourselves from Him. Are you scared? Are you nervous? Self-conscious? He knows. Yet in His infinite grace, He is willing to ask, “Where are you?” Take a look inside. Be truthful today. He will meet you there, today. And in that place, no matter how great or lowly we think it to be, we must be willing to trust Him, to look outside of ourselves, to reach beyond ourselves, and to feed His lambs, to tend His sheep, and to feed His sheep. It is a challenge and a wonderful opportunity to place our focus on others which is the mark of a true servant of God. In doing so, we find the real abundance and joyfulness in this present life that He has so richly promised us. Trust Him. Serve others. His joy is waiting there for you. Robert Watkins Copyright © 2013 Wildwood Calvary Chapel Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Posted on: Sat, 06 Jul 2013 13:08:43 +0000