“I WAS ALWAYS BEHOLDING THE LORD” David revealed a profound truth concerning his relationship with the Lord. He said, I saw the Lord before me {continually}, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken (Acts 2:25 LEB). There was something in Davids heart -- call it a spiritual radar -- that caused him to continually have sight of the Lord in his life. In spite of conflicts, death threats, betrayal and fear, David’s focus was on the Lord. At another time, perhaps while he was watching a sunset with brilliant rays of light exploding from behind clouds, David had a revelation: The sky wasnt just a spectacular canopy of light and color. It was, in fact, a declaration of the very glory of God (Ps. 19:1). Yet too often we do not fill our minds with the glorious things of God; instead, our minds are filled with anxious thoughts about our times or we are in pursuit of worldly fulfillment. Sometimes we just need to stop, pause, and look at the wonders of Gods creation. There is something liberating about stopping the mental chatter in my mind and lying on the lawn on a cloudless night. A worship different than Sunday morning springs forth, calming my anxious thoughts, and yet spiritually exhilarating. Surrounding me are billions of stars and galaxies, yet God is conscious of me, knows my needs and cares. He is utterly amazing! The earth, the surrounding skies – the very mystery and miracle of life itself – all bear witness to a Creator unlimited in His creative abilities. We have no excuse to not honor Him. Our world is a kaleidoscope of wonders and divinely engineered realities, fitly joined together that showcase the greatness of God. Recall also Pauls words, that the invisible attributes of God -- His eternal power and divine nature -- are clearly seen, being understood through what has been made (Rom. 1:20). Gods nature and power are clearly seen . . . through what has been made. So, have you seen today the glory of God? Jesus and Nature T o possess the life of Christ means many things to us, but do we include in our Lord’s love of creation itself? Christ loved Planet Earth. He often spent nights praying and then ultimately sleeping beneath the stars. Indeed, He spent forty days in the wilderness, even among wild animals (Mark 1:13 LEB). As night fell, He didnt return to a campground; rather, He laid down beneath the bejeweled, celestial sky. Indeed, Jesus frequently drew revelation about the Father from the observable world around Him. He told His disciples to consider the lilies (Luke 12:27) and spoke of Gods love and care, even for the sparrows (v. 6). He saw miracles of life contained within the power of a simple seed, and He made this revelation a centerpiece of His teaching (Matt. 13). Indeed, many of the Lords greatest sermons were presented, not in the temple or behind the pulpit of a local synagogue, but in the cathedral of creation, at lakesides and hilltops. We think of Gethsemane as the place where Jesus sweat blood in prayer, and so it was. But Gethsemane was a garden, and the Bible tells us that Jesus often met there with His disciples(John 18:2). I love the fact that the Lord routinely found joy among flowers and landscaping, and that He “often” brought His disciples there to teach them. Yet not only was the setting of a garden a familiar place for Jesus while He was alive, but even in death His tomb was set in the midst of a garden (John 19:41). In fact, when He rose from the dead, a distressed Mary thought Him to be the gardener (John 20:15). Jesus obviously saw the creation as an echo of the Fathers heart. He found in nature a place, a quiet place, to seek and find communion with God. Beloved don’t deny yourself this exquisite pleasure. Finally, it is of a great truth that the story of mankind begins in a garden. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed (Gen 2:8 LEB). This is the wonder of a world filled with wonders: God Himself planted a garden. The Lord personally planted trees and flowers, plants and grasses in the Garden of Eden. In my opinion, He likely put His hands in the soil and spoke to the seeds, not rushing but enjoying each stage, causing the growth of every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food (v. 9). Beloved, today many are wearied from battle and wasted from warfare. Yes, we should find solace in God alone, but may we also seek Him surrounded by His creation? If you dont have a garden, plant one. Create a sanctuary in your yard or go to a local park. A God-seeker carries in his heart an appreciation for the world our Father has given us. In spite of its flaws, our planet is spectacularly beautiful. Remember: the living God is clearly seen . . . through what has been made. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The preceding excerpt was taken from Pastor Frangipanes book And I Will Be Found by You. A few months ago a new version was published by Charisma Media. To make way for this new edition, we are offering the original version for just $5.67 (a 58% discount). Limited stock so please act soon, especially if you want bulk quantities. arrowbookstore/
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 12:12:28 +0000
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