The Bible begins with, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) It doesn't begin by describing how majestic God is, by telling what He looks like or how big or fierce or tough He is. It makes a simple statement that "God created the heavens and the earth." There are very few more simple statements that could be made about God, yet that one simple statement contains reams of information. God created the heavens and the earth.
Do you understand the ramifications of that one statement for us as a people that were part of that creation?
If God created the heavens and the earth then who owns the heavens and the earth and all else that was made?
If God owns all that was made then who owns me?
If He owns me then who has the right to make the rules and decide what is the best way to live in His creation?
And the biggest question of all is: If everything created is His and I was created - then what do I personally owe to God?
I believe the answer to the question of what I personally owe to God is found in the way we end our time here on earth. God has decreed that from dust we come and to dust we shall return. We do not take anything with us from our time spent on earth. That means that all that we could possibly owe to God is the time He allows us to spend on His earth and in His creation. All we owe Him is our time which is our life.
What He asks of us is that we love him with all of our being (heart, mind, soul and strength) and that we love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. I suggest that we should also love His creation. How can we love God and not love His creation?
I don't know about you, but I don't feel that I have given Him all that I owe Him. I have not devoted all of my time to God. I have given to Him the little pieces and extras that fall around the edges of my great plans. I have made my plans and asked Him to bless them without first asking Him what He needed me to do with His time.
There is a question - "Are you going to know God or are you going to use God?" I have fallen well into the area of using God. Many times my plans have been first. In some instances my plans and His overlapped and those places have been areas of immense blessing in my life. Out of His goodness He has led me into His way many times but sometimes it has been "kicking and screaming the whole way." (Spoiled Child Syndrome)
So what is the answer? The answer is found in the Greatness of God. God says, "I am love." He knows me and everything about me. He is faithful when I am not. When we are told to grow in grace and to be filled with the Spirit and to attain the attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self-control we are simply describing God. When we fail to be faithful, He remains faithful. When we fail to love, He loves us. When we fail at joy, He remains joyful. When we fail at peace , patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness and self control, none of those slip for Him. The answer is that we must lean on Him, trust Him to lead us and depend on His provision for us. We must repent and ask Him to forgive us as we find ourselves not giving to Him His time. We must find a way to listen to what He would say to us. We must know His Word, the Bible, and be willing to do what it says. If you read the Word carefully you will find that Love for God is equal to obedience to His Word. It also says that He will discipline us because He loves us just as we discipline the child we love and want the best for. So love also equals discipline.
PRAYER: Lord, I want to begin a new relationship with you. I want to be available for the work You would have me to join You in. I want Your plans to be my plans. I want to see you working and be part of it. I ask Lord that you would teach me to love myself as You love me so that I can love others. I ask for a cup full and running over that will spill onto those I meet because You love everyone. I ask these things in the name of Jesus and ask that Your Holy Spirit would fill me for these tasks. Amen.
