April 24, 2022
The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works. Psalm 145:15-17
In any trial of our faith, it is always a positive move to stop—and meditate on the love of our God. His glorious Word testifies to the fact. The beauties of nature: sights, sounds, fragrances…all testify of His generosity and creativity. From the beginning, we are taught that humans were created in His image. Holy. Happy. Pure. He gave everything and more that was for their enjoyment, enrichment, and happiness.
“…the fair earth, as it came from the Creator’s hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of God’s law—the law of love—that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God’s love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for man’s sake (Genesis 3:17). The thorn and the thistle—the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care—were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God’s plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses.” STEPS TO CHRIST by Ellen G. White
The testing of our faith and loyalty is for our benefit! God knows exactly where we are, but too often we will not realize our own waywardness unless we are shown. How tenderly, yet powerfully He identifies with us, even at our lowest points. As Jesus walked the earth, He never suppressed the truth when He spoke, yet it was always given in love. He spent more time healing than preaching. And even when issuing rebukes, He was never unnecessarily severe. Every syllable that fell from His lips was uttered in singleness of purpose: the eternal salvation of man!
It was through disobedience that man became subject to the archenemy of Christ. This enemy has wrought destruction and despair, and then follows up by planting the idea that the fault lies with God. This enemy accuses God to us; he also leads man to sin and accuses each of us before God. His singleness of purpose is to drive a wedge between God and man. One of the valuable lessons in the story of the wheat and the tares is found in these five words: An enemy has done this. (Matthew 13:28) While this makes clear that God is in no way responsible for evil, He takes full responsibility for providing a way of escape from the havoc and devastation that Satan wreaks in the human heart. Jesus set about reclaiming that which His enemy had taken by deception and cruel force, in order to establish His kingdom in human hearts ahead of His return to gather His bride.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
It was because He loved (first!) that He gave! This is proof of the incalculable value He places upon us. Satan, by contrast, values only himself. He cares nothing for anyone else, but wants only to use others to propagate his deceptive schemes. He can easily manipulate by placing selfish motives within the hearts of people. A lifelong study of the unparalleled love of God is the most worthwhile endeavor for anyone who desires to drive selfishness out of his or her life.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1