Creation Draws Us to Him

“For ever 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.   So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20 NLT)

Olympic Mountains in Olympic National Park (1977)

   Yes, it is the same picture as Friday’s blog.  It’s one of my favorite pictures.  I was pleased to get the very near foreground of the intricate flowers and the imposing distant mountains both in focus.  (I know that accomplished photographers do that all the time, but it was a stretch for me.)     

   This time let’s focus on the view between the near flowers and the distant mountains.   The space between the flowers and the mountains can represent the time from the work we are doing for the Lord today to the future plans God has for us years from now.  The distance is dark and not lighted to our view.  Perhaps if we knew all that will transpire between these two times we may become discouraged because of some of the trials we may face to get to the future God has planned.  Or, it may intrigue us to wonder just what lies in that time period between today and God’s ultimate plan for our lives.  It may be really exciting with great ups and downs.  Either interpretation can take our minds off the task at hand, and God wants us to focus on what we are doing now. I believe that is part of God’s plan—to give us a glimpse of the future to keep us excited about it while continuing to work on the work of today.  God’s plan for our lives is perfect.  Even though we may disagree with His sense of timing, we will eventually understand that it was perfect.  

   Another way to look at the indistinct time between now and the fulfillment of God’s plan for our lives can be described as trust or faith.  When we anchor today’s work on the view of God’s plan for our future, we can trust Him, have faith in Him, and live in His glory from day to day.   We often speak of our faith in God, but it is important to know that God puts His trust and faith in us.  He trusts us to accomplish the tasks that He assigns us even while He understands that we are not perfect and will make mistakes.   That’s when His grace rises up and helps us through and sometimes lifts us over the problems.  He trusts us, the followers of Christ, to follow Jesus, and when we stray off the appointed trail, He is gracious to show us the way back if we are willing to admit our errors (sins), repent of them, and ask for forgiveness.  What a tremendous understanding it is to realize that God trusts us—has faith in us.

   God has created great beauty and function in the earth, and that includes His plan, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, for our sins.  He did this all so that we could join Him in heaven for eternity.   God loves us!  Every day He loves us! 

Please remember that my new ebook, "The Magnet of God: Creation Draws Us to Him," is now available in the Kindle edition, on Amazon.  It is 366 days of devotionals including photograph taken by either Norma or me, an appropriate Scripture, and a message for the day.  Enter my name, Edwin Croyle, in the search box and the book will appear.  Read the sample and decide if you like it enough to purchase it.  If you iike it, please tell your friends. about it.  Thanks!  Ed   

 

Creation Draws Us to Him

“For ever 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.   So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20 NLT)

   That’s right; God has created everything around us, and it is magnificent.  To look at our surroundings and not acknowledge God is unbelievable.  Do you really think that all of this “just happened”?  The beauty itself should be reason enough to believe, but when we look at how it all works perfectly together, the truth is inevitable.  There is a God, and He created it all!

   Look at the picture above.  See the delicate beauty of the flowers in the foreground, and see the majesty of the mountains in the background.  Even the dead tree adds its part to this beautiful scene.  I can see my life in Christ in this picture.  The flowers in the foreground are close to the photographer, and they indicate the beauty of the work God has for us to do today, and the far-away mountains stand for the long-term plans that God has for us.   Even as we do the Lord’s commands today, we can see, on the horizon, the plans He has for our future.  We enjoy today’s work while His vision draws us forward.

   Thank you, Lord, for both beauty and function in creation.  Thank you for beauty and function in the work You ask of us.   You are a good God, and we serve You gladly.  

   

 

Feed My Sheep (3)

“Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”  (John 21:17b  NIV)

Flock of sheep in Utah in 2013

    In Isaiah 43:6, we are told, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (NIV)   It’s obvious from this Scripture that we all need to be taught, so that we learn to live His way, not our own way.   In other words, we need to be fed the Word of God, the Good News, the message of Salvation.  

     Paul tells us in Romans 10:13,14; “for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard?   And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?’”  Okay, someone has to preach the Word, and most of us believe that that is the job of a pastor.

    In the Words of Jesus in John 13:34,35, He says, “A new command I give you:  Love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   (NIV)  If we truly love one another as Christ loved His followers, then we must be certain that all those we love must know that Jesus is the means of salvation, the only means of salvation.”  Jesus spoke these words to His followers of the day, but He meant them for all of us. 

    The last words Jesus spoke to His disciples were recorded in Matthew 28:18-20:  “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me; therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.   And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (NIV)  In these last words of Jesus before His ascension into heaven, He spoke with all authority to tell them and us to go into ALL the nations and teach them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and they shall be saved.   

    We have reached the point by the reading of the previous four verses that all of us are sheep who need teaching—the teaching of the Good News.  We have also discovered that we sheep are all to share the Good News about Jesus to all the sheep.  Each one of us is to personalize the command given to Peter by His Lord and ours, Jesus Christ:  “Feed My Sheep.”   

Feed My Sheep(2)

“Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:17b  NIV)

   This Scripture has special significance to me because years ago Jesus said to me, “Feed my sheep.”  My first response was, “Jesus, you are not talking to Peter.”  As the prayer conversation went on, He made it clear that He knew that He wasn’t speaking to Peter, but He did want me to feed His sheep.   I explained that I didn’t know what to write about.  I’m not a biblical expert, and I certainly don’t know enough to tell people how to live a good Christian life.

    The Lord said very clearly to me, ”Go outside and look around.  Look hard enough to see not only the beauty I have created, but also to understand that I have created it so that it draws people to Me.  I want you to look at the mountains and see My strength.  I want you to look at the rivers and see My flowing grace.  I want you to look at the stars and be amazed by the immense size of the universe I created just for you.  I want you to see that My Son, Jesus, is the rock you can stand on when you look at the mountains.  I want you to look at the rivers and see the flow of My love that flows to all mankind through the sacrifice of my Son, Jesus.  I want you to wake up early in the morning, and see My Son, Jesus, as the bright and morning star.  I want you to see the diversity of the flowers and understand that I sent My Son, Jesus, for all mankind, every race, every color, every community, and believe me, I sent Him for EVERY man, woman and child ever born.  Each person is My FAVORITE person.  I love all of them the same.

   Then He said, “Go back inside and pick up My Word and read about the first man, Adam and his family.  Read about Abraham who followed Me because I asked him to.  Read about King David, read about his victories, and read about his sins, and then realize that I called him a man after my own heart.   Read about the prophets who spoke on My behalf and wrote about their experiences with Me.  Read about Mary, the mother of Jesus, who took on the responsibility of guiding My Son through His first years on earth.  Then read about My Son, Jesus, who gave His life so that you can live with Him and me for eternity.  Read about the followers of Jesus who lived their lives to spread the Good News of Salvation.

   Next, He said, “Sit down and think for a few minutes about all that you have seen and have read.  Now, don’t tell Me that you don’t know what to write about.  I am with you and I will guide you.  I’ve chosen you to do this, and I don’t make mistakes, so grab a pen or sit down at your computer and get started.”

   I did what He asked, and I have been so blessed that I don’t know how to express it.   With the help and guidance of my Lord, I have written over 1000 daily devotionals based on what He showed me.  Two years ago the Lord asked me to compile a years’ worth of devotionals I have written and put them together in a book.   I never dreamed that I would or could write a book, but with His help and guidance, I have written a book entitled, “The Magnet of God--Creation Draws Us to Him.”  Each of the 366 devotionals is accompanied by a picture my wife or I have taken and an appropriate Scripture.  The book will be published later this year as an e-book.   I will let you know when and where it is available.

   The moral of the story is this:  “If God calls you to do something, don’t argue; just say, ‘Yes Lord, with Your help.’”   You will be blessed!

   P.S.   I put God’s words in quotation marks, and maybe I shouldn’t have done so because He did not speak the words aloud, but He did put them on my heart.

Feed My Sheep

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’  He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’  A second time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’  He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’  He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’  Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’  And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything: you know that I love you.’   Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’   (John 21:15-17 NRSVUE)

Rocky Mountain Sheep in Glacier National Park

   This is the first real conversation Jesus had with Peter after the resurrection.   Peter had to be anxious because they had not discussed Peter’s denial of Jesus three times before the crucifixion.    I find it interesting that Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter’s answer each time was the same, “Yes, I love you.”  Each time Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep.”  Three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus, and now Jesus gave him three opportunities to say, “I love you.”  This opportunity was given so that Peter could retract each of his denials of Christ.  By telling Peter three times to “Feed my sheep,” Jesus was assuring Peter that there was important work for him to do, and Jesus trusted him to do it. What a fantastic example of forgiveness and reconciliation this is.  

   We receive this same forgiveness and reconciliation for every sin we commit, but it may not always be this dramatic.  Jesus is the best forgiver and reconciler ever.  So, the Father chose this role for Jesus, and Jesus fulfills it every day, first by His sacrifice at Calvary, and then by assuring us daily that He still needs us to continue the work chosen for us.  What a confidence builder it is to know that our Lord and Savior believes in us.  He expects us to continue our work for His kingdom no matter what it may be and what we may have done.  “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful that anyone else.  No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”  (John 10:28-30 NLT)  This verse assures our safety, guaranteed by the Father.  Those who truly commit their hearts to Christ will remain His forever.   In Philippians 1:6, Paul gives us further encouragement:  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (NLT)

   Praise God for His faithfulness in forgiving and reconciling!

  P.S.   We often think of the small wooly animals led around by shepherds when we think of sheep.  Perhaps Jesus meant for Peter, the bold one, to feed sheep with a more robust appearance and a more compelling nature.

   Return next rime to see how those three words, “Feed my sheep,” have affected my life.