If my grandfather were living, he would be about 130 years old. He did a little bit of everything for a living from itinerant preaching to sawmilling to cotton and peanut farming. He hand-made almost every tool that he had even hand-carving the yoke that his team of oxen wore around their necks binding them together so that their strength could be harnessed and used to accomplish great things.
Does it make any sense that he would carve the yoke out of a dense, heavy wood? No, he chose the lightest but strongest wood that he had access to. I honestly don't know what kind of wood he used but found out from doing a little research that basswood is a good choice in the northeastern United States and some forms of poplar or elm elsewhere.
At any rate, the master of the oxen has a purpose for them and in helping them achieve that purpose wants the safest, strongest and lightest yoke he can provide. And that is what God wants for us.
What is our part? What steps do we take to insure that we have the ability to walk in this freedom? Jesus emphasized a daily reliance upon the Father who cares for His children on a daily basis.
A perfect picture of this is given to us in the Old Testament when the children of Israel were given manna from heaven daily. If they gathered more than what God allotted to them for the day, it would rot--except on the day before the sabbath when they could gather enough for that day and the sabbath day.
Our communion with Him today, our study of His Word and dependence upon Him is our assurance that we will be able to totally rely on Him tomorrow and cast our cares upon Him knowing that He knows what all of our tomorrows hold.
"It was impossible to stockpile God's provision, because God wanted them to trust in Him, not in their pantry. God's grace was sufficient for each day. Our faith in Him today cannot substitute for our trust in Him tomorrow. If we walk with Him closely today, we will be in the center of His will tomorrow."--from Experiencing God Day-By-Day (in the margin beside this Matt wrote, "Exactly what I needed to hear this morning-August 18, 2007" |
Three weeks ago, if someone would have told us the sorrow that would have engulfed our family since then, we would not have been able to bare it--but God in his wisdom, love and mercy gives us the grace to bear the burdens of the day one at a time. He is so faithful.
Your faithful prayers are lifting our family. I wish you could have heard the prayer my sister prayed while I was on the phone with her last night. Your heart would have soared to heaven--a prayer of thankfulness, love and gratitude--prayers for our families who remain and prayers of thanksgiving for the wonderful 32 years she had with Matt here on this earth. It was truly a miracle.
My prayer is that your communion with Him today will be sweet, life-giving and refreshing. May we be yoked together with God's precious Holy Spirit to accomplish all that He wishes for us today.
If we ask Him for His daily bread, He is sure to give it to us.
"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Matt. 7:9 |
Photo: While walking in my back yard one day I noticed this rock that resembled a loaf of bread. It reminded me of the scripture above.
