Thought for the Month - October 2012

"Too Buzzy??" By Linda Adair

Bzzzz..bzzzz...bzz bzz..

How often in the summer months have we heard the irritating noise of a fly trapped inside the house? And how often have we tried NOT to bash one of God's creations into oblivion, but rather release it back into the freedom of the fresh air?

Try explaining that one to the fly...pulling up the blinds.opening doors (letting more flies in in the process!), opening windows..and WILL that fly see the escape route? Will it appear even a little grateful that we haven't sent it to its demise?

The answer is, of course, no. It will fly past the window, into the corner of the window, up the curtains, into the next room..anywhere but outside.

Now while I can't say I'm one of God's brightest creations myself, it does seem that these buzzy creatures are a little on the dense side!

But it got me to thinking. I'm really not that different from those irritating little buzzers. How often does God provide a way either through, or out of various situations I find myself in?..yet I obstinately or stupidly ignore it, preferring to buzz around and make life more difficult than it needs to be.

Temptation: To gossip, to judge, to criticise? God gives us a conscience and a brain..and the capacity to close our mouths or submit our thought life to Him..but do I do it? "Have you heard the bizz?" we say.or is that buzz - mmm.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Worry: Our brains are buzzing in the wee small hours, creating complicated "what if?..." scenarios in our heads - sleep lost, grey hairs acquired. I've done plenty of it myself. After all, it's understandably human to get anxious at times.

But it's what we do with that worry that counts. It's only taken me up on 50 years to learn that worry uses energy and resources we often just don't have. God clothes and feeds nature EVERY single day, and takes care of our problems whether we worry about them or not.so what a total waste of time and energy!

Yet I totally understand those deep anxieties about our children and families.and so many other personal issues that are different and specific to each of us. For example, one of the hardest things for a parent to do is admit helplessness and have to hand their children into God alone's keeping.yet how much more able is HE to care for, and understand their deepest needs.

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" Matthew 6:26

Doing good works: Now don't get me wrong, Scripture indeed says that faith without works is dead..

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. James 2:26.

Once we accept Christ as Lord of our lives we want to live FOR Him as well as IN Him, sharing His love and compassion with those around us.

Yet what motivates us? Are we buzzing around doing everything that needs done in church just because it's either expected or looks good, wearing ourselves into the ground in the process? I'm certainly not judging - I speak in love, as I've done it myself to my cost. God doesn't NEED us to accomplish His purposes, but He is gracious enough to ALLOW us the privilege of serving Him, but only in the ways and works HE has called us to do. Our lives should be a continual exercise of worship, and (not to be in anyway flippant) it's because He is WORTH it.

Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12: 1

We are called to be committed to what He asks us to do in His service, but not in a legalistic way that is primarily to impress others or help us revive a flagging sense of self-worth. It's not about us, it's about HIM.

Trials: NONE of us can say we haven't had hard times in life, and there is no doubt that many go through the fire and our humanity wonders why. I wish I was either mature or graceful enough to accept every trial as I am told to in God's word..to see them as a way of growing and trusting God with my all in those dark places. Too often I buzz and I buzz, flailing around, looking for the short cut to the emergency exit. God does NOT want any of us to suffer unnecessarily, but like His servant Job, often we are tested and only find the depths of God's provision and love when we are all out of our own resources..then others can see it is the power of GOD that sustains and delivers us.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.." 1 Peter 1:6-7.

Finally: Perhaps you have never come to know God as the King and Saviour of your own life? The One who created you, and had loving plans for you right from the beginning of time. Maybe you, like so many of the rest of us once did, have been buzzing around, chaotically trying to find a way through life that will help you be free from the tough situation you're in now. or maybe the messes you've tried to escape from in the past?..trapped by hopelessness? Guilt? Rejection?... and sometimes just life in a world that's been far from perfect or fair?

God opened the door 2000 years ago at the Cross. Because Jesus died for us He made a way of escape for the entire human race.

Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes unto the Father but by Me." John 14: 6.

Anyone who realises their sin and wrong doing is taking them to an eternal destination far from Heaven can trust Him with their lives, and know a deep and lasting freedom. Forgiveness is total and a new life starts from there. The path will still be tough at times, and none of us are immune to that..but God holds us closely, tightly and securely through the bad times. He also gives us the wide, open, yet safe spaces where we can grow and learn to fly in HIS strength, not our own. .not like buzzing flies, but as eagles.

I know which one I want to be!

Until next month then (DV)…

(All Bible quotations are from the NASB)

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