Puppy Dog Faith!
Mark 7:28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
Been thinking about this particular missionary experience, as we have fought through, in faith, our often excruciating daily needs, fervently praying, often, for simple things like food, utility bills, water, transportation, or pet food.
Of course, this passage of Scripture, was written to show that we are not dogs, rather redeemed sons and daughters of the most High God, seated with Him in heavenly places, and we are invited not under the table, but to be seated with royalty, to dine with the King!
While this is true, positionally, as we are endeavoring to birth this fledgling ministry, I have found myself feeling like one of the dogs. Watching as both my wife’s and one of my children’s birthday’s have come and gone, with not one penny to buy them a gift. The sum total of the celebration consisted of a cake mix hastily purchased from some change given to the children at church, with some used birthday candles hastily lit, to celebrate the occasion.
The Way of the Cross
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
There comes a place in life, where we clearly hear the voice of God, and embrace the cross and call to follow Jesus into the gospel, and suddenly, He becomes our all in all, and we learn that the cost of the call, is to be paid, in the sacrifice of our own desires, to find His.
Things that we took for granted, simple pleasures like adequate food, hot water, gym passes, vitamins, electricity, internet access, vehicles, running water, family movie nights, and many other pleasures, are exchanged for things that money cannot buy. His presence, His joy, His Word coming alive in our hearts, quality time in parks, libraries, at church, places that don’t cost any money…
Is He El Shaddai, the all sufficient One? Does He supply all of our NEEDS according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus? Is Jesus to be trusted? Is He really our good Shepherd?
YES! Always! Yet, there is a natural and supernatural part of the call of God.
The supernatural part, is that we hear His voice, and step out in faith and obedience, to obey Him, in what He calls us to do.
The natural part, is that He speaks to people to provide for us. Our provision can come in many ways, but usually comes through the hands of man.
Luke 6:38
King James Version (KJV)
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
God calls us, but our provision comes through the hands of man. We pray, and Holy Spirit speaks to people, and they give to us, as we go forward in Him.
Yes, we give, we sow, and we sacrifice, but we do not know when, where, and who God is going to use to provide our harvest.
This keeps us humble and looking towards Him.
Yet, seems as we fully step out in the Holy Spirit, this verse comes alive to me.
1 Corinthians 4:9
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
We go through circumstances, situations, and pressures sometimes, that force humility, brokenness and the love of God to ooze from us, as circumstantially, we undergo misunderstanding, at best, for the sake of the specific mandate and commission of the Lord upon our lives, that make us look like fools in the eyes of people, and apparently, in the eyes of the host of heaven, the mighty angels of God!
Yet, as we believe, and work, and weep for souls, revival, and continually stay before the throne of God, and walk in level of spiritual authority that literally shakes nations, we care less and less about the need for approval from men, that the main thing, remain the main thing: that is getting the gospel to the ends of the earth, as quickly and as powerfully as possible, so that we can glorify Jesus, and give Him a sacrifice worthy of His suffering.
1 Thessalonians 3:3
that no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
Psalm 34:19
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
Yes, it is hard!
I’m not sure who I am writing this for, but like the old saying goes, ‘It takes one, to know one.’
God knows what you are going through, and so do I, and He loves you, and so do I.
Jesus sees, and is praying for you today, and He has led me, to simply type up this word, to let you know, that you are not alone: I too, am praying for you today. This too shall pass, and you are going to make it through.
You have not missed it, but are in the center of His will for your life.
One day, our tests will be revealed in glory, eternal glory!
Let us live victoriously, each day, with that in mind!
Our future is so bright we need to wear sunglasses!
Let’s pray:
Father, thank you for courage to serve You, with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, both today, and every day, bearing eternal fruit for Your glory, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!
