Annie
Scriptures: Genesis 1:16 Luke 9:10-16 Mark 8:1-9 Luke 5:1-7 Psalm 36 Psalm 81:10
As a child growing up in the 1950s, we never went hungry, but we ate simply. There wasn’t the choice, the convenience or the availability of “exotic” food that there is today, but what we had, we had generously. Our plates were always full. And we were taught to be grateful for that generosity, not out of duty, but by seeing that the root of this generosity was love.
Is this how we see God? Do we see Him as a bountiful, generous, loving Father?
Take a look around. Do you know that there are 270,000 species of flowers that we know about? Or that there are 100,000 million stars, just like our sun, which means that there are 100,000 million galaxies. The night sky is astounding, but this is only what we are able to see. It is God who made the stars, He made the flowers, the trees, the mountains – He made you! God is lavish beyond measure with His Generosity, with Him it is never just enough.
Remember the feeding of the 5000 with 12 baskets left over, the 4000 with 7 baskets, the haul of fish that was breaking the nets? Examples in the life of Christ that give us just a glimpse of God’s abundant, extravagant generosity. This is not the action of a miserly Master, but the outpouring of love from the Heart of the One who gives us drink from the river of His pleasure, “For with You is the fountain of life” (Psalm 36:9)
It has always been God’s desire to fill us to overflowing with Himself (Psalm 81:10), so why do we struggle so much to accept His generosity? All those centuries ago, when Adam and Eve walked in the Garden of Eden, everything that was in such abundance there was theirs, except for the fruit of one tree. By choosing to take and eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they opened up the way for the devil to plant seeds of doubt and discontent in their minds. And, today, he still does.
The enemy of our soul, who is a liar, a thief and a murderer, constantly points us to this world that has chosen to live outside of the protection of God, outside of His abundant Love. Nevertheless, God’s love is still available, His lavish, extravagant Grace is waiting for anyone who will call out to Him. To anyone who sees their waywardness and longs for true peace and fulfilment.
Surrounded by so much evidence of a Creator who doesn’t stint, One who allows His imagination to flourish in His Creation, we have a choice. Do we believe the clamour and voices that are so loud and insistent in today’s society? Voices that tell us that God is a miserable, cold hearted tyrant who ignores the plight of humanity, even though they deny His existence. (I’ve never understood how it is possible to blame someone you say you do not believe exists.)
Or do we seek, with every atom of our being, forgiveness for having messed up His creation to the extent that humanity is now suffering dire consequences? Looking to Him to fill us to overflowing with His life giving Love and amazing Grace.
Prayer: Father God, as we turn to You, we will see Your true nature, Your lavish, extravagant generosity and be filled. Thank You, in Jesus precious Name, Amen.