Children and Ants

I never know where my inspiration will come from for my  devotionals, but somehow they always 'pop up' somewhere!!  

This devotion was triggered by 'sunshine and kids'.  

We live in a complex on Thom Mountain.  It is very quiet, most of the time. Until summer.  There is a complex next to ours that we cannot see - it is separated by trees and a berm and some swampy area but when people are outside on their decks or backyards the sounds travel very clearly. Doesn't help that our house is the closest to our neighboring complex.. 

I was sitting outside for the first time this year enjoying the warmer weather and the sound of children playing in the neighboring complex  was loud enough to be 'intrusive' - if I had had a bad attitude about it.  But I didn't and I don't.  First, I quite enjoy the sound of happy children playing and the second reason is that I remind myself of how much better it is to hear children playing than the sound of sirens, bombs or  gunshots and violence. Right?? 

So... as I listened to the children I realized something.  Children cannot play without laughing. Everything is laugh-worthy to them, or at least it seems every happy thought or action immediately triggers a response of laughter!  

Jesus said that "unless we become as children we will not see the kingdom of God."  Matthew 18:3,4 That is pretty serious !  So I want to invite you to focus for a few minutes on what it means to be a child.  I know we all know the difference between childish and childlike.  It is the childlike that God wants us to emulate.  

It is when a child feels loved and safe that we see a 'happy' child , free to live in the blessings of childhood.   I love the below image.  

Doesn't the image melt your heart?  How safe do you think that child feels?  God says He holds us in His Hand. -John 10:28

As I listened to the neighborhood children's'  laughter resounding again and again, I had to smile . Children find it so easy to live in the moment, enjoy whatever is before them, and laugh with delight.. 

Scripture tells us that God says, "Rejoice and again I say rejoice!?"  Philippians 4:4 

And we all know the scripture "laughter doeth good as a medicine!" Prov. 17:22 Have you taken your 'medicine' today??

There is another reason, I think that children laugh so much more than we as adults do.  It has been said that nothing bonds two people quicker than when they laugh together!  So doesn't it make sense that children who want to be accepted, want to belong, to feel loved would still be using the 'bonding'  instinct that God gave us?  Too bad we as adults too often  forget how to use it  

There are so many child-like characteristics we could point out but I want to focus on just one more.  Curiosity.  I was born with a double dose, that was not limited to my childhood!  

An example -- 

I had occasion to indulge my curiosity recently.  I had a problem with pavement ants in my kitchen.  They found a pathway  from under one of my counter electrical outlets.  I really hate killing anything but I cannot allow ants to roam free in my kitchen !!!  

I did what I had to do, mix peanut butter with Borax and lay my 'offering' below the plug-in outlet. That is 'poison' to them but they only see the peanut butter and take it back to their nest - eventually killing the entire nest. 

I spent some 'quality' time observing them.  Obeying scripture --  Proverbs 6:6 tells us to "go to the ant, consider her ways, and be wise!"  

I was curious -- watching these tiny , tiny creatures..  And I did learn some things. 

They were not aware they were being deceived. That the food was not what they thought it was !  And I thought about how much the enemy wants to deceive us -- we need to be on guard,  watching for 'truth' that is mixed with a little error !!  It is enough to 'kill us'. 

They worked so hard, I never saw them rest, just back and forth carrying the 'food' back to their nest. As I watched them I felt sad for them that all their hard work would end in their death. I thought of how many people rush here and there , working so hard to reach their goals in this life, but if their work is in the flesh, it will end in death.  

I also noticed how they worked together. They  had to go single file up their grout path to the outlet but they stepped out of each other's way and focused on helping one another meet their 'common goal'.  

I felt so bad that I had to cause their death, but there was no alternative!  I could not have them in my kitchen !!  And I understood better why God cannot allow 'sin' to enter heaven.  Why, even though He does not take pleasure in even the death of the wicked, He cannot overrule man's free choice to choose 'evil' instead of 'righteousness' .And there is no way 'sin' can be allowed in God's holy presence. .  I looked at my little ants and thought, "you silly little creatures, why didn't you stay outside?  You could have lived !!"

There was something rather astounding that I noted and I share this risking the probability that you will think I  have gone 'buggy' . (that's okay!! smile) 

My sister told me that these tiny creatures will carry away any dead ants in their area.  So, even though I felt some guilt, my curiosity was stronger, and I killed one of the little ants and let it lie a few inches from the peanut butter mix. 

I watched ...  and it wasn't long before I saw two ants run toward the dead ant ,then making a very sudden stop about one inch from the dead ant.   One of these ants literally shuddered, turned around and ran back to the peanut butter.  

 The other ant did something amazing. 

it didn't run away, but rather stood up on its hind legs stretching up to its full tiny height.  It stood there for a long while.   What it looked like to me was that it was standing before the dead ant, honoring it, paying its last respects.  It was so moving, I could not believe that this tiny creature had the ability to 'think' and 'feel' .  Was it possible?  Was this dead ant related to him?  I have no idea , of course.   But then I had to walk away for a minute and when I came back the dead ant was gone.  

What struck me was how the ants showed respect for the dead body of a fellow ant.  Is that what God is showing us through these tiny ants?   That even though our bodies will die and decay and are made of nothing but 'dust' , because our physical bodies are what house our souls and spirits they have 'worth' and God-given honor even after death? 

We of course have a hope and promise the ants do not have.  Our bodies though they will die and decay will be raised up  in perfection when Jesus comes back. 

And so, I feel a little  'wiser',  because I observed the children and the ants, and I hope it was at least interesting enough for you to think about !  

Conclusion -  Let us remind ourselves of what we see in our little ones that delights us,  and know that God looks for those same characteristics in us, HIS children. 

Deception can Look Good !

I don't know how familiar you are with the term Spiritual Formation but I would be surprised if you have not heard of it. If it isn't familiar to you, I'm sure it soon will be. 

 Spiritual Formation / Contemplative Prayer, teaching. is gaining acceptance in our churches, and if you have not seen Stephanie Griffin, then I highly recommend the podcast linked below. 

 The deception is growing so quickly! I have followed it for the last 20 + years and am very alarmed to see how 'open' it is becoming -- churches, schools, seminars, retreats, small groups etc. -- in fundamental Protestant denominations. 

 Stephanie Griffin, the girl interviewed on the podcast is a nurse and has come out of nine years of new age/contemplative life and practice. 

 I'm sorry, I don't know why the link below won't let you click and connect but you can copy and paste it into your Google search bar and the podcast will come up.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=918BoZxU4dM   

(Stephen C. Ministries)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS 

 Truth is Unchanging 

 Please watch!   If you have already watched this short video,  I know you will enjoy seeing it again.  It so pointedly  addresses  the fallacy of  modern thinking,  'my truth, your truth'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnRmokZsFws

Pastor Matt on Sunday shared a conversation he'd had that week with someone who had bought a car from a man who had lied about what was good about the car as well as what was bad.  When the purchaser contacted the seller , the seller said .. "Oh, just sell it to someone, telling the same lies, that's how cars are sold."   The seller?  A pastor !  

I recently purchased some 'pain relief patches' from Amazon... only to learn that they were 'knock-offs'.  The box was the same, the listed ingredients were the same, but they didn't work. One small  word on the front of the box was not what it should have been.  

Who can we believe today?  I hate having to question everything I hear !!!  

BUT ...  I am incredibly thankful that I know where the truth can be found. We have God's Word and it has not changed in thousands of years.  Nor has God changed any 'jot or tiddle' of the scriptures we have in our Bibles .

After we watch the video (link above)  we want to brush it off with a comment ,  "But that is so obviously true - of course 2 plus 2 equals 4."   But .. think again ... how many once unquestionable truths are today not only put in question but blatantly cast aside as false, outdated or just plain 'not true anymore' !   You don't have to think long to come up with a list! 

There is a man in Australia who has come up with the 'cure' for mankind that will eliminate all the suffering in the world !  His name is Jeremy Griffith and he has founded a fast-growing movement , called "World Transformation Movement".   
What is the secret to solving man's problems - to end violence and evil?  In uncovering the problem it was easy for him to come up with the solution.  Man's problems all stem from the fact that he has been made to believe that he is a sinful creature and guilt has evidenced itself in all kinds of pain, chaos, violence and suffering. . 

The solution ?  We must believe the 'truth' -- that we are not inherently sinful, but rather quite the opposite.  We are all basically  'good'.  And believing that to be ' true' is life-changing, revolutionizing the world!!!   

We are remembering an event that DID revolutionize the world, changing it one soul at a time!   - the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Jeremy Griffith is 'too little and too late'  and his message useless and  totally false !  

God, our Creator, knew exactly what man's problem was and He was willing to give His life to set us free !   All we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation, bought and paid for with the suffering and death of Jesus. Proven by His miraculous resurrection!  

Jesus Himself declared that He was the "Way, the Truth, and the Life"  John 14:6. 

He is the Way -  Today... the popular message is there are many ways to God - He is a loving God who accepts anyone who is 'sincere', no matter what path they follow. Yes... I agree!! 

ALL... every human being, no matter what path they follow, no matter what their religion is or even if they have none -- their chosen 'path' will lead them  to God . They will one day stand before God's throne of judgement and if they did not come 'by the way of Jesus' , they will hear the words .. "I never knew you!" 

He is the Truth -- Ephesians 4:21 declares that "The truth is in Jesus".   Not just the truth of the gospel, but ALL  truth.   Two plus two equals four because that is God's truth.  His whole creation is built on 'numbers'.  A fascinating study.   Truth has no 'grey areas' -- In God there is only 'truth' and all else is a lie.  We need to reject anything that does not line up with God's Word. Our Bibles are NOT outdated !!   
In Acts 16:17 we have the story of the demon possessed girl that followed and annoyed Paul and Silas.  She called out .. "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation."   Even the demons must tell the truth when they are where the Lord and His followers are. 

He is the Life --  Interesting, isn't it, that as arrogantly as science claims to have the truth, they cannot define what  'life' is,  how it started, nor can they create it. And they will never be able to understand until they recognize the GIVER of Life, the One who IS Life.  We have passed from 'death unto life' - and will live forever in glory with Jesus.   That is what we are celebrating this week-end!  (John 5;21,24) 

Quote - "It's not about the bunny, it's about the lamb!"  author unknown 

Barabbas

Interesting QUOTES... 
Our old history ends with the Cross; our new history begins with the resurrection. 

Watchman Nee

The New Testament writers speak as if Christ's achievement in rising from the dead was the first event of its kind in the whole history of the universe. He is the 'first fruits,' the pioneer of life,' He has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. He has met, fought, and beaten the King of Death. Everything is different because He has done so.
C.S. Lewis

I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.
Charles Colson 

Devotional Thoughts .. ---  BARABBAS 

Barabbas ...  we all know the details of his part in the crucifiction story, but he is quickly passed over with little further thought given  him.   I have been thinking about him and would like to take a bit of literary license with his story.  I think I have some credibility in doing so because in James 5:7 we are told that Elijah was , "of like nature or passions" as us.  That means that given the same circumstances we respond with our emotions and actions with predictability,  because we are all of the same flesh -  'human'.  

So taking the scant details we are given about Barabbas in Matt. 27:15-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:18-24, John 18:40 I put myself in his place to try to flesh him out as a fellow human being. 
******

"My name is Barabbas. 
I was well-known , but infamous rather than famous.  I was an angry, violent man who charted my own way of dealing with life.  I hated the Romans, hated them with a passion.  I hated their arrogance and their domination over us Jews.  What right did they have....  NONE as far as I was concerned.  

I lived by my own standard of right and wrong.  If I needed something, I took it, not caring from whom.   So I was known as a 'robber' by my own people.   

I rebelled against authority, in particular, the Roman authority and was vocal about it, thereby gaining some support from men who thought like me.  Joining with me, they agreed to my plan. We cared little about our own well-being, just wanting to inflict some pain on the Romans, and find a way to vent our churning anger. 

We planned  our insurrection plan, and carried it out !  It was at least partly successful, we murdered men guilty of nothing more than being Roman, but that was enough reason for us. 

The part that didn't go so well was that we were caught and arrested - thrown into prison, bound with chains.  I knew my life was over, crucifiction my sentence, I tried not to care!   I  waited for the inevitable along with the fellows chained with me. 

One day, I heard the footsteps of the guard approaching our cell.  The door clanged open and I fully expected my time had come.   The guard bent to unchain me and then his words startled me, no = they shocked me. "You  are free to go."  

What?  There was no mercy for me - I knew I had long ago crossed that line!  So what was the guard saying?   I was free?  How?  Why?   I must be dreaming. 

But, the guard roughly pushed me out of the cell and turned back to relock the cell door.  He didn't even look at me.  Really?  I was free to go?  I didn't believe it until I found myself outside, breathing fresh air!  

I stopped the first person I met and asked what was going on.  Why would I have been released from a Roman prison?   Demanding answers I finally found someone who could answer my questions.   A man named Jesus was on trial, and Pilot , trying to play his cards in Jesus' favor, used  the tradition of setting a prisoner free that day.  He offered the people a choice,  Jesus or me !  Well, even I knew that I should have been the last criminal to be offered freedom.   But me instead of Jesus?  I had heard of him,  people spoke of him as a great prophet, some even suggesting he was the long-expected messiah ...  and now they wanted him dead so badly they were willing to have me freed?  me? a robber, murderer, rebellious rabble-rouser?  How was that possible?  Had the people gone mad?

My feelings were conflicted, I hardly knew what to think ... much less what to do.  I wandered aimlessly...  but then hearing the crowds was curious to know what was going on.   I quickly became aware that  a crucifixion was about to take place -- three men.   A chill shivered up and down my spine with the realization I was to have been one of those men.   I recognized one of the men as Jesus, the one who was taking my place.  

I stood at a distance watching the horrifying events unfold.  I witnessed the suffering inflicted on the men on the crosses.   My eyes were fixed on Jesus - literally my saviour!  I was grateful for my undeserved, unexpected freedom but I could not justify, much less understand,  the reason for it. What was I going to do for the rest of my life? "
*****

To my regret, we are not given any details about what Barabbas did after he was set free.  Did he hear of Jesus' resurrection?  Did he listen to the gospel story and come to faith in Jesus?  

We will have to wait for eternity to find out.   But truly,  Barabbas is representative of each one of us.   We all stand at the cross looking at the One who took our place there.  Our sin laid on Him, when He Himself had no guilt at all.  I am offered freedom, only because "God so loved!!"  

At this time of year, as we again focus on Jesus' sacrifice -- His death -- and His resurrection, we can be so thankful that in Him  we have forgiveness and  life eternal .   

God asked Jesus'  "Who shall I set free?  You or ----------  (fill your name in the blank) ?
 and Jesus answered... " Set ______________ free, I am willing to take their place!"