Tag: Devotional

Meditate on scriptural truth

God Notices and Cares

Scripture
Photo Credit: Anna Christina Fordham

Life has a way of reminding us that all is not well. We keep picturing how things should be, and we are forever disappointed.

It’s not just the guy holding up traffic in the left lane. It is the constant dribble of new aches and pains, the harshness of meeting deadlines, the dailyness of dirty diapers, dirty dishes, dirty clothes. The incessant need to eat or drink to fill some nebulous void masquerading as hunger or thirst. It’s the obsessive patterns we create to thwart the idea that we lack control. It’s the subtle eye rolls or whispered cuss words when the whiteout spills on the desk, when crumbs fall on the freshly cleaned floor, when papers are lost in various piles. It’s the proverbial rock stuck in your shoe!?!?! Constant.

Luke 12:6-7 (ESV) says, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” In Luke 12, both before and after the verse about the sparrows, we are reminded that God notices us and cares for us even more than the sparrows. We are encouraged to trade in our many fears and frustrations and place our security in Christ alone.

God’s providential care extends over the small details of our lives. When I need reassurance, and when I wish to actually see His care of me, He faithfully pulls back the veil so I can see His mercies clearly in my life. I saw His protection last week when I exited the interstate, having to come between a school bus and a semi truck. I saw His provision when a palliative care coordinator just happened to be available at the oncologist’s office. I saw His timing, traveling mercies, and healing power in my husband’s recent shoulder surgery. I heard His kindness when a lady helped me to reschedule an appointment over the phone. I felt His comfort when all my praying friends were quick to turn their attention heavenward to intercede on my family’s behalf. The list is endless…

While all is not well on earth, I remember that earth is not really my home. Still, all that happens to me does not get ignored by God, but instead is orchestrated by God to prepare me for my eternal home. He reminds me daily to release my fears to Him and to find my security in Him alone. Were it not for this great hope in Him, I would feel that the void in my life would never be filled. Remembering His care for the sparrows, I remember that He cares for me in daily detail. Nothing in my life is unimportant for Him to care about. I am surely not forgotten.

The Shepherd Approach

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Coach Edgar Randall. A really good man recently passed away. And, now I join many in reflecting. I have had the great privilege of knowing Coach for 25 or so years. Known to many as beloved Coach Randall, he loved the Lord Jesus Christ and faithfully lived out the picture of a godly servant leader who invested himself in the lives of others to share the gospel of grace and to bring glory to God. He radiated the Good Shepherd in everything he did!

There is an account of God’s servant leader David in I and II Samuel. You will see that Coach Randall was much like David. I especially love II Samuel 7:8,9 which says, “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Almighty says: I took you from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth.’ ”

Similarly, God took Edgar as a young athlete in Williamsburg to become a servant in the Kingdom of God and to bring godly influence to many many people. A community celebrated well his life on Friday, February 1st. Although Coach Randall had many earthly claims to fame, he is mostly highly regarded because of his servant leadership qualities: kindness, encouragement, faithfulness, excellence, joy (tremendous joy!), godly counsel, helpfulness, availability, generosity, love, friendship, care, concern, and love. He was all about serving God cheerfully and pouring out his life for others.

If you study the life of David, you will draw some similarities. If you study the life of Jesus, you will see even more similarities. Micah 5:2 ” ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.’ ” Matthew 2:5,6 ” ‘In Bethlehem in Judea,’ they replied, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem , in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ”

These scriptures picture the Shepherd King – Jesus Christ. So many parallels can be shown in studying the life of David, the man after God’s own heart, and the life of our Messiah. Godly leadership is characterized by shepherding. Ruling and shepherding are not necessarily antithetical. They are an influential mixture of leading and loving. Much like the life roles played by Coach Randall.

Coach Randall’s style was influential shepherding. He was a gentle giant who nurtured young students and athletes to aspire to things of eternal value. Excellence in athletics was certainly one of those high values. His manner was always engaging. He was very approachable and inviting. But, he also had a great vision for students and held them to a high standard. They knew they were loved! They knew they had to work hard. They knew he would teach them to always take the high road of honesty, integrity, and compassion. They knew it was all because Coach Randall loved Jesus and did everything because of Christ’s call on his life to serve others.

John 10:14-15 ” ‘I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep.’ ”

This was Coach Randall’s legacy – the shepherd approach. He laid down his life in service to His Lord.