Good morning…
Scripture verses have been merging together for me this week, helping to shed God’s light on the dark, unknown path before opening before us, a winding road none of us have ever traveled before. We must allow God to go before us if we are to walk in the ways of the LORD all the days of our earthly lives. This is the Word of our LORD being illuminated through me this ordinary morning.
Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth” (Genesis 1:26, CJB).
Adonai, God, took the person and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and care for it (Genesis 2:15, CJB).
When the moment was right, Jesus Christ, the skin-bearing person of our Triune God, came to earth to show us what union with the Father looks like, feels like, grows like organically. Jesus talked with our Dad constantly in a conversational style: “You are my righteous Father, but the unbelieving world has never known you in the perfect way that I know you! And all those who believe in me also know that you have sent me! I have revealed to them who you are and I will continue to make you even more real to them, so that they may experience the same endless love that you have for me, for your love will now live in them, even as I live in them!” (John 17:25-26, TPT).
More and more I realize the sole role of humanity throughout the earth: …to be compassionate shepherds who tenderly care for God’s flock and who feed them well, for you have the responsibility to guide, protect, and oversee. Consider it a joyous pleasure and not merely a religious duty. Lead from the heart under God’s leadership—not as a way to gain finances dishonestly but as a way to eagerly and cheerfully serve (1 Peter 5:2, TPT).
“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me’” (Matthew 25:37-40, MSG).
In developing the art of seeing the LORD in everything and everyone, we are filled with the love of the living Christ to cultivate and care for all given breath in the garden of God. As we lead from the heart under God’s leadership, we will serve everyone and everything, compassionately and tenderly, eagerly and cheerfully.
Now God’s rubber meets our personal patch of road: “Will I consider it a joyous pleasure to guide, protect, and oversee all of God’s creatures, big and small, who cross my path today, in the synchronicity of God’s Holy Spirit?”
…Sue…
P.S. Thank you, Gina Palermo, for the beautiful depiction of God’s heart in our heart.
