We are loved by the Father! This is displayed throughout the Bible, we are loved. We have been chosen by God.
1 Peter 2:9 “royal priesthood…a chosen generation”! This gets me excited every time.
26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NIV
I was encouraged by the story of how God provided for the Israelites in the dessert. It says in His Word, that God gave them Manna and Quail daily. The Israelites would wake in the morning to collect the manna and in the evening, quail. The daily activity stuck out to me…the word says they took only what was enough for them and their tent for the day. As I was reading, the words only for the day stuck out. How often do we take on tasks that are beyond our day, let alone our weeks. I am guilty of this for sure!
4 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the LORD when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the LORD.”
9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’”
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the LORD appearing in the cloud.
11 The LORD said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” Exodus 16:4-12 NIV
The thing about the manna and quail is that it was an exercise of faith. They knew it was from God and it was because of God that they had it. They didn’t deserve it and yet God revealed himself to them in amazing ways to show them that He loves them. The attitude of the Israelites at the time was nothing but grumbling and complaining about everything and yet God provided for them daily.
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 NIV
This relates to our quiet times, devotionals and worship to God. When we go before the throne of God and bring ourselves to Him, I know at times we come bringing our bag of issues/troubles and traumas, this is not a bad thing but we need to prioritise bringing just our adoration and praise to Him for who God is and not what He can do for us.
When we spend time with God, we get to enjoy who He is and what our beautiful King is about. We fall in love daily with Him! The cross was a declaration of love to us and we didn’t even deserve it. God continuously wants to pour out to us what we need, even when we don’t deserve or know we need it.
When I think of a focus point or feature wall in a home, I think of emphasis on that area or beauty displayed in that area. You let that space shine and bring everything else to align with that design. The same applies with us and God, He is the focus point and we need to align with who He is and what He is about. God is all about Love! Love displayed on the cross for us, love shown in forgiveness; healing; provision and generosity.
We are called to come into alignment with our King and His Kingdom.
Let us be encouraged by the fact that we are loved and that He is our King. We need to stay connected to our King!
Love
Pinky
Women of Reverence welcomes regular contributor Pinky Hlophe:
A wife to Thulani Hlophe and a mother of two amazing children. I am on the eldership team of FrontLine People Church in Brakpan, Johannesburg.
I am currently in my final year, studying a Bcom Degree in Financial Management through UNISA.
I home-school both my children and just love seeing kids free, be themselves and grow to be who God intended them to be. I love serving in Administration of our local church and passionate about worship ministry.