CHILDREN IN THE ARMS OF THE LORD

The weaker I become, the more I must trust in the Savior and appreciate the Biblical portraits of His love, for example

·       He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac…When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” (Psalm 105:8–9,12-15)

Abraham had failed both Sarah, his wife, and the Lord by his practice of passing his wife off as his sister so that it might go well for him. He had even continued this practice after God had informed him that Sarah would give birth the following year to the long-awaited child of the promise, Isaac.

It was no surprise that the King of Gerar took Sarah for his Haram. However, God struck the entire nation down with a life-threatening disease, which prevented the king from consummating with Sarah. God then warned the king in a dream:

·       “Now then, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, so that he will pray for you, and you shall live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” (Genesis 20:7)

Despite Abraham’s many failures, his God still owned Abraham as His prophet, and he would have to pray for the king’s healing.

Despite our many failures, we continue to have the same God as Abraham who promised that we remain His “anointed ones…my prophets.” This does not depend upon our worthiness, for we are unworthy of anything good from our Lord. This, according to Jesus, is the attitude of mind and faith we need to retain

·       So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10)

Well, isn’t this depressing? I felt that way at first. However, in time, I found this understanding to be liberating. How? If our standing with God doesn’t depend on our worthiness, then we need no longer prove that we are worthy to ourselves, others, and even before the demonic attacks which tell us, “You are not worthy of the love of God!”

We aren’t worthy of His love, but He loves us anyway. His love doesn’t depend on us but on God alone. Based on what? His gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)! For we trust in Him:

·       Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:5–8)

·       In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. (Psalm 22:4–5)

We are but children in the arms of the loving Lord who hears our cries.