“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge.” 2 Pet 1:4-5 (NIV)
Sometime ago, my wife Susan had an interesting dream in which she saw a well-laid table brimming with an assortment of food – just about anything you could ever wish for. Everything was so tantalisingly laid out that it can’t but make your mouth water in anticipation. In that same dream, she also saw people who were happily dancing around this well-laid table. Obviously, the feast on the table was meant for them, but rather than sit down to eat, these people seemed content to just dance around the table. They raised their hands in praise to God, exalted Him with their mouths and kept dancing joyfully around the table, but still refused to sit down and eat the sumptuous meal that was meant for them.
God later gave her an interpretation of what the dream really meant. The well-laid and sumptuously appointed table represents a vivid picture of God’s abundant blessings, which He has lovingly prepared for His children, that is, those who are called by His Name. The people she saw merrily dancing around the table were the many Christians for whom God had prepared this great feast, but who seemingly preferred to sing and worship God rather than sit down to partake of their Father’s blessings.
This dream shows us the picture of an exasperated God who desires His children to partake of what is rightfully theirs by faith and eat of His blessings. Regrettably, many of God’s children have so far refused to gladden their Father’s loving heart, either because they do not understand that the food is meant for them, or that they do not yet know how to partake of their Father’s blessings.
For many Christians, the primary issue is not that we are unaware of our covenant rights in Jesus Christ, but that we are yet to understand the spiritual principles that guide God’s actions and by which He expects us to partake of the wonderful blessings that He has prepared for us. So, like the crowd that pressed on Jesus Christ but failed to draw virtue from Him, they are still being troubled by their problems. The woman with the issue of blood conclusively proved the fact that God is willing and ready to meet our needs if we are willing and ready to press into Him in faith.
This week, I shall be sharing with you both principles and powerful stories that attest to the fact that God has not called us to seek Him in vain. So, while He desires and enjoys our fellowship more than anything else, He also wants us to understand that any genuine relationship is always two-way. As we bless Him with our worship, He longs to reciprocate with His blessings. So, get ready to be encouraged as we tuck in and make both His and our day and thus make His blessing count for us.
Prayer:
Lord, as I begin this week, give me a hearing hear and a heart that will soak in your knowledge and the provision you have already made for me. Give me understanding to enable me take advantage of your provisions for my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen.