GOD IS DOING SOMETHING GREAT AND WONDERFUL AND YOU ARE PART OF IT
Australian sheep farmer, Ben Jackson, was under a mandated Covid-19 lockdown in New South Wales when his favorite aunt (Auntie Deb) became seriously ill. Saddened by these restraints, he grieved deeply when she died and wasn’t able to make the 270-mile-trip to her funeral.
But Ben found a way to express his affection for Auntie Deb. Using many sacks of grain, Ben poured the precious pellets out on the ground in the shape of a gigantic “love-heart.” Then he unleashed hundreds of his hungry sheep onto the field. Their hunger for the food drove them to, unsuspectingly, create the vast image of a heart. It was Ben’s way of demonstrating love to his aunt.
Then Ben flew his drone high above the sheep to record the event. It was the only way he could see the “big picture” of what he was doing.
Ben Jackson immediately posted the video on social media in his aunt’s honor and received thousands of likes and shares. His post even received wide coverage on the news.
When I read about Ben Jackson’s effort to express his love for Auntie Deb, it brought to mind something in the spiritual realm. Think about it. This man used the drives and appetites of his sheep to orchestrate a huge picture of love for his aunt. Isn’t God doing the same in and through us?
Let me explain. God motivates us from within by His Holy Spirit to do His will (Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:29). This is what distinguishes Christianity from the religion of the Old Testament – and from every other religion as well. Christ doesn’t just give us a list of guidelines, principles, and rules to follow and then tell us, “Do this!”
No, Christ sets us up for success, not failure. Jesus transforms our lives from the inside out. He begins with our heart (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Jesus crucifies the old sinful self (Romans 6:3-11; Galatians 2:20), raises up a new person in his place (Colossians 3:1-4), and then renews us daily, motivating us to do His holy will (2 Corinthians 4:16-17; Philippians 2:13).
God puts a hunger in us for His word, the Bible. So, we read it. He puts a thirst in us for His presence. So, we pray. He puts the desire in us to bless and serve others. So, we perform deeds of love and kindness.
Now, to us our deeds will seem uncoordinated, isolated, sporadic, and soon forgotten. We will likely feel that our contribution is only temporal and probably illegitimate – since (we think) no one important is authorizing or directing it. After all, all we’re doing is seeing a need and trying to fill it. Nobody important is giving us formal orders to do our little deeds.
What we fail to realize that there is a great Coordinator, Planner, and Orchestrator behind all these deeds – and billions of other like them. As this shepherd created a grand picture of love for his aunt, using the healthy appetites of his sheep, so God is creating a vast picture of His love for humanity by creating good and godly desires in us to serve one another and bring honor to Him.
While living down here, we probably won’t begin to grasp the “big picture” of what God is doing by His masterful orchestration. Remember, it took a drone high above the sheep to get a glimpse of the heart his sheep were unknowingly painting. But from heaven’s perspective we’ll see it all. Then, we will know fully as we have been fully known by God (1 Corinthians 13:12).
So be patient and persevering in all the good deeds you perform for God and other people. As Paul the apostle said, “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor for the Lord is never in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Trust that God is doing something great and wonderful through you.
PRAYER: Dear Father in heaven, sometimes I feel like my contribution is so small and lacks any validation from heaven. But I commit my humble work to You and pray You will bless it, multiply it, and use it bless humanity and bring You glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(Information from: https://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2021-08-26/australian-mourns-beloved-aunt-with-heart-shaped-love-ewes)
