June 20–The whole of the matter.  

It’s the weekend and I’m spending it with my mama’s brothers and sisters. My mom’s oldest sister is 95 and we are celebrating her. It going to be a great time. Last night, I was talking to my Uncle Buddy about what he’d spoken about earlier in the day when he was leading a Bible Study at the Nursing Home. He spoke on Elijah and Ezekiel. 


He used the story of the widow trying to make the last meal for her son and herself during the famine. When Elijah showed up, he told her to use the little bit of resources she has to make him a meal because he was the man of God. She did as he asked and behold, God filled her flour bin and her oil jugs and she had food throughout the entire famine. 


“Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ ” She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”

‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬


And compare that with the story of 

Ezekiel calling down judgement on the city of Tyre. Tyre was one of the wealthiest towns around at that time and yet, they paid no heed to God and planned to prosper with the fall of Jerusalem. 


“therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭26:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬


I remember Brad Pitt in his Rolling Stone interview several years ago, made a statement that sounded just like Solomon. “I’m telling you once you have everything, you’re just left with yourself.” Or like the wise king said “Vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” 


No matter how much or how little we have, we have the choice of what we should do with it. The widow made the right choice; Tyre did not. And at the end of it all, “...here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬


God Jehovah of heaven and earth, thank you for your instruction, for your word of truth. What a wonderful God you are. Lord help us to keep fear you and keep your commandments. What more could we ask for? We praise your great name today and we worship you in all of your fullness. You are the great I AM of glory and we ask for your blessings today and for our loved ones who are battling disease and sickness, we ask for your healing touch. Thank you God for loving us so radically. Amen and amen. 


Love you dear one,

Pam

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