To the weak I became weak, to win
the weak.
I have become all things to all
men so that by all possible means I might save some.
1 Corinthians 9:22
It usually happens a few times each summer. Maybe you’ll be
taking a walk and see them on them on the sidewalk. Or you might be doing yard
work and find them on the patio. Wherever you might stumble upon them, ant
colonies are fascinating. Why? Because while we may stop to observe their hard
labor, organization and tenacity they have no idea who we are or that we even
exist.
They have no idea that you have the power to sweep them away
or just turn the hose on them and be done with them once and for all. After
all, they’re messing up your patio and should build their colony somewhere
else. Yes, you have total power of life and death over them, but now how could
you possibly communicate that to a bunch of simple ants?
If you picked them up and moved the ants they would only
scatter in confusion and terror. Of course, they wouldn’t learn a thing about
the proper place to build and would simply continue messing things up once you
left them alone. So, how could you talk to them? How could you save them once
and for all?
The only way to help them, to save them, would be to
approach them as an ant yourself, a simple member of their own colony. Only
then would they recognize you and understand what you were saying. And only as
an ant yourself could you describe the problems they faced in terms that would
make sense to them. Of course, as an ant, you would not have all your human
capabilities, but your insight and superior wisdom into ant life would amaze
them. Some would listen to your warning and seek a new life off the big
patio, away from the heat of the barbecue grill. Some would mock you for
the dangers you were telling them about; people, cars, pets, and
roadways. While the decision to listen to you is there’s alone, you did
the best you could to save.
Our Lord had a similar dilemma in communicating with people,
with us. He knew that if He came to us in His true form and glory, we would
respond in absolute terror. So how did He solve this problem? He arrived as one
of us, God in human form, as Jesus Christ. It was the only way He could
give us a higher wisdom, a message about the right way to live and on the
dangers of destruction of the wrong ways.
He didn’t have to do it this way. In fact, He turned the
hose on us once before, flooding out all of us “ants” except one small colony!
This time, out of love, He chose to humble and reduce Himself to our level just
to teach and save us. Now, He leaves the choice to us and remains as a
still quiet voice of counsel to our souls. We only need to listen and believe.
This is how the Lord reveals
When you read the Bible or spend time in prayer, do you
recognize that it is God who is speaking to you? The Lord’s desire to speak to
you is strong. And if you give him just a bit of your time and energy, he will
break through the silence and open your ears. Right now, ask the Holy Spirit to
help you become more open to the One who will always be here to guide you home.
This Week’s Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for revealing yourself to me through your
Son. Teach me to recognize your presence and welcome your Spirit at work in my life.
With your awesome wisdom and tender love, guide me to the right places and away
from the wrong ones. Allow me to see that you have me in the palm of your hand
and will always place me where I need to be. Amen.
