He is Calling Attention to Himself

Matthew 5:45b - He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Do you see that? He causes...He sends...  He blesses, He curses. More about Him. More about Jesus. More about what He does.

We cannot go on thinking that God does not have a hand in what is happening in this world. He just does. It is His creation. The clouds are His. The rain, the wind, the direction of the waves, the force of all of them are His. He is calling attention to Himself. Will anyone listen? Will anyone hear? Will anyone receive Jesus?

He's is an equal "opportunity" God. He can do what He desires. He will do what is necessary to try to save. He brings one down and exalts another. Some live an eternal life, some do not. He brings us naked into the world and we leave the same way. Even among believers He gives and He takes away. 

He creates the seasons. He makes the sun and moon to rise at just the right time. All things were created with no more than the word of His mouth. It's all about Him. He's calling attention to Himself. Will anyone listen? Will anyone hear?

He confounds man by choosing the poor and lowly to have the most abundant faith. While Jesus loves the little sparrow yet cares much more for man, He will bring man down for his own sake that He might raise him up to be what He knows he is capable of being. 

Moses was taken out of the bulrushes and spent 120 years being molded into a man, who was not perfect, to free His people from Egypt's captivity. He made David, a lowly shepherd and again not perfect, to become a king, a man after God's own heart. Gideon who admitted to not being a strong warrior was chosen to lead 300 into battle against many thousands with a torch, a jar and a trumpet but no shields or swords. He was told he would be made strong. He takes the weak to prove His strength. 

Our God gives to whom He pleases. He changes times and seasons and gives wisdom and understanding. The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men. He lifts up the humble and takes down the proud. He keeps His eyes on those who worship Him and do His will and He hears the cries of those with humble and contrite hearts. He does not listen to sinners...but He will hear when those with a broken spirit cry out in repentance for His grace and mercy. 

Who can understand all the things of God? The real message is, will we bow to Jesus and trust Him in all things? Receive Him that and know what Truth is. He IS faithful in the end to those who seek Him and allow Him to humble us when we need it, allow Him to take away when something has become a hindrance in our walk with Him, allow Him to strengthen us through the power of His Holy Spirit when we try to do in our own strength. 

He, after all, is the wise One, we are not. Our Father in Heaven knows what He needs to do in order to save us from our own destruction...so He calls attention to Himself through both good times and bad. He listens for the cries of those who will submit (in a very good sense) to His will. And, more importantly, He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us and His Holy Spirit to help us. Who will listen? Who will hear?

Listen to this: The cripple at the Beautiful Gate was asking for money in his cup. That was what he thought he needed. Peter and John didn't have what he wanted, but what he needed. He wanted alms. He needed legs. They said, "What we have we give to you" (Acts 3:6). What they had was the transferred authority of Jesus to supply legs. We ask for what we think we need, and the Lord graciously gives us what we really need. - Jim Hylton

What do you think you need? Call on the name of Jesus and He will give you what He knows you need. We all need Him. He will hear your heart but He will heal your spirit. He will bring life to the lost and weary soul. He will not give you a stone when you are in need of bread. If you ask you will receive; if you seek you will find. If you knock, Jesus will open the door for you. He is calling attention to Himself today. Who will listen? Who will hear?

Lamentations 3:55-58 - I called on Your name, O LORD, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: "Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help." You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, "Do not fear!" O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life.