He Gives Us Everything We Need

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 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. 2 Peter 1: 3 – 4

Our boys are spending a few days with us before their summer vacation ends and they return to school. It has been such a joy having them. Waking up and hearing those sweet little voices with all their enthusiasm makes our day! But as much as their granddad loves them being here, he gets a little nervous that they might get hurt in some way, and we are constantly hearing, “Be careful! Watch out! Don’t run so fast!  I don’t want you to get hurt!”  

He gave these same “age appropriate” warnings to Kelly and Scott as they were growing up, and he still constantly gives them to all of us. (Proof that we will never age out of needing them!)  In his mind, he thinks if something were to happen, it would be his fault for not reminding us. Poor guy. He’s always looking out for us! We appreciate his concern, and even when we don’t feel as if we need it, we just take it in stride. If it makes him feel better, we go with it.

But Cole must have heard one too many last night as Granddad once again told the boys at dinner,” Eat slowly and concentrate!” Cole  looked at him, with this funny little expression on his face, and said, “Ok, Old Man, I am 5 years old and I know how to eat at my own limit.”

Bob, Miles, and I looked at each other a little shocked as we tried not to laugh! And when I asked him why he would say that to his granddad, he said, “Because Granddad is always telling me to be careful and I’m 5. I know what to do!” He had certainly never referred to him as “Old Man” before – none of us have ever used the term, and where he heard it, we have no clue. We knew that he didn’t mean any disrespect. He was just trying to make his point that Granddad really didn’t need to worry about him so much.

I explained to him that Granddad does the same thing to all of us, even me! And he only does it because he cares about us. He loves him and Miles so much, he knows what is best sometimes, and he wants to make sure they will always be safe and taken care of. Cole got this really serious look on his face, and said, “Hhmm . . .” , as if it made perfect sense and for the first time he  really understood why his granddad is always looking out for him.

Isn’t this so like us in our relationship with God? He created us, gave us life, knows what is best for us, and wants to give us everything we could possibly need – the very best life has to offer, but we often want to do it our own way – at our own pace and without His interference. We want what the world has to offer and we want to seek what we need on our own and through the people around us. We don’t feel as if we really need Him.

But yet, our lives are not our own. They were given to us by our loving God and the abundant life cannot be ours without the knowledge of His divine presence and power. There are no other individuals or “institutions” in this life that can or will be fully sufficient to take care of all our needs, but gratefully there is One who can, and He is the Creator and Sustainer of life.

We have His “very great and precious promises” that He will always provide everything we need, along with His love, comfort, grace, and peace. The more we know Him – through His Word and His Spirit, through fellowship with other believers and through our relationship with Him – the more power we will have to escape the evils of this world. We have learned that it’s not something we have the power or will to do on our own. We need Him to show us the way.

 Prayer

Our heavenly Father, we thank you for the sufficiency of your love, grace, and peace. Thank you for the knowledge that you will provide for us, sustain us, and keep us in your eternal care. May we always look to you and not to others around us or to our own power to provide what we need. Amen

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