HEAVENSREEF

HI EVERYONE!

I want to introduce you dear reader to my son Jason.  He has blessed us this past week visiting here in AZ from Colorado.  He has much to say in the faith department and thought it would be fun to read his take on the above subject matter, plus I have always said that he could write!  

I know GOD has HIS hand on him, so please enjoy, listen with grace and I hope the following edifies you today………

Obadiah: Pride and Patience

Recently I found myself waiting for Easter Service and flipping through a follower’s Bible and found a new book that I had never read: Obadiah. Christians often find themselves as small fish in a large stream, but Obadiah’s vision actually uses a bird in his metaphor when discussing “‘the pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself  ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’  Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,’ declares the LORD.” (Obadiah 3-4)

Everyone typically knows, pride cometh before a fall, but sometimes it is important to realize how small the seed of pride can be. This seed requires several hours of introspection and direct work with the LORD in helping to change one’s heart, or growth.  HE also makes specific declaration to the path of destruction in Obadiah 4.  ” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.” HE will destroy us, even as Christians, if we don’t realize this fact. “‘If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night – oh, what a disaster awaits you! – would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes…those who eat your bread will set a trap for you, but you will not detect it…you will be destroyed forever.’” (Obadiah 5-7)

The joy in all this negativity is that God declares HE will save us: “on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be Holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.’” (Obadiah 17), but an inheritance is a true gift! If we are not careful to have the patience to work on our pride within and with others, we may choose to forfeit this gift: “‘you should not gloat over your brother, in the day of his misfortune,…the day of the LORD is near for all nations.’” (Obadiah 12-15).

Patience and trust in the LORD to change our hearts will allow us to have the patience to deal with each other in the daily. We should be happy on our path; not pointing out the fault in someone else’s. God has infinite patience with us and we should with each other. Sometimes people are led astray: even pastors. Pastor Dale Bronner circa 1999 stated that Pastors are the Shepherds; leading the flock with their staff.  As Christians when we begin our service, we become the staff, helping with the ministry. Jesus being the ultimate Shepherd, sacrificed HIMSELF to save HIS flock. As we surround ourselves in this HOLY Month, remember that our Shepherd will ultimately return and carry us into the gates of Heaven. It just requires Faith.

Halfway across the country, the book of Obadiah put much of pride and patience in perspective for me in these difficult times as Christians. I continue to pray for all in their growth in reading Obadiah as well as the rest of God’s word. My prayers are with you. Thanks for reading!