Life's Little Frustrations

You can have computerized directions and a GPS, 

A cell phone to guide you, but I must confess 

I still want to have an old fashioned map 

Made out of paper and unfolded on my lap.

Oil of the Holy Spirit

During Bible times kings and priests were anointed with oil as part of their appointment to their offices.  We, too, are "anointed" as a part of our induction into the family of God.  Oil is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and it is the Holy Spirit who seals us when God makes us His children. Ephesians 1:13-14 gives us these reassuring words,  "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory."

     
Just as the oil had several purposes in the lives of sheep, God's Holy Spirit has several purposes in the life of a Christian.  During the mating season the rams swagger around trying to catch the eyes of certain ewes.  If two rams desire the attention of the same ewe, a vicious battle may ensue.  The rams will charge each other with antlers lowered, and they may literally "lock horns."  In so doing, rams can become seriously wounded or even killed.  When the mating season begins, many shepherds smear a liberal amount of grease on the antlers of the rams so that when they fight their horns will slide off each other rather than inflicting harm.

      
We tend to become jealous or competitive, to fight with other people, to "lock horns" when we want our own way.  If we have an application of the Holy Spirit, however, His graciousness will make us kinder and more gentle to the people in our lives.

      
Another purpose of the oil was to aid in healing wounds.  The precious Holy Spirit comes alongside to comfort and heal us when we have been wounded by the unkindness of others or the trauma of tragic events.

Thank You, Father, for helping us live peacefully with each other and for Your healing of the wounds in our lives.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

Have you ever been roused from a deep, peaceful slumber
By the telephone's ring--and it was a wrong number?

Oil

Psalm 23:5b,  "You anoint my head with oil"

    Insects of all kinds can become extremely annoying and upsetting to sheep during the summer time.  There is a particular insect called a nasal fly which aggravates sheep most of all.  These flies buzz around sheep's heads and try to deposit their eggs in the soft mucous membranes of the sheep's noses.  If they are successful, the eggs hatch into worm-like larvae which cause much irritation and inflammation.  Sheep will beat their heads against trees or rocks and rub then in the dirt in an effort to rid themselves of their pain.  They may try to run away from their torment or shake their heads up and down over and over in a futile effort to find relief.  The antidote is for the shepherd to rub the sheep's heads with a specially prepared oil mixture at the first sign of flies and to continue to make applications of this mixture as long as flies are around.
    We have lots of "life's little frustrations."  There are many aggravations and irritations that buzz around us and upset us, that cause us to lose our peace and joy and become ill-tempered.  Phillip Keller says,  "Just as with the sheep, there must be continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the "flies" in my life; there must be a continuous anointing of God's gracious Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts" and other frustrations and irritations that rub our personalities raw.  When God's Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, He enables God's children to react to the daily  problems of life calmly, with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Father, thank You that Your Holy Spirit will produce this kind of fruit in our lives, that we can experience this kind of Christian life as long as we allow Your Spirit to be in control.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I wake up, and "Yuck," I say.

This is my appointment with the dentist day.

Fellowship

Psalm 23:5a,  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

     King David invited Mephibosheth, the crippled son of his dear friend Jonathan, to live at the palace and receive his provision and protection.  David told Mephiposheth, "You will always eat at my table."

     The "table" in Psalm 23 speaks to us of protection and provision but also of fellowship.  Friends eat together and visit with each other over their meal.  The promise in Revelation 3:20 is not only for salvation for those who respond appropriately to Jesus but also for His Presence with them.  Jesus said,  "Here I am.  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me."

     Dining together, feasting, is also a picture of celebration.  We have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and picnics on the Fourth of July.  We celebrate marriages with receptions where food is served and people eat together.  There will be a great feast one day in heaven when the bride of Christ, the church, joins her Bridegroom.  This celebration is called "the wedding supper" or "the marriage feast" of the Lamb. 

     We are assured of God's Presence with us in the presence of our enemies.  Whether we are facing persecution, difficult circumstances, evil doers, or our final enemy, death, we can rejoice and celebrate because our God is with us--providing for us, protecting us, and blessing us with Himself!

Father, You have given us many blessings but the greatest one is the gift of Yourself!  Thank You.  Amen.