A Banquet of Love in Action. | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: A Banquet of Love in Action. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Philippa Geaney
11/10/21
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Grace needed a coffee. The vastness of God’s heart was sweeping her beyond comprehension, and she needed to slow her thoughts. To anchor them.

I know Him as God. ‘Absolutely - He’s the only God there is. Tick the box.’ She signed the air as she agreed out loud with her thoughts.

I know Him as Saviour. ‘No doubt – glorious, grateful. Tick the box.’ Again she signed the air.

But what would I become if I fell too deeply into His heart of kindness? What if I took liberties? As David said in 2 Sam 7:18, who am I, Lord God? And what is my family that you have brought me this far

Concern crowded her thinking. ‘I need that coffee.”
She closed her Bible and stood up. Lack of peace was a red flag and a warning. ‘You need time out, Grace,’ she muttered.
I’ll return avec du café and go over the notes I took on Sunday’s sermon.

It was the Pastor’s message that had stirred up her thoughts. It concerned the recognition, receipt, and wonder of His kind character, but it mainly emphasized sharing this characteristic with others.

‘Lord, thank you for Your expansive, giving heart. From Genesis to Revelation, You’ve shown the desire to relate personally and bless man. I can’t recount the times You’ve expressed this wish. Psalm one hundred and twenty-one alone spins me out.
‘The trouble is not in the orchard of my born-again spirit Lord; it’s in my mind, will, and intellect – the area of human responsibility. My attempts to offer the fruit of kindness to others are often pretty lousy. What with preoccupation, weariness, selfishness, and just plain obtuseness.’

She turned thoughtfully towards the kitchen. ‘I’m not telling You anything You don’t already know. It makes for good dialogue though.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll be back soon, Papa.’

When the coffee machine flashed ready, she spooned the ground beans in, set the dials, and soon a delicious aroma of the hot black liquid filled the kitchen.
‘I’d love to know what You thought about as You created that smell, Lord. You’re so kind.’

It was Grace’s practice to slip out of bed before dawn to pray. Like Joshua in the Exodus, her hungry heart visualized His pillar of fire burning over the tabernacle - over the camp – over her.
What a sight that must have been. While it made the night secure and warm, it must have been terrifying at first for the ancient Hebrews.
And then their sun rose, and the coolness of the pillar of cloud rolled across the camp. Grace pictured the fire descending into the tabernacle to meld with the flames of the golden lampstand in the holy place.
A new day, bathed in His refreshing cloud, had begun.

Grace had no idea if that was what Joshua saw, but it delighted her heart to imagine it that way, and it seemed the Father had no complaints.

She returned, coffee in hand, to re-read her notes on Sunday’s sermon. The exegesis was that kindness was the fruit of the Spirit and that it was love in action.

The focus on fruit reminded her of the several mornings she’d joined the Father at His table, stepping as she did from within Psalm 23. A delicious mouthwatering fruit spilled from bowls on the table, and although the appearance of the delicacy was always the same on each visit, as Grace bit into the fruit, the taste was not. 'Papa, why does this fruit taste different each time?'

‘Love is the origin of the fruit.’ The Father seemed delighted with the question.‘But love manifests or shall We say, tastes different in certain situations. I want you to understand that while you have access to all the fruit of Love, My Spirit can and will at times, highlight a single fruit.’

Jesus spoke for the first time from where He sat. ‘Learn each taste, Dear One. ‘
Grace nodded and bit into the juicy sweetness of the fruit, then frowned in surprise, ‘This has a slight tang at the end.’

The Father threw back His head and laughed. ‘That’s the fruit of kindness. It stimulates action. So you might say, kindness is love in action. Eat freely of this fruit, Grace. Truly, truly I say, sometimes energy for an extra mile is needed.’

Scriptures. Ps. 117:2 Ps. 121:6 Exodus 13:21 Ps. 23:5 Jn. 17:3 Romans 10:9 Gal. 5:22
1 Jn.4:8

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