Issue 1538 – The Hummer – August 30, 2024

Ruby Throated Hummingbird
Ruby Throated Hummingbird

A hummingbird has been visiting for the last couple of  weeks. He stops by for a sip of nectar and visits the various hanging plants in bloom and a kalanchoe, usually kept indoors, that is outside for the summer. 

He not only stops at the plants in flower but persistently stops at one that isn’t. I don’t know why it bothers stopping there because it will never give nectar without a flower. It could be because it’s the same type of plant as one of the others.

Whatever his motivation, I know his search will remain in vain unless that plant reflowers.

How often are we like our little hummer? We need to be fulfilled, and we keep going back to the things that have failed us in the past, hoping beyond hope that this time it will work.

We can easily fall back into patterns of sin that seem to offer fulfillment, but they, too, fail us. Worse yet, is that the guilt of falling into that sin can make us fall back into the same sin we hate so much and suck us into an ever-downward spiral.

Businesses spend massive amounts of money to keep tempting us back to things that ultimately fail to fulfill us. Temptation isn’t a sin, but I wonder if tempting others for our gain might not be.

 We were created for a relationship with God, and it is only in and through Him that we will find our purpose and fulfillment.

While not Scripture, the first question of the Westminster catechism often comes to mind.

What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

That simple statement is profound beyond belief and could take an entire sermon series to plumb its depths properly. Our purpose isn’t only to glorify God but to ENJOY Him forever.

I don’t have the time space for that, so I’ll introduce a few verses to help you begin to meditate on that truth.

The Lord, our creator, does not need anything from us. Yet He chooses to be in a relationship with us and give us purpose.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Genesis 1:27-28

… whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 2 Corinthians 5:9

When you feel that need for fulfillment or a lack of purpose, look to the one who can meet those needs. Look to our loving Heavenly Father.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)