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“"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth.” – John
14:15-17
The
dust blew through the streets of the small village. The people that remained behind stayed
indoors most of the time, for the sweltering heat was unbearable and there were
no crops to harvest anyway. Most of the
livestock had died when the wells and small pools of water dried up and there
was a distinct scent of death in the air.
Few travelers passed through this town any longer and businesses had
long closed up shop. Some men still
gathered daily in the village market to reminisce and discuss the good days of
old when the markets were full of people selling fish, bread, vegetables and grain;
right next to the merchants from the East selling fine cloth and oils. But now, there was no one selling, for there
is no money after the taxes are paid. The
synagogue was in ruin, the people had lost sight of the God of their fathers
over the last generation. Where there
used to be singing and praising and reading of the texts, there was now only
broken down buildings beyond repair, which created a resting area for the local
rodents and feline that roamed the streets during the day.
As the stranger walked into the town, people did not know what to expect. They peeked from behind covered windows and watched as he walked toward the Synagogue at the end of the street. He knelt near the alter where the texts had always been stored and he raised his hands and eyes to the heavens. His hooded robe covered his body, but through it you could tell he was trembling as he cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He quoted from the texts as if it were engrained on his heart for he had no written manuscripts before him. People came from their homes with caution and approached the Synagogue to see what could be seen.
He rose from his kneeling position and turned to face the gathering crowd.
“Children of God. You are lost, and you have forgotten the one true God that gave you everything you have. You have chosen a path that has led you to this place of desolation and anguish, rather than the path laid out for you by the Creator of heaven and earth. You have ignored the Spirit within your heart that calls you to Him, and chosen to follow the spirit of the earth into the pits of Hell. Where are you going, children; in this life and the next, that our Father in heaven cannot provide you peace, comfort and rest along your journey? Why do you turn your back on Him and at the same time blame Him for the circumstance you have fallen into? Your future is only determined by your resolve to pursue His righteousness, love and truth and to share it with others. Seek His blessing upon this land once again and rejoice in knowing that He hears your cries, and will pour out blessings in His due time. Just as the bride must be faithful to the groom in good and the bad, your Father in heaven desires your faithfulness through this valley, so in turn you will find the peace in what lies before you. Your paths are not guaranteed to be free from obstacles or pain, but your feet upon His path will convey strength and righteousness to those around you as you endure through the obstacles. Come home children, home to the Father who has brought you here; home to rest upon His peace and grace. Open your hearts and see His Spirit within you, and rejoice that His love is great enough to endure all trials, for those who will follow Him.”
With that the stranger laid a scroll of the scriptures upon the podium, and then walked between the people who had gathered. He left the Synagogue and walked down the street disappearing into the swirling dust from the winds blowing through the village. The people looked one at the other around the broken down building and some were weeping, others kneeling in prayer, while some just turned and quietly walked away, contemplating what had just happened. As they walked to their respective homes, rains began to fall on this dry land. For more than 10 years they had experienced a drought in their land, and now the people of the village poured into the streets to dance and laugh and fill their buckets in the pouring rains from heaven. By the next morning the small pools in the village center were overflowing and within weeks the fields were showing signs of vegetation once again. The prayers of this small village were invigorating after the visit from the stranger that day, and with fervor the people continued with diligence to praise and worship God the Father for their blessings, small as they may be. Within a year the village was once again thriving and the lands were flowing with crops, grain and livestock.
This could be any city or village near you today, or it could have been an ancient village in the desert of Israel in first century AD. The point of the story is that nothing is beyond the touch of the Master’s hand. We are all given the ability to call upon the Holy Spirit at any time and Jesus has promised He will be there to comfort us through every circumstance. It takes faith and knowing that God loves you and will provide for your every need.
©
Sondove Enterprises, 2013As the stranger walked into the town, people did not know what to expect. They peeked from behind covered windows and watched as he walked toward the Synagogue at the end of the street. He knelt near the alter where the texts had always been stored and he raised his hands and eyes to the heavens. His hooded robe covered his body, but through it you could tell he was trembling as he cried out to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He quoted from the texts as if it were engrained on his heart for he had no written manuscripts before him. People came from their homes with caution and approached the Synagogue to see what could be seen.
He rose from his kneeling position and turned to face the gathering crowd.
“Children of God. You are lost, and you have forgotten the one true God that gave you everything you have. You have chosen a path that has led you to this place of desolation and anguish, rather than the path laid out for you by the Creator of heaven and earth. You have ignored the Spirit within your heart that calls you to Him, and chosen to follow the spirit of the earth into the pits of Hell. Where are you going, children; in this life and the next, that our Father in heaven cannot provide you peace, comfort and rest along your journey? Why do you turn your back on Him and at the same time blame Him for the circumstance you have fallen into? Your future is only determined by your resolve to pursue His righteousness, love and truth and to share it with others. Seek His blessing upon this land once again and rejoice in knowing that He hears your cries, and will pour out blessings in His due time. Just as the bride must be faithful to the groom in good and the bad, your Father in heaven desires your faithfulness through this valley, so in turn you will find the peace in what lies before you. Your paths are not guaranteed to be free from obstacles or pain, but your feet upon His path will convey strength and righteousness to those around you as you endure through the obstacles. Come home children, home to the Father who has brought you here; home to rest upon His peace and grace. Open your hearts and see His Spirit within you, and rejoice that His love is great enough to endure all trials, for those who will follow Him.”
With that the stranger laid a scroll of the scriptures upon the podium, and then walked between the people who had gathered. He left the Synagogue and walked down the street disappearing into the swirling dust from the winds blowing through the village. The people looked one at the other around the broken down building and some were weeping, others kneeling in prayer, while some just turned and quietly walked away, contemplating what had just happened. As they walked to their respective homes, rains began to fall on this dry land. For more than 10 years they had experienced a drought in their land, and now the people of the village poured into the streets to dance and laugh and fill their buckets in the pouring rains from heaven. By the next morning the small pools in the village center were overflowing and within weeks the fields were showing signs of vegetation once again. The prayers of this small village were invigorating after the visit from the stranger that day, and with fervor the people continued with diligence to praise and worship God the Father for their blessings, small as they may be. Within a year the village was once again thriving and the lands were flowing with crops, grain and livestock.
This could be any city or village near you today, or it could have been an ancient village in the desert of Israel in first century AD. The point of the story is that nothing is beyond the touch of the Master’s hand. We are all given the ability to call upon the Holy Spirit at any time and Jesus has promised He will be there to comfort us through every circumstance. It takes faith and knowing that God loves you and will provide for your every need.
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