Vineyard workers

The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.

1Kings 17:6

This morning, the cool breezes gushed into my ears and I froze for a moment. It triggers my sinus! So bad. But the scene my eyes could capture from the window is thought-provoking. I have seen a crow carrying food, flying to the upper branches of a tree. I think, it needed a moment away from the gaze of humans, who would shoo it away.

The crow seemed so perfectly fit for logistics. It has got a strong beak and tough claws. Not to forget, its intelligence and sharp eyesight, oh how can anybody be so smart! That too, a bird! It flew against the wind and landed on the highest branch...great ambience with clear skies above and calmness around!!

Are they employed in any industry for special tasks?

Anyway,

In the Bible, God used Ravens to provide food for Elijah, the prophet who was sent on a mission to command the disobedient king of Israel to turn to the Lord.

The book, First Kings, narrates the life and rule of the kings of Israel and Judah. But Elijah, the man of God, finds a place in this book. Elijah mustered the courage to stand up against King Ahab, the stubborn ruler, who went against the Lord and worshipped Baal along with his wife Jezebel. By fostering idol worship, Ahab provoked the Lord to anger.

God raised Elijah to confront the ungodly king. Elijah was chosen by the Lord to deliver His message to Ahab. He warned Ahab that there shall not be dew or rain in his land. As Elijah prophesied, there was a severe famine in Samaria. God uses Elijah to perform miracles to turn the hearts of Israel towards Him.

After Elijah warned king Ahab about the famine, Lord asks him to go eastward and hide by the brook Cherith. He drank water from the creek. And, the Lord commanded Ravens to bring him bread and meat twice a day.

Imagine crows landing kaaaww....kaaawww '"knock, knock' housekeeping!!"' Sorry, it must be "Sir, here's your order!! Thank you, we will visit you again. Twice-a-day!"

That's wow!! He is God Who provides in the wilderness.

I found this picture on the internet, and a simple search showed crows can carry two or more objects at once by using some tools or sticks. They are far more intelligent compared to other birds. They assess the weight of the objects to be picked, strategize, decide their flight by calculating the speed of the wind.

Researchers say, a fully grown crow can carry up to 650 grams of food at once. These scavenging birds keep our ecosystem clean. The Creator God designed them so uniquely, and He knows its capabilities. And, chose the right fit to carry and serve food to His prophet.

Nobody on this planet is here by coincidence and there are no "mistakenly born." God created His creation perfectly in the manner it pleases Him for His glory. He created us for His glory. We are indeed limited edition! The only designer piece!

Not just that, He generously blesses us with skills, talents, intelligence and gives us wisdom and understanding to use them for His sake. We are called to be labourers with Christ. He regards us as His fellow-workers. It is not a common feat. It is a higher calling. Brace up, as you grow in His faith and love, He will call you to partake in His sufferings too. Literally, to be crucified with Christ.

Oftentimes, out of our limited human understanding and calculations, we use our talents and gifts to 'perform'. We use a pretty shelf to store them and use them when we are called by the Church or the leadership to perform. Performances receive great applause and praises from the world. The world loves its entertainers. It holds them up high, takes them to the centre of the stage, adulates them with souvenirs, presents, honours, medals and rewards.

But His vineyard needs industrious labourers, who give themselves to serve. There will not be a stage set nor audiences to clap and praise, nobody to acknowledge and reward. Like the Raven's flight in the wilderness, it is a lonely ride.

The heat waves from the scorching sun and the cold touch of the blistering winds, nothing goes by without leaving bruises on your heart. He will let it break like the alabaster jar into hundreds of bits and pieces. For what flows from it, the perfume with the sweet fragrance, must be poured on His feet. Its fragrance must diffuse all around.

Remember, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17

He does not want performances, animal sacrifices, bulky envelopes with cash, the harvest of grain or buildings with high ceilings, neither silver nor gold. He demands to be the first love, on the top!

His Church, the Bride:

The watchmen that went about the city

found me, they smote me, they wounded me;

the keepers of the walls took away my veil

from me.

Songs of Solomon 6: 7

Can you hear Him roar, "You shall have no other gods before Me”?

Did you commit yourself to serving God?

Be ready, dear, to get that taste of Jeremiah's life. There will be critics, haters, severe oppression and opposition. He will take you through loneliness, wilderness, madness, far away from the fleeting pleasures of life. He will cut you off from all distractions, from your loved ones, family, wealth and everything you had been holding on to. He will bring upon you famine, take you through various experiences, and humble you to a point that there is no idol, no human attachment left. And, He becomes your sweet LOVE! Your only LOVE! The first and the last.

He will test your Spirit, take you through rough, thorny paths, demands but expects you to gladly, cheerfully subject yourself to His Sovereignty. He will teach you Servitude.

Is God taking you through a similar path? Trust His process. He is mighty enough to carry you as a father carries His child. Perched safely on His shoulders, you can't look beyond what is within your eyesight. But He knows your future and the plans He has for you. He knows every turn, slippery paths and the valleys. He had treaded through this road already, nothing is new to Him. Trust Him. Be willing to be led by His hand. Trust Him. He will make every provision to make this mission successful.

He is Jehovah Jireh!

On Mount Moriah, where Abraham was put to test by the Lord to see if he fears and loves the Lord more than the son born in his old age, God provided him with a Ram to be offered as a sacrifice. After Abraham passes the test, he finds a Ram caught in a thicket by its horns. That mysterious lil creature showed up stuck by its horns on the Mount. Abraham offers it up as a burnt offering. "And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” Genesis 22:14

The first commandment stands true forever. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2-3).

In the new testament, an expert in Law, likely a Jurist, tested Jesus with this question, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment."'

We are duty-bound to shower all our love on Him. To summarize, our calling is to love Him ceaselessly with all our heart, soul and mind.