Joy in being at Jesus’ Feet

This last week while out telling people about Jesus, I heard this heart wrenching crying of a poor animal. I could not tell where it was coming from, but I kept walking hoping to find it or that its owner would help it. For almost hour and a half I heard a moaning that would break the hardest of souls and bring those with a soft heart to tears. However, I just could not seem to find the hurting animal. As I turned down a little side road I could hear the cries a little louder. Joy sprung up in my heart, (if you know me you would know I have a deep love for animals) I began walking down the street knocking on doors as I went, but as I would talk to people at their homes, they seemed un-phased by the cries. As I reached the second to last house on the street I saw what was crying. There he sat at the last house on the block, an adorable and extremely cute little dog. He was not even 5 lbs. from the looks of him. He was sitting just outside the front door of his house crying out. He was obviously not hurt, but also obviously crying out for something.

I knocked on the neighbor’s door and a very nice lady answered the door. She was a church going lady, who thanked me for coming to visit her. Before I left I asked the lady about the poor dog next door. I said “Ma’am I have to ask is that dog ok?” She looked at her neighbor’s house and saw the dog crying at the front door. She replied, “He does that every day, His master is at school and from the moment he leaves till he gets home he cries for his boy to come home who will be in just a few minutes.” I thanked the lady and walked over to the house with dog. He was really fine, but as I knocked on the door praying that someone would be home he stared crying again. There are no words that could describe this sound. My heart hurts now as I think of it. It was literally the saddest noise I have ever heard in my life.  After a few minutes of waiting I had to continue on to my next visit. As I walked way the dog continued his sad cries missing his master; missing his friend. However just as I turned the corner I saw a boy happily walking down the street! And soon there were not more cries of sadness! Joy was back the master was there!

As I thought on this story all night and this morning, I thought back to Mary in the Bible(Luke 10:38-42); and the joy she found in being at Jesus feet! She could find no greater pleasure, no true lasting joy unless it was at the feet of her master!  I began to wonder, do I cry out in despair when my master is not near? Does my heart break when I am not near my Jesus? Do we feel an earnest longing to be in church and hear the teaching of my Lord?  Or do we sometimes just go through the motions?

I fear greatly for our generation. It seems more and more that church is a pastime and God is just good luck charm rather than a Great Lord and Creator! What would this world be like if people longed for their God and Savoir as much as that little dog longed for his master? How much would it change our hearts and attitudes towards church, God, and fellow man?  I challenged you to think on this search your heart and see what your attitude towards God and worshiping Him.

Until He Comes,
Asst. Pastor Joe Jackson

Psalm 84

King James Version
1<> How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Luke 10:38-42 38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.