Acts 14:15-17
“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are
bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to
the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and
everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet
he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving
you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with
plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
My dad worked hard to provide. We lived in a
comfortable home, ate nourishing meals Mom prepared, and didn't want for
anything. I know there were lean times as well as plentiful times, but I'll
always remember my dad coming home after a day of work. He smelled like a mix
of oil and metal with the grime and grit of a man who worked with his hands. His
provision brought our family comfort and
the ability to live our lives for God.
Paul reminds the people in Lystra and Derbe they
have a father who provides. God gives more than we imagine. He pours the rain
and shines the sun. His love fills hearts with joy and peace. I've earned
nothing, all I have God has given.
Recently, my husband and I drove along a country
road as the sun beat down. We passed by a field and he noticed cows huddled under
a row of trees, along a fence. God gave them a bit of shade in the midst of the
heat. He's a generous father to all of his creation. Praise the Lord for his
giving spirit and provision.
