Faithful
January 26, 2012 marked Lady Sadie’s (our Nubian goat) 2nd birthday, but it turned out to be more than that…
My youngest sister brought Sadie up from the pasture so everyone could say happy birthday. I notice she was holding her tail funny and she wasn’t walking so gracefully. I figured it was probably because of the dogs. Since getting bred, she’s become very aggressive toward them. So I went about my day and later I had to do some work out in the goat pasture.
Everything seemed peacefully. Some were eating hay, while others were in the barn taking an afternoon nap. Sadie was with those in the barn resting and softly moaning to herself. Then she rolled on her side, stretched out, and seemed to give a light push. She up righted herself and then “gazed into nowhere”. These are signs indicating she might soon give birth. I immediately went and checked her out. She didn’t seem to pay me much attention as I felt for her ligaments. When a goat is in labor, the ligaments attaching to her tail head and pin bones relax and often seem to “disappear”. I wasn’t sure if the ligaments had done this or were softening. Was she in labor? There was no way she could have been bred early, meaning she was about to miscarry. These words rose up from my spirit,
“No, Sadie. You can not have your babies now. They are for an appointed time, and you can’t have them before then. God has a plan for them and it will not be stopped. Sadie you can’t do it, in the Name of Jesus!”
I went back to work. Thirty minutes later, there appeared to be no change. My sisters, who were working with me, noticed my concern. Together we went back to Sadie and laid our hands on her, pleading the blood of Jesus over her, and in His name commanding the labor to stop.
We finished our work in the goat pasture and left, but my thoughts kept returning to Sadie. Doubt kept trying to come in and I would say “No! Those kids have special part in God’s plan.” While walking away from the second check on her, I was confronted…what scripture did I have to base my faith on? I stopped and stood there thinking…I wasn’t sure. I was not really prepared for this. I hadn’t been spending much time in the Bible or with God. Then the Lord brought to my remembrance this verse:
1 Peter 2:24 - who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
I could base my faith on this verse that whatever would cause Sadie to miscarry; she and her baby would be healed. And the Lord also gave me this verse:
2 Timothy 1:12 - For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
I could believe that when I commit Sadie and her babies to God, He would keep them. So that’s what I did and believed God would be faithful to His promises written in His Word. A couple hours later, she had completely normalized and was no longer in labor.
Several times later in gestation, Satan tried take the baby goat but God was not moved and neither would I be. March 12 came and she delivered a beautiful little boy named “Committed To Him”. God was faithful!
Yes, He is so faithful, but will we be found faithful to Him? I went into to this and wasn’t found faithful. I was caught unawares at a time that required the faith to save a precious life. But the Lord was merciful and still is and helped me get to where I needed to be. I felt very strongly to pursue my relationship with Him with all my heart that I may not be found spiritually weak and empty. In order to do that, I had to put away some things that were not helping me move forward, things that were distracting and others that were very precious to me. But, I was determined to be found faithful at all times. God’s grace helped me and I was able to do it.
Matthew 25:1-13
"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Jesus is coming back very soon. Do we honestly believe that it could be any day now? Will Jesus come back and find us ready for His return, or will He find us like the five virgins that didn’t bring oil? Will He find us faithful to His word and His calling? The world is crazy and it’s only going to get worse as the deception grows stronger. Are we ready for this? Are we so in tuned to God that we will be able to recognize the deception/lies or are we caught up with the things of this world and other relationships that we can’t hear God speaking to us? God is calling you to Him. There is no more time to be trying to get there. Jesus shed His blood and died to bring you there. If you are not where you need to be, then seek God with your whole heart. If you have not asked Jesus to become your Lord and Savior, then simply ask and believe. Romans 10:9-10 says:
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
If necessary, put away those things that are hindering you. That could be a book you are reading, the television, the internet, a relationship, or whatever the Lord leads you to put away. Since making this decision, I have found a desire to know the Lord like never before. He has taught me so much and has changed and is still changing my life to what He and I have always wanted it to be. It is the most wonderful thing and I am so much happier, because I was willing and obedient. I encourage each one of you to look at where you are with God…are you ready for Jesus’ return…will He find you faithful? Remember that with every step you take with the Lord the best is just ahead.
May the God of love and peace be with you; guide and lead you; bless and prosper you.
