By Pastor Mike McKay
I am amazed at how much I learn from my grandkids! I was out walking with one of them and he was noticing everything.
“Papa, look at the trees with all their leaves.”
“Papa, there’s a birdie.”
“Papa,” he said as he pointed to the sky with great enthusiasm, “a plane!”
“Papa, look, ants.”
This discovery time was great and all, but it was impeding our trek to the park. As I reached for his hand to help guide him to the park he pulled away towards the ants and said, “I have to help the ants.” He was worried because they were crossing the sidewalk and he did not want them to get stepped on. He found a leaf and gingerly brushed them towards the grass. I tried to persuade him with all the fun he would have in the park, but he was determined with his rescue efforts. He handed me a leaf and asked me to help! I tried again to pull him away, but he was intent on completing his mission. So I joined in. Within a few minutes we diverted the ants back to the safety of the grass. My grandson got up and with a big satisfied smile, reached out for my hand and said, “Let’s go to the park now, Papa.”
As we were walking towards the park I was mulling over my grandson’s intensity to care for ants and that these ants really mattered to him. His care was greatest for what most people would call the least or insignificant or even pests. I did not even notice them, but he did and he helped me to see them and help them. My thoughts brought me to us as people and I wondered how many people feel insignificant, invisible, and even like pests? I’m sure many do. Yet, that is not how God sees us. He notices. He stops to rescue. We matter to Him. The Bible is jam-packed full of God’s truths about how we matter. Here are a few:
Psalms 86:15 But you, O Lord, are God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but My steadfast love shall not depart from you,and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,”says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
The word “steadfast” is a Hebrew word meaning loyal or committed love, not based on a condition or circumstance, but on God’s choice to love. In other words, we matter to God because He chose to love and esteem us. It’s a faithful and trustworthy love we can count on and rely on. God’s love is not something we earn, nor does He love us more if we act a certain way. That’s amazing love! You matter to God.
Song of Songs 2:4 He (God) brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.
God’s sign over our lives is that we are greatly loved. You matter. The God of the universe has chosen to love you and me. Even though we are not very lovely at times and we have this genetic problem of sin (see Romans 3:23, Isaiah 59:2). Yet because of God’s love, He has even dealt with our issue.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
“Propitiation” means atoning sacrifice. In other words, God sent Jesus out of love for us to deal with our issue of sin because we matter to God. Jesus went through an awful ordeal to cure us of our sin disease because we matter to Him.
Psalms 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
We matter to God, but also each of us matters in the reaching out to others.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests
of others.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
Christ forgave you.
My grandson reminded me through this little moment with some little ants that we matter to God and our interaction matters to others. See, you matter!
One great place to be reminded of God’s great love and our calling towards others is church. If you do not already have a church where you attend, we would like to invite you to Cypress Church or any of our branch churches. Our website has all the information you would need www.cypresschurch.net. And yes, you matter to us!
Seeking to live in the truth that we matter along with you,
Mike
If you would like to visit us sometime, you can find directions here:
Cypress Campus: Cypress Church, 6143 Ball Rd., Cypress, CA, 90630
Los Alamitos Campus: Los Alamitos Community Center, 10911 Oak St., Los Alamitos, CA, 90720
Mike McKay
Lead Pastor
714-952-3001
www.cypresschurch.net
