Provision

My husband and I are well provided for by our adult children. We have a home in Kansas with our daughter and son-in-law. And we have one in Florida with our son and daughter-in-law. It can’t get much better than that. But that provision is prompted by God, who has given all of our children generous spirits and a desire to honor their parents, as God himself ordained.

I have plenty to eat. But that doesn’t happen in a vacuum. There are lots of people involved in the process. Farmers…vendors…bakers…factory workers…grocers. Without them, my choices would be very limited and my appetite rarely satisfied.

I am blessed with fairly good health. The Lord provides that – with the aid of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and a husband who takes walks with me daily and rubs my back when it hurts.

The Bible says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17, NKJV). I take that literally. Everything good that comes to me originates from God. And how much more does that mean to us in the spiritual realm! Without God’s provision, we would be unforgiven, doomed sinners. But with Him, through trusting in His Son, we have forgiveness, freedom from eternal punishment, and the hope of life with Him in Heaven forever. And certainly, it doesn’t get any better than that!

When Paul said, in Philippians 4:19, “my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” he not only meant physical, but spiritual needs. God is the supplier. We are the undeserving recipients. And sometimes we are His tools, His hands and feet, to help out in that supply chain. 

Only God can provide salvation. But I can make a loaf of bread, provide a cup of water, do someone’s laundry, teach a Bible study, send an encouraging note to someone in desperate need of a lift, be a mentor to someone on this challenging journey. The list could go on and on. But I leave it to you to fill in the rest of the blanks. What good gifts has God given to you? What gifts does He want to supply for someone else through you?

Click the play button below to listen to “The Best Gift” from “Sing Praise,” a family album recorded in 1978.