On a recent trip through the South Dakota Badlands, we stopped in at a place where a sign said, “Feed the Prairie Dogs.” There we were, in the middle of a prairie dog town… prairie dogs, and prairie dog mounds all over the place. So we bought a little bag of unsalted peanuts in the shell, and went out to see how close we could get to those furry little critters.
At first they didn’t trust us. They’d stand up on their mound and bark out warnings to each other, and as soon as we’d get halfway close, down the hole they’d go. So I started tossing the peanuts to them, thinking that as soon as they realized I had some treats, they would come to me. Some would grab the peanut and go down their hole to dine in privacy. Others would ignore it, figuring they would enjoy it after I left.
So I kept walking on, looking for some that weren’t so afraid. Finally, I got down and held out the peanut in my hand, and waited. Sure enough, I got a few to come right up to me, and take it right out of my fingers, and crunch away right there in front of me. Got some cute video.
Then I thought about how we receive from God when He wants to give us something really good. Some are afraid to get close to God. They’ll wait from the security of their hole for God to throw them some treats from a “safe” distance… then eat in the privacy of their little hole. Some have been “warned” by others that God might hurt them. Some just don’t want to be “touched” by God… or afraid He might require something they’re not willing to give.
And you know, God is good enough to toss them some peanuts. He even sends His rain on the just and the unjust. [Matthew 5:45] But He’s looking for those who will come close to Him. He really wants to take them in His hands, and hold them close, and let them feel His love.
The Bible says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” [1 John 4:18 KJV]
When we really know the love of God, we will have no fear. We won’t be afraid of what He might ask us to do. And we won’t be afraid of what man might do to us, because God LOVES us, and He is FOR us!
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