“But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.…”
(Psalm 103:17-19 ESV)
As a small boy of five or six I can remember watching a plumber repair a burst lead pipe in my parents’ garage with a blowlamp and then smooth over the hot lead with a wad of damp newspaper.
Since that time I have observed workmen, and Ok, so I nearly set the house on fire but in this manner I have learnt what to leave alone and when to bring in a professional.
My family have in the past accused me of being dull and hyper-focused because I need to get things done as quickly as I can – did I mention I have ADHD?
Not long ago one of my daughters, Sophia consoled her older sister Zoë about a broken trinket. She matter-of-factually said to her sister: Just Dad-it. That is to say, ask dad to fix it; like I can fix anything! I hold this memory close to my heart to jostle the accusations held there about being a failure in other ways.
One of my worship band friends rang me recently to say that he had seen guitar in a charity shop. Knowing of my capacity for repair He said it may be worth a look which I duly did, and I bought it because a left-handed guitar was a rare thing.
It was in an unloved state and seems to have been made with some plastic parts that deadened the sound. However, I could tell from the solid wood top that it had potential. Having removed and replaced the bits with more fitting parts it now sounds great.
Having finished working on it I remembered that I had had a supernatural Word from God through someone at church recently: God Loves me. You might think this is an often said thing but I knew at this time it was specifically to me from Jesus because of His Presence in the receiving.
Perhaps in this abandoned rare guitar, was Jesus’ demonstration of His Love for me, as an illustration said via human agency. Jesus too has picked me up from feeling unwanted, neglected and in a cheap spiritual state, to being able to once more have the confidence to praise Him and make a joyful noise for the Lord in my heart worship.
I believe if we call upon Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to remove the cheap ideas of this world and bring into our life new parts, or new Life into our parts, we too can once more make a beautiful sound in His praise and worship because He first Loves us.
Prayer: LORD, You are in the business of restoration. Please restore in our hearts a trust that You daily overcome the wiles of the world and are willing to hold us close, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Roderick Marshall