I was fascinated the other day by the news story of the child in Massachusetts who fell from a 3rd story window. A man was talking on a cell phone outside a pizza place when he saw a toddler dangling from a window. He ran across the busy street, almost being hit, managed to go to the house where another man was attending a Bible study, and the two of them appeared under the window just as the child fell. One caught her head, and the other her feet. Imagine that. Imagine how happy her father was when he found out she was okay. He had been attending to a newborn at the time. Imagine how relieve the other children were. Imagine how the 2 men were hailed as heroes and how they must have been somewhat stunned. One report even says that as the child was being carried inside she chuckled.
It made me think about how God catches us when we fall. Deuteronomy 33:27 says "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms". When we fall into sin, He is there to pick us up and set us back on our way. And no one should judge us because it is God who makes us stand. Romans 14:4 - Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
When we fall away because of neglect and self-centerdness, God is still there holding us in His arms. He gently reminds us that He cares and that He desires for us to fellowship with Him. 1 Peter 3:17-18 says "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
When we fall because others are trying to destroy us, He watches over us and protects us. Proverbs 4:16 talks about mischief makers who try to destroy others: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." We often fall because we are not on the right path or not walking in the light of His word. The Lord gives us this caution to keep us from falling: 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27).
When we fall because we are mired in something, be it evil or bona fide depression or sadness or fear, Psalm 40:2 says "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." He establishes our goings! How exciting. Just like the little girl who fell out of the window. Now isn't that enough to make us chuckle with joy?
It made me think about how God catches us when we fall. Deuteronomy 33:27 says "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms". When we fall into sin, He is there to pick us up and set us back on our way. And no one should judge us because it is God who makes us stand. Romans 14:4 - Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
When we fall away because of neglect and self-centerdness, God is still there holding us in His arms. He gently reminds us that He cares and that He desires for us to fellowship with Him. 1 Peter 3:17-18 says "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
When we fall because others are trying to destroy us, He watches over us and protects us. Proverbs 4:16 talks about mischief makers who try to destroy others: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." We often fall because we are not on the right path or not walking in the light of His word. The Lord gives us this caution to keep us from falling: 26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" (Proverbs 4:26-27).
When we fall because we are mired in something, be it evil or bona fide depression or sadness or fear, Psalm 40:2 says "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings." He establishes our goings! How exciting. Just like the little girl who fell out of the window. Now isn't that enough to make us chuckle with joy?