DEVOTIONAL:
Opening the lid on the beehive was always an awe-inspiring experience. After gently sending a few wisps of smoke into the entrance of the hive, I could open the box and peer inside. Each bee had a role: queen, worker, guards and drones. For a few moments I was part of their world. Some bees would fly around me checking to see if I was minding my business, while I examined the colony for health, rearranged frames and periodically removed honey. I always found this time to be a relaxing, reflective, holy moment.
As a beekeeper, I knew there were many things that the bees could do that I couldn’t do. They created a delicate wax comb filled with honey! But there were things I could do for them. When bears came and broke the hive into many pieces, I carefully put the hive back together and provided protection around the hive.
The Scriptures for this week call us to reflect on the Lord, who is our keeper. The Lord – like a beekeeper – seeks relationship with us. Consider three relational concepts implied by the term keeper.
- Value – A keeper knows that there is inherent worth in the creature(s). The Creator sees us – and all of creation – as precious just because we are.
- Future – A keeper thinks about what happens beyond the present. The Sustainer knows the importance of the next generation and calls us to be a healthy link to the preferred future.
- Care – A keeper practices custodianship in ways that are renewing. The Redeemer sees brokenness and participates in regenerative activities in our lives.
Bask in a relationship with our Keeper that is life giving.