When I asked the Lord “When I pray, who am I supposed to talk to? The Father, Holy Spirit, or Jesus?”
He said: “We all pick up the phone at the same time, Jane!”
So then I asked Him the question I really wanted to know:
“Lord, please show me what it means that ‘the kingdom of heaven is within you.'”
His answer: “It depends on your perception.” “Ike.”
Interpretation: During WWII the entire world was involved in the war, but there were different “theaters” of operation, such as the Pacific theater, the European theater, etc. Each commander in those theaters faced unique problems and issues. He (Ike) was only responsible for his own theater, and could not issue commands outside of it. It would create total confusion if McArthur issued commands from the Pacific to Europe, for example.
Our realm of responsibility and authority is given by the Lord, and we are responsible only for it. (Harold Eberle uses the Greek word “metron” to describe the same concept.
The Lord only gives us knowledge, wisdom and power to operate in our own theater. “In my Father’s house are many mansions.” If “so and so” does something else, “what is that to you, you follow me.”
Today He spoke to Matt about Johnny Appleseed.
Interpretation: Both Johnny and Ike are the same answer.
We looked at the Walt Disney cartoon of Johnny Appleseed. It is the story of a real person who was called to plant trees through the Midwest and West. It was definitely a Christian testimony of faith and courage, as well as single-mindedness. He didn’t care but his little area of responsibility, apple trees, but the Lord took it nationwide.
As we watched, Jane said, “This is like George Washington Carver”, who asked the Lord, “Please show me the secrets of the universe.” The Lord answered, “That is too big for you. I will show you the secrets of the peanut.”
The Lord will reveal to us all we need to know, and as much detail and depth as we care to learn about, within the area he has chosen for us. However, He is not interested in teaching us theology or esoteric, ethereal knowledge, even if it is about Him. He is practical and wants us to be focused and bear fruit in the realm to which we have been called and anointed.
He also wants us to be happy and content.
The little song: “The Lord is Good to me” captures the simple pleasure of trusting Him for the things we need (within our area of responsiblity).
“The Lord is good to me.
And so I thank the Lord.
For giving me the things I need.
The sun, the rain, and the apple seed.
The Lord is good to me.”
It drives away sorrow to know we are in the right place, doing the right thing, and we can trust Him to provide all we need for that task, and He will show us all we need to know within our realm (theater) of operations.
The endless quest for knowledge and understanding only brings frustration and emptiness. “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
He (Jesus) is the truth. He is all we need to know. He is our shepherd.