Consider The Ant - Encouragement Café - April 12

Consider The Ant
 By Joan Walker Hahn

“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!”  Proverbs 6:6 NIV

Nothing upsets me any faster than seeing ants inside my house.  With all the recent rain we have had, it seems they have decided to come in out of the wet weather.  There is nothing to attract them except for a warm, dry place to live.

During my recent bout with them, this scripture about ants came to mind.  I have to admit I was not considering well of them at the time.  But this verse calls us to stop and think of them in a good way.  So let me try.

They are steadfast.  They are hard-working.  They work together. 

There.  Is that enough?  Well, the verse says to consider and become wise.  Which means to not just think about their characteristics, but to try to have those same characteristics. 

So I have to ask myself, am I steadfast? Here is a favorite verse of mine.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV

When my Dad was first going through cancer treatment, he brought this verse to my attention.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 NIV

We have no idea the things we may face, or how those things may end.  But if God, Himself, has promised to restore us and strengthen us, then that thought in our minds can help us to stand firm in Him.

Am I working for God?  I recall as a child when we had art, the teacher had everything prepared ahead of time.  She would come into our room and show us step by step how to make something.  The end result was something I would not have known how to do, but with her preparations and guidance I was an artist!  It’s the same with God.  He has prepared everything for us.  We follow Him step by step and the end result is beautiful.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Do I help other believers? We are told in Hebrew 10:25 to not forsake assembling together with other believers.  It is through the joining together that we are encouraged and built up.

Yes, ants know what they are doing, though they still make me agitated.  But maybe that is also a good characteristic to have.  When we are around unbelievers, they ought to feel a little agitated.  Not because of something we are doing wrong, but because of us reflecting the characteristics of Christ. 

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV

It’s a good thing to feel agitation that leads to repentance.

So, as hard as it is to admit admiration for the critter, we should want to be like an ant for Christ.  To desire to be found faithfully working, steadfastly, for Him.  We need the encouragement and edification that comes from being around other believers, just as we can offer the same to them.

 We should want to be so close to Christ that unbelievers are uncomfortable, yet attracted to the One living within us.  May we all consider kindly the ant.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Word that gives us practical advice about how to live.  As we go about our daily lives, bring remembrances from Your Word to our mind to guide us, even if it means fighting with ants!  May we live a life that is steadfast and be busy doing the work You have prepared us for.  May we always point others to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2019 by Joan Walker Hahn.  All rights reserved.

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