The Source

As a young boy, Frank loved milk.  For breakfast he had milk and cereal.  At lunch he always drank milk with his sandwich and his mom made him hot chocolate milk after school.   And, yes, like all kids, he loved to dip Oreos in his milk.   Frank loved it when his mom went to the grocery store to get food…and milk.

When Frank was older, he met a dairy farmer while out traveling one day.  The farmer asked him if he’d ever seen a dairy operation and if he wanted to take a tour of his operation.  Remembering how he love milk as a kid, he quickly agreed.

As he entered the barn with all the cows, it dawned on him, in a sort of new way, that this was where his favorite drink came from…..a cow….not a grocery store.  In all his years enjoying milk as a kid, he had never come face to face with its true source…the cow.

So, what is the source of our provision – our daily milk – is it God or something else?

• Do we see our employer as our provider?
• Do we see the stock market or our bank account as our safety net?
• Is our doctor the source of all our healing?
• Is that next client our saving grace?
• Are our friends the source of our happiness?
• Is our skill at art, negotiations or athletics our ‘ace in the hole’?

As Jesus faced the most powerful leader in the region, he stated clearly to Pilate where the source of real power came from.  In John 19:11 Jesus told Pilate, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above…”.  (emphasis added).  In other words, the power Pilate had, did not come from himself or from the Roman emperor, but it came from the source – God.

So, as you think about life, consider this:

• The source of your paycheck is God.
• The source of your your new client is God.
• The source of your promotion is God.
• The source of your favor and credibility is God.
• The source of your skill is God.
• The source of your vision, achievement and deep desires is God.
• The source of your unique contribution to the world is God.

God help us to all to see You as our source and help us to trust You alone for our provision and reputation.

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If you have 2 more minutes….

….below are some additional scriptures that speak to God as our source and provider: (emphasis added)

John 3:27 – John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.”

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

Philippians 4:19 – My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

John 15:5-7 – I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

Proverbs 3:5, 6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, And he will direct your paths.

Psalm 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and a shield.  The Lord will give grace and glory.  He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.