October brings the first true chills of the fall season. The winds turn to the north, and the changing leaves rattle in the breeze. We rub our arms, and we head for the fire. That’s where we will be warm.
There is another way to warm ourselves, also. We can down a deep draught of SPICE tea, that flavorful brew that fills us with an intoxicating plethora of scents and tastes.
That is how our God comes to us. When the winds of life turn against us, and we search for answers to warm us, God fills us with the scents of his SPICES, and he warms us as he goes down.
Let’s look at our SPICE God and see how he renews us each day:
S – He SHINES his face on us.
Numbers 6:25 falls in the middle of a priestly blessing spoken on behalf of the Israelites. It tells us “the Lord [will] make his face to SHINE upon you and be gracious to you.”
When our days appear darkened by clouds and cold winds, the glorious face of God is just on the other side of the clouds. He is still there and waiting on us to find him.
P – He offers us PARADISE at his side.
Luke 23:43 reveals an intimate moment as Jesus hangs on the cross. He speaks to the criminal suspended at his side. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in PARADISE.”
Talk about brushing the chill away! What better words can we hear to spice up our day?
I – He molds us into his IMAGE, making us like him.
1 Corinthians 15:49 concludes Paul’s exhortation concerning the resurrection of our earthly bodies. He tells us that “just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the IMAGE of the man of heaven.”
Certainly we are human, but that is a temporary state. We will take on the likeness of God, and every chill wind will be left behind.
C – He speaks CHEER into our dreary days.
Matthew 14:27 gives us a glimpse of how attuned Jesus is to our human nature. As he walked across the waters of the sea, he called to his frightened disciples, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
The King James Version says, “Be of good CHEER.” When we intentionally brighten our outlook, we will find the world around us brightens, also.
E – He ESTEEMS us highly because of our labors.
1 Thessalonians 5:13 speaks to our endeavors for Christ. Paul encourages our fellow believers “to ESTEEM [us] very highly in love because of [our] work.”
When we feel the first chilly drafts of fall, we need to increase our labors for the Lord. Others will heap praise and thankfulness on us, and their words will be as the warmth of God’s everlasting love.
As ordinary people, born into humanity and living upon this earth, we need to feel the encompassing touch of God’s love. He offers it to us freely, adding the SPICE of his blessings as he reaches out unto us.
When we need encouragement, God will be there, and he will lift us up above our problems.
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Code: FGO.H.04.14.vp
Originally Published: 10-4-14 in Kingdom of God