.JPG)
One morning Maskie, the black and white
long-haired maturing kitten, seemed to have an injured paw, so we began keeping
him up at night to recover. After observing the aggressive stray tom cat continuing to “roll” Maskie, we began allowing Maskie onto the screened-in back porch while T. Tommy, the aggressive, but people-friendly tom cat, roamed around especially
at night. Due to the royal treatment, much like Bob, the famed
Manx cat* of a few years back, Maskie was dubbed “the little prince of Belford.”
Maskie is a sweet cat and has been so trainable (Angie, my sister and cat lover, taught him to jump on command onto the cattle pellet barrels when post surgical lifting protocol prevented me from picking him up. This allowed him to still get the attention he loved.) Maskie understands the command “no” and will respond to it almost every time when I want him to stay outside or if he needs to stay on the porch for his protection from T. Tommy.**
 |
| Maskie and me after I fed cattle. |
If
he has a fault, it is his possessiveness of his family’s affection. We have
seven other cats on the farm. All can usually be petted by Angie and me. If Maskie observes any other cat getting attention, he
scurries over and without fighting or hissing interposes himself between the
other cat and Angie or me. He can’t abide with another cat receiving kind touches
from us unless he is a recipient, too.
In
human behavior, we identify that as jealousy. King Saul in the Old Testament
book of I Samuel exhibited this toward youthful David. Following David’s triumph
over Goliath, the menacing giant, Saul heard the women of Israel sing Saul
has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands during the victory
parade. I Samuel 18:8-9 says Then Saul was very angry, and the saying
displeased him…So Saul eyed David from that day forward. Saul hunted David
as a predator would stalk a prey, making it his primary aim in life until Saul
committed suicide.
The early church experienced envy over perceiving notoriety received because of contributions which led two to attempt to lie to the Holy Spirit. Barnabas, an early church leader, sold land and brought the money to give for funding the ministries of the newly formed church. The couple named Ananias and Sapphira sold a possession and conspired to withhold a portion of the sale but to lead the church body in believing they were giving the total sum of their proceeds. Ananias arrived first with only the amount they had decided to contribute. Peter, one of the church leaders, confronted Ananias,
While it remained
unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your
disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have
not lied to man but to God.” Acts 5:4
Immediately
after both Ananias and his wife lied in separate incidences, they fell dead. The holiness of God had
been breached and totally ignored to instead uplift their contrived generosity. Their sin of jealousy and desire to be
recognized trampled their commitment to Jesus.
May we simply live our lives in submission to Him as we daily look into His word and walk in obedience to what we read. He will empower us to do His will for His glory.
No comments :
Post a Comment