The villagers were
disgusted with their rat-infested community. The rodents had become a nuisance
to everyone and something had to be done.
In desperation, they demanded that their governmental representatives have
the rats destroyed or they would remove the governing body out of power.
The government explored
options to alleviate the rat problem but every possibility was laced with an
appendix of problems. There seemed to be no viable solution.
Alas, an eccentric, mangy
piper with colorful garb appeared with a suggestion that he called "a
secret charm.” He explained that his flute had the power to lead creatures
wherever he desired them to go. The governing body was skeptical of the man,
but after agreeing on a price of 1000 guilders, the piper’s offer was accepted.
As soon as the piper went
outside, he began to play his flute. A sea of rats followed him as he played
and he led them into the river where they all drowned. The piper, pleased with
his work, returned to get his pay.
However, he was only given 50 guilders, instead of the agreed upon 1000.
This breach in agreement
angered the piper and he headed to the streets and played his flute. This time,
the children of the town began to follow him and he took them into a nearby
mountain where they "disappeared" with him. The community members and
parents stood motionless, unable to save their children from the hypnotic
control of the piper.
Our hearts are infested
with a sin problem and we have explored multiple options to fix it. However, each option is pregnant with one problem after the other. And in the midst of
our despair and desperation, a similar piper appears with a quick fix solution.
His claims seemed affordable and enticing and we made a contract with him. This
piper- Satan -pulls out his flute and whiffs us away down a seemingly
enchanting path. We are hypnotized, indeed lulled into a stupor, as we, too,
fall victim to the piper. We find
ourselves following magical notes of "love" and "success"
only to realize that these notes are not really music to our ears.
I found myself lulled by
the staccato rhythm of the piper into pursuing love interests that were not
ordained of God. They were colorful and exciting but they led me further away
from God’s will. Thankfully, with a consistent, heart rendering ballad of
grace, God gently pulled me away from the evil reigns of the “piper.”
God opened the curtains
of my heart His love notes and exposed my faulty affections and perceptions
concerning dating and love. He called me to disengage my heart from non-Christ
like desires and untangled my heart, string by string, from the piper’s deathly
call.
God’s melody clashed with
the chords played by the piper. But after multiple push and pull episodes,
God’s notes of love spoke to every muscle within me and my spirit began to
respond. I soon found myself seeking God rather than settling for a
counterfeit. Day after day, I
intentionally pursued His glory and submerged myself in His Word. I allowed Him
to sanctify my mind and heart and cultivate the fruit of His Spirit within my
spirit. With each step forward with Christ, the pull of the piper lost its
power, my perception was shifted, and my desires were transformed.
As the beat of God’s love
anthem moved me into a deeper encounter with Him, He brought a God-fearing
friend into my life, named Lon. Our blossoming friendship and spiritual
compatibility had the signature of Jesus written all over it. Every word he
uttered was grounded in scripture and the Holy Spirit guided his every action.
Lon kissed my life with his presence and I fell in love with his heart. He complemented me spiritually while
understanding my humanity.
Whether it was respecting
emotional and physical boundaries or embracing new spiritual plateaus, my Lon followed God’s compass. And in honor of our obedience to His principles, God
aligned our hearts and created an emotional intimacy that led us to the purpose
that He has for our individual lives and as a couple.
Every step taken in our relationship
brings me closer to Jesus. This gift was mine was when I moved in the direction
of God’s ballad of grace. He gave me
more than I could have ever desired.
You may be programmed to
follow the leading of the piper, unaware of the destruction that awaits you or
perhaps every time you receive the wisdom to follow the gentle ballad of grace,
you are held captive by the colorful distractions of the piper. Be reminded
that God’s musical notes of grace are more powerful that the pull of the piper
and can lead you back to a Savior who desires the best for every aspect
of your life.
I invite you to pause,
unplug and listen to the soothing ballad God is playing to usher you back into
His will. Can you hear it? It's unlike anything you've ever heard on earth. It
is pure and divine. It is consistent and unconditional. It is patient and
faithful. It is vibrant and penetrating. It is personal and healing. It is
filled with the musical note of grace.
Would you consider
allowing God’s love to lead you to your blessing?
I assure you, when we
surrender and obediently move in the direction of God’s call and bidding, He
will give us blessings that are better than the life we dreamed.
He gives us a different
kind of wonderful.
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