God loves His children. As Christians, we know this with our minds and have felt it in our hearts many times. But sometimes when things get rough or we haven’t heard from the Lord in a while, that love can start to feel more like an idea or a concept than a two-way relationship. We can start to think that maybe the God who is on His throne is just that – in a supernatural place miles and miles away and far removed from us. Well, this week, God showed me an analogy that reminded me that His love is not long-distance. He is deeply involved in the lives of His children.
No Fasting Today
Wednesday was a day that I was planning to fast. The night before had been rough, though. There had been some fierce spiritual friction in my house. (If you live with someone who hasn’t submitted to God’s way of doing things, you know what I’m talking about.) I also had a terrible night’s sleep and woke up feeling frustrated and wrung out.
“Don’t fast today.” The thought came in as I was lying in bed waiting for my alarm to go off. I started to protest, but the thought continued. “Fasting is more than just not eating, and you are in no spiritual condition to fast.”
Okay. I couldn’t argue with that. Well, what would I pack for my lunch? “A tuna sandwich” came into my mind. Tuna it would be.
The Setup
When I got to the kitchen a few minutes later, I noticed that my black cat, Nichta, had followed me downstairs. (Nichta is pronounced NEEK-ta and is a Greek word meaning “night.”) My four dogs and our other cat were still snug and warm upstairs. But Nichta always wants to be where I am. He’s my cat, and I’m his person.
The moment the can opener hit its mark, Nichta started meowing – LOUDLY. He could smell the delicious fish, and he wanted some. He brushed back and forth across my legs crying and trying to get my attention. I put the tuna liquid into two little containers (because he had “called” his sister cat Mina in the process), and I watched my cats enjoy their little treat. Nichta was purring, and I felt so much love for him.
The Analogy
Then it occurred to me. Just like I chose my cat, Nichta, and paid the shelter’s fee to take him home, Ephesians 1:4 says that God has chosen us and bought us with a price. And just like I love it when my cat makes a special effort to spend time with me, God loves it when we seek Him out too. James 4:8a says if we draw near to Him, He will also draw near to us. And Jeremiah 29:13 says we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our hearts.
Not only that, but I provide for my kitty. He has food, water, and fresh litter. I take him to the vet when he’s sick, and I try to protect him from things I know will hurt him. God also takes care of us. Philippians 4:19 says He supplies all our needs, and Matthew 6:28 and Matthew 6:31-32 get specific about all the physical needs we have. 2 Peter 1:3 tells us that He takes care of our spiritual needs too, and Psalm 23:1 compares the Lord to a shepherd who watches out for his sheep. Even though it feels like we go to work and pay our bills on our own, the Bible says in James 1:17 that every good thing we have in our lives is a gift from God. He makes sure that we have what we need.
When my kitty cries, I hear him. The Bible is FULL of verses that tell us clearly that God hears the cries of His people. Psalm 6:6, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 34:15, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 116:1-2, Psalm 120:1, Psalm 145:18-19, and Isaiah 65:24 are just a few. But not only does He hear us, according to Jeremiah 29:11, He thinks about us and wants good things for us. In fact, Psalm 139:17-18 says he has more thoughts of us than the number of grains of sand, and Isaiah 49:15 says a nursing mother would be more likely to forget her child than God could forget us. After all, Isaiah 49:16 says that the Lord has graven us on the palms of His hands.
Now, I don’t always give my kitty what he wants. (Sometimes he cries when I open cans of peaches or tomatoes.) But when I have it to give and it’s good for him, it makes me happy to see him happy. Matthew 7:11 says that God gives good things to those who ask Him. In fact, Psalm 84:11 says the Lord will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly. And Zephaniah 3:17 says He rejoices over us with joy and singing.
I Love My Cat
Nichta is a pet and obviously not the same as a child, but I love him. Ephesians 5:2 says Jesus loves us too. We have become part of His family because John 5:1 says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. In fact, we are called “children of God” in John 1:12, John 11:52, Philippians 2:15, Romans 8:16, and 1 John 3:10. Similarly, we are called the “sons of God” or the “sons and daughters of God” in Matthew 5:9, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:7, Romans 8:14, 1 John 3:2, and 2 Corinthians 6:18. Romans 8:15 says that we have have received the Spirit of adoption within ourselves. The cry of our hearts is “Abba, Father.” (This is like saying MY father.)
I do have to say that my cat can be a lot of trouble sometimes. He starts fights with his sister cat, pukes on the carpet, and gets on the table when he’s not supposed to. No matter what, though, I love my cat. I took him in as my own and won’t abandon him. The Bible gives the same promise to us. Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:8, 1 Chronicles 28:20, and Hebrews 13:5 tell us the Lord will not leave us nor forsake us. Matthew 28:20 says He will be with us always.
Of course, technically, my cat could escape and run away. Sometimes he waits by the door to try to get outside. But my cat has 3 legs and can’t defend himself, so I watch the door closely. If he ever does get out, I follow right behind him talking softly to him until he stops. Then I can pick him up and bring him back inside. Throughout the Bible, both the Old Testament and New Testament alike, the message is clear. God’s people hear His voice and obey. As long as we keep listening and submitting to God, even when we get off track, He will help us and bring us back into His fold.
God Loves His Children
Just like I do for my cat, the Lord takes care of us, hears us when we cry, and will never abandon us. Of course, the analogy isn’t perfect. There are lots of aspects of our relationship with God that can’t be covered by a cat. But the love part is clear. I’m an imperfect human, and if I can feel so much love for a kitty I adopted from a shelter, how much more does our perfect God – who IS love — love us? We’re His children and the heirs to His great kingdom. He sent His only Son to die for us, and we are the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8). Even when we can’t perceive Him with our natural senses, we can know by faith that the Lord is with us every day.
Here is a picture of Nichta before he lost his back leg (from the YouVersion Bible app.)
Like cat stories? Hear about the time Nichta lost his leg here: Trust the Master: 3 Lessons From My Cat. Please sign up to receive my blog in your email inbox. You can find that at the upper right of your screen (or at the bottom on a phone). Also, check out my YouTube Channel where I read the blogs out loud and have a playlist of hymns.
