Saturday, May 4, 2013

The Reporter

UV 743/10,000 The Reporter And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. Genesis 8 v 11 A believer is like a green olive tree in God’s garden. We are like the dove that brought an olive leaf to Noah that it had plucked off from the branch of an olive tree that had emerged from the massive flood as it abated. The dove is a symbol of peace and righteousness. The olive tree is a symbol of peace, prosperity, endurance, fruitfulness, wholesomeness, health and joy. A single leaf symbolised tidings of great joy even as it imparted the knowledge to Noah that the flood waters had fallen. It gave him hope of dry land emerging soon, of life being restored on earth. We bring hope and joy into the lives of people who are flooded with worries, anxiety, hopelessness and sadness when we share the good news of Jesus. When we intercede for others, we are like the dove that brought back peace and joy into Noah’s heart. Often, a flood of troubles rise against us but as we pray we are sending forth a dove to the Lord that will return with a sign of confirmation that the Lord has heard our prayers. We need to be like the dove that is forever making a joyful noise in its throat. We should continue in faith and praise the Lord in the midst of the trouble. We need to pray and praise without ceasing. Prayer, praise and thanksgiving are like a string with three cords that nothing can break, no power can overcome. Though we are as gentle, harmless and innocuous as doves, the power emanating from within us to change lives and the course of events is irrepressible and invincible. Our daily lives are like the sojourn of the dove sent by Noah. We are first held in the hand of the Lord as Noah held the dove at the break of day. Then we are sent into the world as a messenger or someone with a mission. We go flying about in faith on the wings of prayer and the Word. We attend to our work and we return at the end of the day to the Lord with a report of praise, hope and thanksgiving. We are reporters like the dove. The dove represents people of faith while the raven that Noah sent that never returned represents the people who live life as they please. The ascending and descending dove is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit who takes our requests and petitions to the Lord and returns with answers of peace. The olive leaf is a symbol of redemption and victory. In these times, when evil has risen like a mighty flood, there are witnesses who stand out like solitary olive trees out of the flood. It will permit a passing dove to alight, take rest and bring good news to the Master above. Our words and actions will increase the knowledge of people in terms of their understanding of who the Creator and Redeemer is. Socrates wrote that true knowledge is knowing yourself. But, true knowledge is knowing God personally. We get to know ourselves and others through knowing God. In the evening of our lives, we will return to the Ark of the Lord, not empty handed but with our mouth full of good things to report. Prateep V Philip

No comments:

Post a Comment