by Nan Jones
The birdfeeder stands with its generous invitation just outside my window. I take great joy in watching the cardinals, chickadees, goldfinches, and wrens feast at my table.
Sheer delight.
Monday afternoon my heart skipped a beat.
I Listened for the Lord’s Message to Me
From the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of rich, intense sapphire blue. It was an indigo bunting. His gorgeous blue feathers glistened in the sunlight, reflecting the radiance of its Creator.
As I often do, I turned my thoughts toward the Lord while I pondered the indigo bunting … waiting … listening to see if the Lord had a message for me.
Immediately, I was reminded of the Tabernacle in the wilderness — God’s dwelling place as His children wandered for forty years through a dry and barren land. The colors used in the woven curtains were scarlet, purple, and blue.
The Lord instructed Moses, “For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver. It shall have four pillars and four sockets” (Exodus 27:16).
Scarlet symbolized the blood sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sin.
Purple represented royalty, kingship, and the magnificence of the Lord.
And blue — a beautiful shade of sapphire (sappir in Hebrew) — was to remind the Israelites of the One True God whose throne inhabited the heavenly places.
The colors of love.
Can you imagine this glorious sight in the middle of their desolate landscape and circumstances?
The gate faced the east — the place of the rising sun, the place where God’s perfect light interrupted the darkness. At the dawning of each new day, light shone on the gate to the Tabernacle, calling the people to seek their refuge in God.
I can see the curtains billowing in the desert wind, their colors calming a restless soul.
I can feel the anticipation of the one entering the Tabernacle’s gate to offer the Lord a sacrifice in worship, a sacrifice to atone for their sin, a sacrifice to right themselves with a Holy God.
I can sense the moment when the One True God restored His child to Himself.
The indigo bunting cocked his head and looked at me through the window screen. I cocked my head and looked back, studying his inquisitive stare, the sapphire blue ever so glorious.
Nan, the Lord whispered deep within, though your circumstances be bleak and your landscape is barren and littered with difficulties, I am here. I am with you. My Son has paid your debt so that I might draw you close into My presence where you will find comfort from your sorrow and peace from your despair. You are My child, the apple of My eye. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be anxious for nothing and rejoice in Me always. My joy will be your strength. Love, even when it hurts, for my grace will be sufficient.
And then, as if on cue, the indigo bunting lifted its wings and flew to the nearby apple tree. Flashes of sapphire hopped through the branches.
Love, Even When It Hurts
As my gaze followed the bird higher and higher, I soon found my eyes resting on a gorgeous blue sky, the color of sapphire.
My thoughts settled there as I considered the heavenly places of my God, His tender watch-care, and His mercies from everlasting to everlasting.
Oh, what a magnificent God He is!
Selah
