My wife said: ‘you did a good job cleaning up the side’. A great uplifting compliment of recognition and appreciation.
To acknowledge someone is to accept or admit the existence or truth of that someone: to express gratitude to them. It is the opposite of ignoring their presence or action(s).
What a mess
Tradesmen arrived at 6:30 am and a 2.5 tonne excavator slowly crawled along the narrow passageway between our house and the neighbour’s, then screwed around on its tracks into the backyard to eventually precariously perch on a pile of soil to dig an ever-deepening hole.
The bobcat raced back and forth along that passageway, it seemed like endless dirt dropped along the way and the bobcat followed ever-deepening furrows, workmen trudged in heavy boots and thick dust hung in the air.
The cleanup…
…took hours of back-breaking effort to restore some semblance of cleanliness and tidiness after they left: alone to complete the task. Then came Jan’s pleasing words of acknowledgement and appreciation: energising and satisfying.
Recognition is sweet to receive and how our Creator-God deserves it. But sadly the majority of mankind hurtfully ignore Him and that after what He has done and continues to do for both the believer and non-believer alike.
His generosity displayed
He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous (Matthew chapter 5 verse 45), which enables and stimulates crops to grow. He has not left Himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. (Acts chapter 14 verse 17).
Whether considering the physical or spiritual realm: Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything but only God who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 7). Neither the farmer or gardener, preacher or missionary can make seeds or ideas germinate. So many of us refuse to even acknowledge His existence let alone thank Him for such blessings but ungratefully just take and benefit from everything He provides.
Having Him “with us”
Jesus says: Enter through the narrow gate. For small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. (Matthew chapter 7 verses 13/14).
Enter what? The remainder of our lives by walking with God along His straight and narrow way. Thereafter be careful to avoid those who: speak from the viewpoint of the world, [as] the world [only] listens to them. (1 John chapter 4 verse 5).
Trust in the LORD wholeheartedly and do not rely on your own understanding. In ‘all’ your ways acknowledge Him [big and small] and He ‘will’ make straight your paths. (Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5/6).
Society is awash with it
We’re drowning in a sea of it. What was Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar’s extreme offence against God?
Twelve months after Israelite slave Daniel interpreted the King’s dream for him, as King Neb strolled on the roof of his palace surveying his mighty city, he said to himself: Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? (Daniel chapter 4 verse 30).
King Neb had forgotten the interpretation that at the risk of death courageous Daniel had conveyed to him: You will be driven away from people…’until you acknowledge’ that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men…your kingdom will be restored to you ‘when’ you acknowledge that Heaven rules. (Daniel chapter 4 verses 24-26).
The King’s prideful words were still on his lips when he heard God say: Your royal authority has been taken from you…seven years will pass for you until you acknowledge Me and My power. (Daniel chapter 4 verses 31/32).
Worse was to come
Matters deteriorated further for his son King Belshazzar. Whilst hosting a banquet for a thousand of his wives and nobles, the King and his guests wrongfully and disrespectfully drank wine from the gold and silver goblets his father had stolen from God’s temple in Jerusalem. God required Daniel to interpret the frightening writing by a human hand on the assembly wall. He delivered the terrifying news to King Bel that he had been weighed on God’s scales and found wanting.
You O Belshazzar have not humbled yourself though you knew all of your father’s past. Instead you have set yourself up against the LORD of heaven…you did not honour God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways. (Daniel chapter 5 verses 22/23).
His days were numbered. That night Belshazzar was murdered.
Living dangerously
It’s dangerous to ignore the Most High pridefully thinking we are responsible for our wealth and prosperity for God says: You may say to yourself: My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the LORD your God for it is He who gives you the ability: to do whatever you do. (Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 18).
God also says: What do you have that you did not receive? [wealth, good looks, high intelligence, musical ability] And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? (1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7).
Book of life
That’s great advice from the Best Instruction Before Leaving Earth for ultimately the way of the world is the way to eternal destruction.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence O LORD. (Psalm 89 verse 15)