Our sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)
We go through times of trial and test under the hand of God, and it is so easy to get into that frame of mind which says in effect, 'The Lord does not want us, He need not have us!' We let everything go, we do not care about anything; we have gone down under our trials and we are rendered useless. I do not believe the Lord ever comes to a person like that to take them up. Elijah, dispirited, fled to the wilderness, and to a cave in the mountains; but he had to get somewhere else before the Lord could do anything with him. "What doest thou here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9). The Lord never comes to a man and recommissions him when he is in despair. "God shall forgive thee all but thy despair" (F. W. H. Myers, "St. Paul") – because despair is lost faith in God, and God can never do anything with one who has lost faith....
A great deal is made of the natural side of many of the Lord's servants, and usually with tragic results. A lot is made of Paul. 'What a great man Paul was naturally, what intellect he had, what training, what tremendous abilities!' That may all be true, but ask Paul what value it was to him when he was right up against a spiritual situation. He will cry, "Who is sufficient for these things?" "Our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5). Paul was taken through experiences where he, like Moses, despaired of life. He said, "We... had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead" (2 Cor. 1:9).
~T. Austin-Sparks~
Why We Must Guard the Heart
We all have things we treasure, whether they are prize objects, activities, or experiences. And what we most value is what is closest to our heart.
Proverbs 4:23 admonishes us to keep watch over our heart because it holds our treasures, and in it is potential for good or evil. Originally, the heart is full of wickedness (Jer. 17:9), but when it is purified, we are able to see the very face of God (Matt. 5:8). With such possibilities within us, is it any wonder that we are exhorted to employ all diligence in guarding our heart?
So how do we remove the impurities and uncover those secrets of the heart spoken of in Psalm 44:21? The answer is through our omniscient Father. He knows what litters the landscape of our hearts. He tells us in Revelation 2:23 that “I am He who searches the minds and hearts” and again in Hebrews 4:13 that “all things are open and laid bare” to His eyes.
Our role in all of this is to ask the Lord for help. We may not know what sin lies within, but He does. Like David in today’s psalm, we too can say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart ... and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24).
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
____________________________
Sunday Reflection: The Meekness of Christ
In a world dominated by the powerful and strong, no one wants to be seen as weak or easily taken advantage of. Our culture is quick to use the label “meek” for people who seem submissive or unassuming, but God paints a different picture of meekness—one that’s strong yet gentle, unselfish, and kind.
As He was being led to the cross, Jesus didn’t argue or demand to be understood. Nor did He take advantage of His power as the Son of God (Phil. 2:6-7). Instead, our Savior humbled Himself, giving His life so we could become like Him (Phil. 2:8; Rom. 8:29). And He prayed for the forgiveness of the very people who nailed His body to the cross (Luke 23:34). Imagine if we truly embraced this as our model for meekness—displaying grace and humility at all times, even when the world around us says we shouldn’t. How would life be different?
Think about it
• What does it mean that Jesus was “gentle and humble in heart” (Matt. 11:29). How is this kind of gentleness and humility manifested in your relationships with other people?
• Think about the difference between our culture’s definition of meekness (weak, powerless) and the Son of God’s sacrifice for us. Does meditating on His example help you to understand meekness in a new way?
~Dr. Charles F. Stanley~
_____________________
Strong medicine has become needful for the nation!
(Letters of John Berridge)
Dear Sir,
The times are awful; and likely to become more so. Rods have been used without effect, and now the scorpions are coming. May their bite awaken us, but not destroy us!
National pride, infidelity, and profligacy are growing very rampant, and will grow from bad to worse unless restrained by heavy judgments.
The worst evil God can bring upon a nation is to say to it, as once He said to Ephraim, "Let him alone!" But if the Lord intends our good, He will chastise us sorely. This is the Bible-road to reformation.
On this account, however formidable His judgments are, I know not whether I should fear them more, or bid them welcome. Strong medicine has become needful for the nation; and however nauseous to the palate, or painful in the operation, it must be deemed a blessing. May the Lord prepare us for the tempest, and prove to be our hiding-place!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.