The Bottom of the List

The last sin to be acknowledged or confessed in our lives is that of prayerlessness; even if we admit to it then. Samuel says to the Lord’s people, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” If it’s a sin not to pray for others, how much more is it not to pray at all? And notice, to not pray is a sin against God.

If we were honest with ourselves we would say with Job, “If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had harkened unto my voice.” It is during those long intervals when God has us wait that we lose our faith. And when this happens, we also lose face. Like the old suffering patriarch, we impulsively say, “…what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”

Jesus said, “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” If you have fainted during a long night of silence form God, try praying. You’ll find it a good smelling salts. 

You, Too

"In the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” What a seemingly strange paradox. A Lamb, the perfect picture of gentleness; a throne, the supreme symbol of power. The One in the midst of the other. The Sacrificial Lamb has become the Sovereign Lord.

The homage and worship He receives is not by coercion, but by loving constraint. His subjects are not driven to worship Him as Nero’s servants, against their will. For, our Sovereign has won our wills, and we are drawn to Him by His graciousness.

How wonderful it is to realize that I, too, can stand before Him with my golden vial full of odors. That I, too, may join that Heavenly choir to sing praises to Him. That I, too, can be one of the “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” who say, with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb.” Just to think, I too, may “fall down and worship Him that liveth forever and ever.” Hallelujah! It’s not just “I, too,” but “You, too.”

O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name togethe (Psl.34:3)

Knowing Your English

“[Jesus} said…let down your nets for a draught…at thy word I will let down the net.”

God has preserved His Word for us in the English; therefore, I do not overly concern myself with the Greek, or Hebrew languages. He will judge me on understanding and acting upon my own native tongue, not on one given to another people.

There can be a vast difference between singular and plural. The variation is to be seen in addition.  My dear friend, Marvin Clanton, used to say about something that was good and he wanted more of, “If one’s good, two’s better!”

Peter was a commercial fisherman, and since he had toiled all night without a catch, nets would not be necessary, only a net, if that. His expertise was a hindrance to his faith. Professionalism is man at his best, but that is not good enough in the Spiritual world.

When we do not expect great things from God and act on it, it is because we do not believe our God is Great!

Voluntary Slavery

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” Paul’s “all things” are not all-inclusive, but means all, within bounds. For example, it is still not lawful to have your brother’s wife. All vices are unlawful, but what about virtuous things?

It is well to remember, things that are not expedient or profitable are not necessarily necessary. If indulgence in a good thing becomes injurious to ourselves or others, we are to abandon it. If what we allow destroys our freedom of thought, peace of mind, and general happiness, it should be laid aside.

It is possible to become a voluntary slave. We can do this by creating our own craving for something. And, ultimately, this brings us under the power of what is considered legitimate, thus we become slaves to it, and it becomes our master.

You’re either master, or mastered.

Physicians with Colds

The demands some put upon their ministers, mentors, and those attempting to help them, such as pastors, parents and friends, is both unfair and unkind. Such high expectations are unrealistic as well as unreasonable. The proverb going around in Jesus’ day, “Physician heal thyself,” is part of the record of inspired truth; but the saying is not necessarily true. For example, it’s true the devil said certain things, but that doesn’t make the things he said true.

The fact of the matter is, physicians get sick and can’t heal themselves, but this does not take away from the fact they can still cure others. I’m sure Peter, James, John, and Paul would love to have had some undesirable, inherent weakness cured in their lives, but that did not stop them from offering their expertise to others. Nor did it hinder those who were wise from asking for it.

Let’s not keep a cancer specialist from helping us, simply because he can’t get rid of his cold. When in dire need, we are in no position to make trivial demands. In such situations, we might remind ourselves, “Beggars can’t be choosers.”

 “He saved others; himself he cannot save”   (Matt.27:42)

Tormented by Temptation

None of us is exempt from temptation. Not even our blessed, sinless Lord was excused. It will dog us until we enter our heavenly city of refuge, where nothing that defiles can follow us in. Or to put it another way, until we are, as the Irish say, “Safe Home.”  

Temptation comes in many forms, but has only one objective: to break our fellowship with God. Therefore temptation never comes from God; He tries us, but never tempts us. James tell us, “…every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”  

Our Tempter is a solicitor. And all the wares this street vender peddles are evil. No matter how they appear, even if they’re good and pleasant. Ask Eve if you have any doubts. To be tempted with evil is an agony of soul; but to be tempted with good is even a greater a torture. The devils dainty delicacies are much more difficult to resist than his depraved delights. It’s green grass that lures the sheep to stray, not the parched.

It has always amazed me how that after a temptation is refused, something extraordinarily good always follows it. I agree with C.S. Lewis when he said, “A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later.” “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him…and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him…And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit…”

Trusting Our Guide

“…when he was called to go out…he…obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither he went.” Two great difficulties were involved in this crisis decision. First, much that had been precious in life was to be left behind. Secondly, entering into, and undertaking, this new venture entailed uncertainty as to his future.

Nevertheless, he plunged into this desert journey by faith, being assured that, though he may not know the way, he knew the Guide. And he was confident his Friend would lead him aright.

We who are believers are called “…the children of Abraham,” and, as such, we are told that we’re to “…walk in the steps of that faith,” which our father, Abraham, had. And as we take each step, remembering that God will not show us everything, but He will always show us the next thing.

The faith that enables us to enter into God’s best must first be used to come out.

Winnie’s Good Advice.

As a boy, during the Second World War, I had two heroes, one on each side of the pond, so to speak. On this side, it was General Douglas Mac Arthur, on the other, Winston Churchill.  The latter, in a speech at Harrow School in 1941 said, “Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

I am no super-saint, but I say the truth in Christ, I lie not; I do not know how to quit! I can honestly tell you I have tried on more than one occasion, but never found the “wherewithal” in following through with it. It costs one dearly to do so; but as Ruth, of old, the rewards are worth the price you pay.

People who are constantly re-tracing their steps never get anywhere in life. I often wonder about the lives of those who quit on the Lord. What became of them? There’s no record. All we are told of these quitters is, “From that [time] many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. All one can do is speculate, and I believe you would be close in guessing they spent their lives in regret.

For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these “It might have been." -John Greenleaf Whittier, "Maud Muller" (1856)

The Evolution of Good and Evil

Far too many Christians have a one-track mind when it comes to the usage of a word. Words, like “The Word,” can have two edges. That is, they can be used in more than one way.  It is not wise to condemn a word by association. To sight just one case, is that despised word, abort. But there are times when it is good and right to use the word. For example, “Because of mechanical problems, the flight was aborted.”

And so it is with the word “evolution.” Rage should not surge through one when it is used in the right connotation. Among its several meanings are, 1. an unfolding; process of development or change. 2. to develop gradually. And so, the scriptures teach there is an evolution in the lives of both saint and sinner.    

As to the latter we are told, “Evil men…shall wax worse and worse.” But of the former, it is written, “As touching brotherly love…ye [should] increase more and more.” And so, as the one gets worse and worse, the other is to be getting, better and better. I have seen the first taking place over the last fifty years, at a rapid pace. But have noticed very little of the second happening, as it relates to the Body of Christ.

Many fear by loving all the brethren they it will be seen by their peers as diluting their convictions; but to the contrary, it will make them more savory. Try it; both you and the recipients will like it. By the way, it never fails!

        

What God Expects

I’ve often said, “Some people have standards so high that even the angels couldn’t keep them.” J At our best, we shall always come up short. But this should not curtail us from giving our best. Doing less than your best is sin. Therefore, I should be the best that I can be.

Some of us are four-cylinder Christians, tormented because we are not an eight-cylinder. The important thing is to stay tuned-up, and make sure we run on all four, if that’s our lot in life. Wanting to be something you’re not keeps you from what you can be. Comparison only brings frustration.

Remember, God blesses a life on the basis of not what we have done, but what we would have done, had we been able. His judgment is according to quality, not quantity; sort, not size (1Cor. 3:13b). God is not a hard taskmaster. It’s the Pharaohs of this life that are always demanding that more work be placed upon the people of God.

Overworked saints lose something that is essential in a believer’s life. Martha would be a good example of this. The Lord is not looking for sweatiness, but sweetness (Ezk.44:18b cp.11Sam.23:1b). The latter is the man or woman who is …”after God’s own heart.”

Jesus said, “She hath done what she could.” Not, what she couldn’t. And this has been spoken of around the world for two thousand years!

Check it Out

I believe in classic Christianity. What I mean by this is what the word itself denotes: “an excellent model; formal; simple; traditional.” In general, churches used to major on the fundamentals of the Faith—the basic things all Christians believed in and adhered to. Now we major on minors, leaving God’s people without a sure foundation, having left the fundamentals.

It can be said of many past fundamental churches that they are no longer classic, but cultic. We could even add, comic to some of them. It staggers the imagination to think of all the things that are being passed off as Scripture to God’s dear children today. The cause of their being duped is not difficult to find. The answer is that the “Berean” breed has become extinct. It says of these noble believers that they “…searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.”

Today would be a good day to start checking out what we believe and what others have, and are, teaching us as being authoritative. Any addition, subtraction, or change to the text doesn’t count for anything! A good rule to always go by is, “WHAT DOES THE TEXT SAY?”

A good order of questions is, “What saith the scripture?” Then, “What meaneth this?”

Tough Hide-Tender Heart

You’d think God would have spoiled Job a little after all that he had gone through. But on the contrary, He tells His suffering saint on two occasions, “Gird up now thy loins like a man.” God will not coddle us; He is in the business of making real men and women.

There is no room for self-pity in the presence of God’s crucified Lamb. Anyone can dish it out, so to speak, it’s how much we can take that counts with God. The Lord certainly wants us to have soft hearts, but not so with our hides. They’re to be leather-tough.

To use the excuse that our weak flesh cannot go on, will not cut it. The Spirit is willing; our problem is that we’re not. We are all going to suffer in this life, one way or the other. Peter tells us, “…it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” The former brings reward, the latter regret.

In glory, God will not look at our medals, degrees, or diplomas, but for scars we received being true to His dear Son.

The Language Barrier

Dry wells cannot satisfy the thirsty; neither can tearless Christian’s parched souls. Many who profess to be followers of Christ have. Jesus wept over a wrecked world; we cannot even weep over our wrecked lives. If some of us would follow Peter’s example and weep bitterly over our sad spiritual condition, we too might experience the blessings of a Pentecost.

Unsanctified tears have no merit with God. Carnal Esau proved this to be so. But tears do have a strong sway when they come from one devoted to the Lord. Concerning Hezekiah God says, “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears.” There is a gospel song that says, “Tears are a language God understands.” David knew the importance of tears when he penned, “…put thou my tears into thy bottle.” They’re preserved. I wonder what for?

Sometimes we hear the argument from saints with dry sockets, that those who weep over our crushed culture have a different temperament from them. But it doesn’t have anything to do with a different kind temperament, but with a different kind of heart. Anyone familiar with the Apostle Paul’s temperament knows it was completely out of character for him to shed tears. Yet, we are told that when he exchanged his life for Christ’s, he went about weeping night and day for a wounded world. That, my friend, is a profitable exchange, both for us and the hurting!

The Elijah Complex

“…and I, even I only, am left.” So says the discouraged prophet. To which God replies, “I have left me seven thousand…” Through the years I’ve observed the ruination of many good churches and ministries who fell into this isolation syndrome. C.S. Lewis says, “The worst sins of men are spiritual.” And the “I only,” I think, would be one at the top of the list.

You’ll remember that if young Joshua could have had his way, no one would have prophesied in the camp but Moses. But the old man set the younger straight concerning this mistake.  Paul thanked God Christ was preached, even when motives were in question. And our Lord told the disciples to leave alone one who was doing a work in His name. Not join him or promote him, but simply let him alone.

An old Methodist preacher used to say, “If a hound dog comes to town and barks for Jesus, I’m not going to try and stop him.” Let’s face it, all of we Blood bought Believers have a little heresy in us, but it will not keep us from Heaven. We need to be careful not to shut out those whom God has not shut out.  

Defeat at Every Corner

I find many Christians today do not realize we do not fight for the victory, but from victory to victory. We have the “Victor” within us. The battle is not in getting, but in the keeping of the high ground. Our Mighty, Conquering Captain, has already entered the “strong man’s” house, and carried off his armour wherein he trusted.

The only thing, it would seem, that Satan was left with were his “wiles” (tricks, craftiness). You’ll remember this is the tactic the Gibeonites used to win over Joshua, not having sword or spear in hand (Josh 9:4 cp. Verse 22). When they got the Israelites to think their way, they got their way.

In this age in which we live, it would appear that the skirmish is over who is going to control the mind. It’s a psychological warfare, the mind is where the battle is won or lost. Remember, it is not the body that faints first, but the mind (Heb. 12:3,b). It may be beneficial to add this line to the children’s song, “Be careful little mind what you think.”

Every corner the devil ever turned or will turn, Christ meets him with defeat!

The Need of the Needy

“…your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” When theologians use the term “omniscient” in reference to one of God’s attributes, it doesn’t mean much to the average Christian. But when the word is defined and explained, their ears perk up. The poverty-stricken saint takes heart when he or she realizes they have a Father in Heaven who knows their every need. And not only does He know their particular need—whether it be spiritual, psychological, or physical— He has the wherewithal to furnish it.

The old gospel song the quartets used to sing down south is theologically correct. It says, “My Jesus Knows Just What I Need.” Many well-intentioned preachers tell God’s people, if their needs are not being met, there is something wrong in their lives. But there seems to be few who will tell you that one’s need may be to have a need (Phil.4:19 cp. verse 12,b). Therefore, when God creates a need in our lives, He has kept His promise by supplying our need. Have you thanked God for supplying  yours?

Snubbing Good Advice

Ahab, like many today, turned his nose up at good advice. The reason was that the one giving it didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. He was looking for agreement, not advice. He said of Micaiah, “…he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil.” It was for this reason Micaiah earned Ahab’s hatred.

Some people don’t seem to understand, you can’t prophecy good things to bad people. They criticize their advisor for rubbing the cat the wrong way, while all the time refusing of turn the cat around themselves. If one wants to hear good, he or she must of necessity be willing to do good.

It is always a wise thing to seek the counsel of the wise. Only a fool rejects the advice of a person who has already been down the road they’re to travel. Know-it-alls end up finding out they knew nothing at all. They incessantly run into ditches and wonder why they can’t get anywhere on the road of life.

On my way to a speaking engagement, I once went a hundred miles the wrong way, simply because I would not ask for directions. You’ll never get where you want to go by going the wrong way. The sooner you stop and ask the right way the sooner you will arrive at your desired destination.

Cashing Signed Checks

“According to your faith [appropriation] be it unto you.” This principle is found throughout the Bible. It’s not wishing, longing, wanting, or even praying that gets the blessing. It’s appropriation (taking for one’s own). Drab, defeated lives have been transformed by learning the art of appropriating. They turned promises into facts. They stepped out on a promise and trusted God—sink or swim. And those who do never have to experience either.

In the story of the prodigal son, it says of the father, “He divided unto them his living.” The prodigal may have had a lot of faults, but appropriating what his father had given him was not one of them. This was not so with his elder brother. He accused the father of not even giving him a “kid,” to which his father replied, “Son, all that I have is thine.” Yet, he had not appropriated one kid. The difference was not in bestowal, but in appropriation. We must appropriate what God has given (Josh.1:3 and Eph.1:3).

Addendum: Over fifty years ago, my dear friend Mark Andrews, who was instrumental in my becoming a Christian, gave me a little devotional book by F.B. Meyer. One of the chapter tiles was, “The Law of Appropriation.” This one truth kept me from being a spiritual pauper these many years, which is so easy to succumb to.

Jesus and the "Old Timers"

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time…But I say unto you…” Whenever the term “old times” is used, invariably we are referring to the most recent of past generations; to go back further would be speaking of “ancient times.” Every age had its “old times”, and in each of them most of the people felt the previous age was better than the one in which they lived. Nostalgia can be fine, if it doesn’t turn into nonsense. What woman wouldn’t trade a scrub board for a washing machine? And I doubt there is a farmer who would not prefer a tractor to a horse-drawn plow.

The people of Jesus’ day were quoting the “letter” of their father’s teachings about the Law, but left out the spirit. They emphasized only the externals, but our Lord went to the heart of the matter. Jesus exposed the expositors of His day. He was not correcting the Law, only their erroneous interpretation of it. They taught the mechanics, but mechanical things do not have life; hence, no growth. It’s the Spirit that gives life to the letter.

Let us be careful that we do not make the Word of God ineffective by the tradition of the “old timers.” Some people get more upset over me correcting them, than they are of them corrupting the Word. That kind of tradition is tripe!

God’s way is working from the inside out; the traditionalist, from the outside in. But the latter never seems to be able to get past the first layer.

All or Nothing

You can’t departmentalize God; either He is all, or nothing at all in a life. He refuses to be categorized in our file cabinets, only to be brought out and viewed from time to time. As A.W. Tozer says, “God is a jealous Lover.” He is not in the sharing business when it comes to our affections. He will not play second fiddle to anyone.

The Bible describes the people who live their lives apart from God as being dead while they live. Even though they’re enjoying this world’s pleasures, they’re dead men walking. All Prodigals are considered dead until they return to the Father’s House. As George MacDonald writes, “All that is not God is death.”

Singing to the “King”

"And they sing…the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty…thou King of saints.

Some mistakenly think of Jesus as being King at some future date, but this is not what Paul taught. The apostle plainly tells us He is King now, “Now” unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” True, Christ may presently be a King in exile, but as David of old, a King in exile is no less a king. His servants still accept and submit to Him as such; only the rebels reject His Kingship. But Paul goes on to tell us that at His appearing, “He shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”

I find, invariably, those who have a problem with Christ’s Lordship, also have difficulty with the doctrine of His Kingship. And naturally so, for you can’t have one without the other. They’re Siamese twins, if you please; they can’t be separated. A king reigns and rules over his subjects and those who will not have it so during His exile, will be dealt with harshly, as Shimei, when David triumphantly returned to his throne. Such people, as John wrote, will be “ashamed before him at his appearing.” Therefore, it is a wise man or woman that accepts Him as their King here and now. Notice I did not say, “Make Him King.” He is already that, whether you acknowledge it or not.

And so, on this Lord’s Day, let us lift our voices with the saints in glory unto Him that they affectionately refer to as “Thou King of saints.” Or as the Psalmist put it in his fourfold admonition, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises”.

Cosmetic Christianity

I think sometimes that only Christians can out-do Jezebel when it comes to cosmetics! We take the external paint of religion and apply thick coats to our lives, hoping others will not see our run down condition. But no matter how expertly you paint over dry rot, it is still there, and it only gets worse with time. This sad condition is bad enough when you see it in God’s people, but how much worse when preachers leave their calling and become professional cosmetologists.

Jesus sand-blasted superficial spirituality that was no deeper than the outward coat (Matt.23). Contrary to what many think today, when it comes to God, you can’t make it on looks alone! Form without substance is an empty vessel. And people who have nothing in their bucket are of no use to anyone. Thirsty souls care little, and are not impressed with dry buckets, no matter how the outside is decorated. W.W.J.D. bracelets, the wearing of crosses, fish decals on bumper stickers, etc.

When it comes to spiritual cosmetics, we ought to heed Paul’s words when he wrote, “For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool…but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be…” The ladies used to have what they called a “vanity table” in their bedrooms. For the most part, I believe they are outdated now. But I am fearful; many of us Christians are still using them.

The First Ways of David

“And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David.” The Chronicler seems to be admitting that the latter ways of David were less than exemplary. It can be said of many a good man and woman that their first ways were their best ways, their first love was their best love, and that their first works were their best works. It ought not to be that way, but sad to say, the lives of scores of Christians bear testimony to this frightening truth. It should be, “The best is yet to come.” But I’m sorry to say, numerous saints, referring to the rest of the time they have here on earth admit, “The best has already past.”

The wise man said, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning.” Jesus taught this principle when turning the water into wine. The ruler of the feast said of Him, “Thou hast kept the good wine (cheer) until now.” That is, He kept the best to last. In life, it’s the latter things that seem to be held in remembrance. The last scene of a movie, the end of a book, the last five minutes of a ball game, the conclusion of a sermon, and yes, the end of one’s life on earth. Demas started right but ended wrong; on the other hand, John Mark started out wrong, but ended right. It is generally accepted that outlook has a lot to do with outcome. Therefore, the way one looks at things could determine the way he or she end his or her life.

“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.”

Cheering Up Your Companion

"When a man hath taken a...wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business...but he shall be free at home...and cheer up his wife...." A man's first responsibility, says the Lord, is not to his battles or business, but to his beloved.

A good wife is not as concerned with wars and Wall Street as she is with her one and only love. Children come and go, and while they bring joy to her, it's transitory, at best. For, when they fly from the nest, it will be to take their cheer to their mates. But her man will be around long after they leave.

A good cheering up from a husband keeps a wife from giving up.

The Blessings of the Impossible.

I wonder if most of us who are in impossible situations really grasp the great blessings to be found in such dire predicaments. I see two basic, wonderful truths in said quandaries. First, I no longer have to question myself as to what I should, or shouldn’t, do in such cases. For it is out of my hands altogether. And secondly, in these times of the humanly unattainable, God has opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf, thereby receiving all the praise and Glory due Him!

For in such hopeless circumstances, when all human effort is voided, it is then we can cry out, as David, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work.” Once we move out of the realm of the humanly possible, it is then we can see what the God of the impossible can do. That is, we will then realize all the possibilities of the impossible. But, to see such things, you will need be placed in front of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh and his armies behind you, the mountains and desert on either side of you, and the impassable facing you.

If you want to live your life in the realm of possibilities, fine. But, mark you; you’ll never experience the blessings of the impossible!

Excess Baggage

“Cast out this bondwoman…And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight…And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight…because of thy bondwoman… ”

This was not an easy thing for Abraham to do. It is never easy to “cast out” those things we have become attached to, but which are not in God’s plan for our lives. No matter how affectionate we may have become toward them.

Abraham’s life was a series of “casting out” those things he loved and held dear, but which would have kept him back from God’s best. First, there was his father, then his nephew Lot. This was followed by Hagar and Ishmael. Then was that awful climax, his darling son, Isaac.

As we travel through life, we too are apt to pick-up, as it were, excess baggage. And like Abraham of old, we also have times when we “go down into Egypt.” We may think that extra luggage is a luxury, that is, till we realize we’ll have to “lug” it around everywhere we go. It is then we see it is not something helping us on to God on our pilgrim journey, but rather, is slowing us down.

I’m sure there are many beautiful and expensive pieces of luggage, on overloaded planes that crash.

The Significance of the Insignificant

You may not be able to do big things in a big way, but you can do little things in a great way. My first pastorate was a small one (114 people), but we did everything in a big way. One lady commented, “This is the biggest, littlest church, I’ve ever seen.” As a result of being faithful with a few, God gave us 1000 members in ten years.

Francis A. Schaeffer has a book entitled, No Little People. I’ve often said, “If you’re God’s, there are no little squirts, only big shots.” A little stone can fell a giant, if it is consecrated to God. And a small mustard seed faith can accomplish the unthinkable. As the song says, “Little is much when God is in it.”

Someday in eternity we will find out, to the surprise of many, just how significant the insignificant actually were. God is going to put a name to all those saints who went unrecognized and nameless in this present world. For example, the name of the “little maid” who helped Naaman on to God, all will know, and address her as such.

“And the Lord said…thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” How precious a thought, He knows, and calls me by name.

Within Our Reach

“[H]e be not far from every one of us.” Unlike the heathen gods, our God is Omni-present. True, He’s somewhere (on His throne), but, just as true, He is everywhere (in His universe). He is not a distant Deity, but a present Help. Ask the three Hebrew children about the Fourth Man in the fire.

Unlike the Old Testament high priest within the veil, ours can be touched. The woman with the issue of blood can vouch for this. Our God is never further away than faith’s reach. Faith can bring God to us, or it can take us to Him. What difference does it make as long a He is with us?

Emmanuel—God with us. He is not standing in some elevated pulpit or sitting behind a large mahogany desk; nor is He hid away behind some door marked “Private.” But rather, “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”

Are you an “Emmaus” Christian, walking with the Risen Christ and yet sad?

Tired of Being Pushed Around

I’ve known a few bullies in my day. There’s one characteristic they all have: they like to push people around. Because of them, many cower in a corner, spending a lifetime being intimidated by them. Fear strikes the heart of their victims each time they see the bully coming. Oh that we would realize the bully stops pushing, once we push back. If the bully knows he’s in for a fight every time he messes with you, he’ll pass on to easier prey.

God has given us a whole set of armor that we are to battle our “bully from hell” with. There are seven pieces; six are defensive and only one is for offence. How we commend ourselves and those among us, who are beaten by the bully, Beelzebub, and who never give in. But it never crosses the mind of most of us that we are to push back. I do not have to take all the blows from this bully. We are equipped to throw some mighty blows ourselves. Our Lord did, thrice He threw a threefold punch, "It is written." Thereby knocking His opponent out of the ring!

I want to be like the little bull dog that all the big dogs walked around. They knew they could beat him, but it wasn’t worth the fight! He always left them hurting, and they never came out of it without scars of their own.

“He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day.” (2 Sam. 23:10)

Immediately

“And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him." There was no time lapse between Peter’s call to Christ for help when sinking, and Jesus saving him. And there is no interval between the time when we ask Him to forgive us for sins committed, and Him doing it.

How little we know of our dear Lord’s love, mercy, and grace. Is this not because we have envisioned Him to be, altogether such a one as ourselves? How prone we are to wallow in our self-righteous pity, sometimes for hours, even days, and with some, years. We like to think “whipping” ourselves over an extended period of time will earn us some kind of justification before God. What a slap in the face to His blessed atonement. Meritorious acts on our part after sinning, in order to win God’s favor, only voids His mercy!

Joseph’s brothers had sinned against him in a despicable way, but they had asked his forgiveness. This he instantly did, graciously granting their request. At a latter time however, they once again asked his forgiveness, in reference to the same incident. Upon hearing this we are told, “And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.” How it must grieve our precious Saviour’s heart when we emulate this type of unbelief in His Word of promise to us.

Beneath the bloody robes of self-affliction for ones sins, is a person whose tyrannical God is of their own making.

Reciting Our Creed

I believe in the sincerity of the saints. That is, we should be without pretense. Our imperfections are no excuse for not doing right, nor are they from displaying genuine sincerity toward God and others.

Joshua and Paul exhort us to have both sincerity and truth. A person can possess one without the other. But, like our legs, you need both if you are to walk straight. A saint should not be a spiritual amputee in such cases.

Unless we can say, in truth, at the end of each prayer to God, “Sincerely yours,” it goes without question we are insincere when we put it at the end of our correspondence with others.

It Won’t Go Away

“He fell on his face, and prayed…again the second time He prayed…and [He] prayed a third time, saying the same words.”
Of the eight commentaries on my bookshelf, none comment on a small portion of a line found in the context of the above quoted scriptures. The phrase is, “This cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it.” No matter how many times you pray about it, it is not going away. It will always be before you, the only thing that will remove it is you drinking it.

Unless we partake of the portion the Lord sets before us, though it is ever so distasteful, then we, as David of old, will give testimony that it is, “ever before me.” It will always be there to haunt us that we chose our will over His. This cup only appears once in a lifetime: Abraham’s crisis was the offering up of Isaac, David’s, when facing his giant and Paul’s was in his accepting his, “Thorn in the flesh.”

Therefore it is of the upmost importance that we, as our Lord told His disciples, “Drink ye all of it.” And praise be unto God, once we have raised this dreaded cup to our lips and consumed its contents, He has promised, “Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.” Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Jesus will never have to taste of that cup again. And neither will we, once we have drunk of ours!

"O Happy Day!” ''Tis done: the great transaction's done! I am the Lord's and He is mine."

A Word to Pastors

“In the mouth of two… witnesses every word [shall] be established.” If a bird is to ever get off the ground and soar into the heavenlies, it must have two wings. God has chosen two witnesses to establish his word (Rev.11). This is also seen by the fact that our Lord sent His disciples out, “two by two.”

Joseph told Pharaoh the dream was shown him twice so that he would know it was of God. When God called and said, “Abraham, Abraham,” “Jacob, Jacob,” etc., it was not because they were hard-of-hearing. In any and all situations, a Christian is wise to listen for the second voice. Don’t be fooled by the first knock; Christ always knocks twice.

Because of this, it is important for pastors to have a second voice in their pulpits. I’m afraid, by “hugging” their pulpits, many a pastor is hurting both his people and himself. A second voice is needed to compliment a man’s ministry (not the pastor, but his ministry). Far too many pastors today have an “Elijah” complex, mistakenly thinking they’re the only one.

Pastor, have good men in to fill your pulpit from time to time. Not necessarily “big” names, or your staff, but men who have the anointing oil upon their foreheads. It is not only good for your people, but it’s important for you to be fed from time to time. Plus, you need the rest also. Do not fear quality men will belittle you before your people, believe me, they will love you even more for it. And don’t forget to give a generous love gift, they are worthy of their hire.

The wise man tells us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.”

Then and Now

The poet penned, “For of all sad words of tongue or pen the saddest are these: “It might have been.” We who are plagued by our past can only overcome these four woeful words, “What might have been,” by substituting, “What can be.” God, as well as people, is not as concerned with what was, as they are with what is. It’s not what you were in the past, but what you are right now that counts.

I have a little saying, “Start from where you’re at.” Begin right now, start over this very minute. But, you say, “What if I fail again?” Then start fresh the second you fall. Keep getting up; sooner or later you’ll be walking. The Chinese proverb says, “A thousand mile journey was started with one step.”

It is important not to major on what you could have been, but what you can be!

Simulated Soul Winning

The term “Soul Winning” was regularly used by old-timers such as Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, and R.A. Torrey, along with contemporaries like Billy Graham. This, in spite of the fact the phrase is found only once in all the Word of God. We must be careful to not build a doctrinal system on one isolated text (example 2Tim.2:15), rather than a multiple set of proof-texts that give it credence.

Mind you, I am not against the expression, if its true meaning is adhered to. In the Old Testament, “soul” was used to denote the whole man; his body, soul and spirit. It is winning over man in his entirety, not just the spiritual part. Many so-called “soul winners” boast of the notches on their Bibles representing saved souls, but, who embarrassingly avoid telling you of all the lost lives they have left strewn behind them.

Personally, I have come to embrace the word “witness,” over that of soul winner. My reason for this is the fact that the New Testament, especially the book of Acts, uses it repeatedly. Witnessing/soul winning is not something we attempt to do one night a week for a couple of hours. It is not a program, it’s a life. Because of this, I have serious problems with “Visitation Programs.” The early Church went everywhere, everyday, to everyone. Some would sow while others reaped their efforts, but they were all one, and received the same reward. By the way, they were not out to build some kind of empire or reputation for themselves, but did it for the glory of God!

A soul-winner is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.

Thine is the Victory

"Thine O Lord is the...victory." Victory, like salvation, is not something to be earned, but something that is given. "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Notice, you could interchange "eternal life" and "victory" in each verse without changing its truth or meaning. Victory, then, like salvation, is a present possession. But, just as one can be saved and not enjoy the benefits, so it is with victory.

A believer is given the victory as well as eternal life at his conversion, by receiving the mighty Victor as his Savior. But we must appropriate this given victory. We have to cash in on it, so to speak, to reap its benefits. The old timers expressed this blessed truth when they would say, "When you fall, shout the victory." There is never a time in the Christian's life that he or she does not have the victory, though they may at times not enjoy it because of not applying it by faith.

In the Olympics, one wins the victory, but his countrymen are the recipients. So it is with Christ and His elect.

Unmasking Fear

Most people are familiar with the saying, “There is nothing to fear but fear itself,” but how few, I believe, realize this statement, like many others, originated in the Bible. The wise man wrote, “Be not afraid of sudden fear.” How fearful some of us are when confronted with fear itself. Yet, the Scripture tells us we are not to fear when facing our fears.

Nothing so paralyzes as fear. It makes one stand still in his or her tracks—frozen. Or else, it drives us to such despair, we run to our closets of passivity. As a result, we never venture out of our secure places to attempt anything. The devil has a thousand false faces, and most of these are designed to frighten and alarm.

Though we shouldn’t, it is not uncommon for God’s people to fear. Sheep, as you undoubtedly know, are a fearful flock (Lk.12:32,a). It says of His disciples, “…as they followed, they were afraid.” The only remedy this side of Heaven for fear is faith. “Be not afraid,” says our Lord, “Only believe.” This is the sure cure-all for fear.

I do not want engraved on my tombstone,“through fear [was] all [his] lifetime subject to bondage.”

Books and a Bible

The following is a recent e-mail I received from a friend. It is not the only one of its kind that I have gotten over time.

Richard,

I just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying the book "Spiritual Depression" by Lloyd Jones. The man certainly rings my bell and keeps me engaged with his thought process as well as his insight to the complexities of this life. It seems so simple as he gives explanation to our weakness and struggles and then how to correct it.

I would appreciate very much, and possibly others as well if you would compile a suggested reading list. I truly love books that make me think and then seek God about a particular frailty or fault that I might have, and I especially love books that get me thinking deeper about my Lord.

May the Lord bless you and Salle for this incredible gift that the two of you have so willing given to others. Christians actually thinking ... and challenging others to do the same, what a novel idea in an age when sensitivity to everything has taken on such a new meaning to the younger generations.

Your friend,

The books I read are mostly practical in nature, even the doctrinal ones. They’re books that help me through my pilgrim journey, hence, others benefit from my writings and council. The intent of my articles has never been to persuade one to adhere to my views, but to get them to think for themselves; “Outside the box,” if you please. But, if one is under a totalitarian ministry or blindly follows a self-appointed Guru, I cannot be of any help.

The following is a brief list of books that blessed my life in one way or the other.

1. Spiritual Depression (Its causes and cure. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. I read this on a regular basis.

2. Letters of John Newton. The heart surgeon.

3. Sin and Temptation. John Owen. The man who knows you. Packer’s intro. is worth the book.

4. Pursuit of God. A. W. Tozer. Written while on his knees.

5. Mere Christianity. C.S. Lewis. My constant companion.

6. The Life of Christ and also The Life of Paul. James Stalker. Classic! Outstanding!

7. The New Sovereignty. Reginald Wallis. On Lordship.

8. Farewell Sermons. A selection of sermons given in 1662 by non-conformist Puritan pastor’s to their flocks before being put out to scorched pastures. Their number was over 2000. Heart-breaking to read.

9. The Liberty of Obedience. Elisabeth Elliot. Will make you re-think your strict personal standards.

10. Born for Battle. R. Arthur Mathews. Will revolutionize your prayer life.

11. George Mac Donald. C.S. Lewis. Short sayings, but sweet and wise thoughts.

12. Wounded Heroes. Elizabeth R. Skoglund. Brings out the human part of being a Christian. It’s great.

13. Concise Theology. J.I. Packer. Shot and simple. For lay people and any pastor who likes the “cookies on the bottom shelf.”

14. The Blessed Hope. George Eldon Ladd. The “Historic Pre-Millennial view, one people, one coming. This view was held by the early Church fathers. Not to be confused with the modern-day dispensational teaching.

15. The Pilgrim Church. Broadbent, a Brethren layman. A great Church history book. Easy to understand and grasp.

16. Set of 17 small books on N.T. By Charles R. Erdman. Also, The Disciplined Life. He is one of my all-time favorites writers.

17. No Little People and Letters of Francis A. Schaeffer. His letters are for contemporary Christianity.

18. Enjoying Your Best Years. J. Oswald Sanders. For the elderly, but youth should read to understand where you’ll be soon and how to prepare.

19. The Practice the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence. An all-time Classic.

20. Christian Hymns. Banner of Truth. Welsh songs that have real depth. Great with your morning devotions.

21. Things I Have Learned. Bob Jones Sr. Old fashion character.

22. “Allan” Bibles. The very best you can get. Expensive, but old time stitched pages, plus Highland Goatskin leather cover. Will last a life-time. Bring up site on-line.

Some of the above are out of print, but can be found on-line or in a good bookstore.

Blessings

The Meaning of "Deny Thyself"

“And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself... Peter then denied again…” Since the Bible interprets itself, we need not go to any other source. Peter did not deny the existence or presence of Christ, but having any relationship or camaraderie with Him. One can acknowledge the reality of Christ, yet deny Him any recognition or rights to his or her life.

And so it is with self-denial. When Jesus spoke of denying self, He was speaking of refusing the old Adamic nature that we were born with, any and all privileges in one’s life. His opinions, feelings, understanding, reasoning, morals, and wisdom, along with all his other ego-centric assertions, are to be denied him. HE HAS NO RIGHTS!

After these many years of living with the other “Me,” I find the best way to deal with his persuasive pleadings and logical arguments is to simply say, “NO!” then to ask God for His strength and help to keep on saying it.

Things You Didn’t Ask God For

“Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou…of the rest.” The widow was concerned only for the moment, how she could keep the creditors from taking her sons to be bondmen to pay off her indebtedness. She, no doubt, never imagined there would be an addendum to her immediate need being provided. And neither do many of us.

I don’t think most in this life will ever fully grasp the promise, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” God has a marvelous and blessed way of replacing our periods with a comma, and continuing our sentences. When David lost everything at Ziglag he asks the Lord, “Shall I pursue…shall I overtake?” Two questions. God answers him, then adds, “…for thou shalt surely…without fail recover all.” Too good to be true, David? Yes! Nevertheless, true.

If, at times, He answers before we call; He can certainly add to our requests after we call. (R.D.S.)

Life Stories

How would you like for your life to be recorded like many of the saints were in the Bible? Oh, I don’t mean the cosmetic part, but that underlying layer with all its hideous blemishes of character. That part we daily add extra make-up to lest any see us for what we really are. I, for one, am so thankful for God’s mercy in not writing of me and placing the biography in the bookstores for all to read.

Yet, it has pleased the Lord to record the lives of some of His children (Moses, David, Peter, Samson, etc.) as an example and warning, so that we might see the consequences of going our own ways. God did not intend these tell-all biographies to be punitive to these individuals, but to be informative to us. It’s the same principle found in Romans eleven. Their fall is our riches. I’m sure they were sorry for their sins, yet had joy in the fact that it kept back some others from emulating them. Thus, they were “…as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”

Anyone can play the fool once without being a fool. But when fooled twice at the same point, it is then that we truly become fools. As the saying goes, “There’s no fool like an old fool.” I certainly do not want to be a “vintage fool.”

The Chicken or the Egg

To settle the proverbial argument of which came first, the chicken or the egg, would be of no real consequence to anyone. But settling the Divine order of God’s Love and Truth—well, that is an entirely different story. In this case, the effect upon one’s life can be disastrous and far reaching if they’re arranged improperly.

In this sensual age in which we live, where the emphasis is on emotion, even Christians have come to believe love comes first. But they say this because everything in their life is judged by feeling. Therefore, they are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. They are as changeable as the weather. This type can experience all four yearly seasons within a twenty four hour period.

When God gives order to things it does not always mean that the first is most important, and those following are of lesser value, for example the Trinity. Truth comes before love. If not, you have no authority to assess if it is truly a God-like love. I find Christians who emphasize love before truth generally are trying to justify an ungodly life-style.

Biblical love is not born from one’s feelings, but originates in the will. We are told to love our enemies, and this certainly does not stem from our emotions. Love is an act of the will that manifests itself through our affections.

We’re told love rejoices in truth, and Jesus tells us the Word of God is truth. If one does not love and live by His book, it is because they have the wrong kind of love! If you don’t think the Bible is important, you might want to give ear to darling David. “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”

You can put the cart before the ox, but you’ll go nowhere but backward. (R.D.S.)

Temptation

“[Christ] was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” We’re told in another place, these “points” consist of three: “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” This trio, we are further told, is “common to all men.” They may not be the same in kind, but can be in degree. The converted immoralist does not have any more fire in his bosom to sin than the moralist with his inferno within.

C. S. Lewis writes, “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is…A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later. That is why bad people, in one sense, know very little about badness. They have lived a sheltered life by always giving in. We never find out the strength of the evil impulse inside us until we try to fight it; and Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means--the only complete realist.”

When the “temptee” says, “You don’t know what it’s like,” you can bet they’re ready to yield.” (RDS)

School Days

I was a teenager in the late 40’s and early 50’s. One of the fads of that day was to wear metal taps on the heel and toe of your shoes. The object supposedly was to keep them from wear; that is, from running over. But I must admit in most cases it was pride that was running over! When walking (strutting) down the marble-like floors in the hallway of the school you would have thought Fred Astaire had arrived!

It’s possible to do something under the guise of one reason, while all the time having an ulterior motive. Personal agendas hide behind many a pseudo respectable life. It may have seemed like a modest request when James and John asked to sit on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. But who would have been the first to be seen by onlookers after gazing upon our Lord? The worst type of pride is the kind that keeps one from admitting their proud.

George MacDonald writes, “It must be remembered that a little conceit is no more to be endured than a great one, but must be swept utterly away.” It might be a wise thing for all of us to go to our broom closets right now?

God Knows How To Get Our Attention

“Therefore Absalom sent for Joab... but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come. Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field… go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom…and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire? And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither.”

The text is self-explanatory, but I’m fearful that many pass over its practical application. That being, if we will not come willingly to God’s twice invite, He knows how to get our attention, so that we will come the third time, although the invitation card may be a little charred around the edges.

You can come willingly or unwillingly, but you will come, if that’s His pleasure. True, you may go away the way you came, but you will show up, sooner or later; even if He must drag you all the way. Paul put it like this, “If I do this thing willingly…but if against my will.” Notice, one way or the other, it would be done by him.

The important question for us to ask ourselves is, “Can I smell smoke? Is my field on fire? If so, as my Kentucky Granny used to say, “You’d better get a leg on.” If you don’t move soon, there will be nothing but ashes left. Salvage what you can now, before all goes up in smoke.

The King’s Key

“He that hath the key...he openeth...” How frustrating to be locked in a room; and how exciting to hear a key turn and the door open! Jesus has the master key; in fact, He is the Master Key. He can open any and all situations that have locked us in, and that keep us from being or doing what He has planned for us. We are told that He can open hearts (Lydia); understanding (the Ephesians); eyes (Bartimaeus); the Scriptures (the Emmaus believers); and Heaven itself (John the Beloved). There is absolutely nothing closed to Him that He cannot open.

He has keys on His side (availability); He can open at random. He carries a key on His shoulders (strength); it’s His burden to see things open up, not ours. The Philadelphian believers were not strong, but they were faithful.

Some of us feel chained to something, and that iron bars are keeping us in an undesirable situation. Take heart, imprisoned saint; after prayer was made, it says of Peter in prison, “...his chains fell off...” and “...the iron gate opened to them of his own accord.” “It is no secret what God can do; what He’s done for others, He’ll do for you.”

When God opened the prison doors for Peter, Peter was resting,not restless. (RDS)

The Blame Game

It all started with man’s Fall in the Garden of Eden. Adam blamed God for giving him the woman who had given him the fruit; and Eve passed the blame on to the devil for beguiling her. But no soul has ever been freed from the pig pen of self-justification until he or she, in sincerity, cries out from his or her heart, “It’s not my brother or my sister, but me, O Lord…” Passing the buck, so to speak, will always leave one a pauper in character. The scriptural term, I believe, is “weighed and found wanting.”

Many spend their lives trying to convince themselves and those around them that it is someone else’s fault they are the way they are. But intelligent people are not taken in by such shamitry. For they see clearly standing before them an individual who is desperately trying to vindicate his or her life-style of miserable existence. For they know for them to point the finger at themselves would mean swimming up-stream, against the current. And with this sort of creature, the effort is not worth it.

Breaking or throwing out all the mirrors in our lives doesn’t solve anything. Only by taking a good, long, and honest look at ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word will we be truly changed for the better (11Cor.3:18).

There is no fortune in blaming others for our miss-fortune.

When Time Stood Still

I both like and use little quips. But you must be careful you do not equate them with the scriptures. Many have Bible principles, but many of them do not. One proverbial saying we use falls into this latter category: “Time stands still for no one.” You would have had a difficult time convincing Joshua of this.

“Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day… Sun, stand thou still…and the sun stood still… So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man.”

Someone may ask, “How do you explain such a thing?” My answer is, “You can’t explain a miracle, else it would not be a miracle.” It is not important to know the “how” of the miraculous, but to believe in the “fact” of it. The God who will one day say, “Time shall be no more,” has no difficulty in stopping the clock for one of His elect.

The practical teaching of this story is that God will give the necessary time to his child to finish the job He has entrusted him or her with, even if it takes a miracle to accomplish it. When things get to moving too fast for you, He will bring things to a stand still. No sooner did Joshua ask, than it was done. And so it is with those fulfilling His Will.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was stricken with cancer toward the end of his ministry. He called his family together and asked them to pray God would stay His hand till he was finished with a couple of manuscripts for books. God did just that. Then the dear man of God requested his loved ones to cease their intercession on his behalf.

God says through Isaiah, “Concerning the work of My Hands command ye me.” And Joshua did just that.

A Child with a New Toy

As a young Christian, some fifty-two years ago, I had the wonderful privilege of listening to that golden voiced tenor, Jack Holcomb. I sat spell-bound each night of that two week revival. I heard him sing such heart-warming old hymns as,” Tell Mother I’ll be there” and “Its Real.” But the one that captured my heart, and has held me a willing hostage these many years since, was a song entitled, “I Found the Answer; I Learned to Pray.”

When a saint truly discovers prayer, as a delight and not just a duty it will be the dawn of a new day in his or her life. He or she will be like a little child with a new toy, all excited, and taken up with their newfound happiness. A little tyke does not concern himself trying to figure out the creator’s part in the manufacturing of the toy he enjoys, but simply takes advantage of the benefit that has been so graciously afforded him.

And so it is with this marvelous thing called prayer, it is better experienced than explained. Or as the old camp meeting preacher said concerning attempting to describe salvation, “It’s better felt than telt.” In the Holy Scriptures we find God has a part, and He has given to man a part. We are only responsible for ours. God is more than qualified to fulfill His part. As my dear Mother used to say, “Don’t you worry your pretty little head over it.” Mark it down, prayer will never be a blessing in your life until you cease from your own wisdom and understanding of it. O, child of God, just pray, and leave all the rest to Him!

“The Lord Jesus is still praying,” wrote S.D. Gordon. “Thirty years of living,; thirty years of serving; one tremendous act of dying; two thousand years of prayer. What an emphasis on prayer.”

The Unappreciated Gift

God gave Aaron and the priesthood to Israel as a gift from Himself. But then we are told He gave the Levites to the priesthood for a gift to them. The latter was given so they might help in menial tasks those that were ministering to the Lord. Though the Levites may be seen by some as having a lesser important job, nevertheless they were held in high esteem in God’s sight.

God has given to each of us someone who keeps us going, who keeps us on the firing line, so to speak. Someone who may be in the shadows, and who is little or never noticed, for the important tasks they perform for us. Moses had Joshua; Paul had Timothy; Aquila had Priscilla; Esther had Mordecai; etc. Have you thanked God for that person, or persons, that God brought into your life that has been such a help and blessing to you? Remember, they are a gift from the Lord to you, “And I, behold, I have taken your brethren… from among… you… [they are] given [as] a gift for the LORD, to do the service… (Num.18:6).