GOLDEN WORDS
What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and loose his own soul?
Mark 8:36
To know your ruling passion, examine your castles in the air.
Richard Whately
Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©
May 12
"He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. `I have
had enough, Lord,' he said. `Take my life...'" 1 Kings 19:4.
Here we have the great Elijah, from triumph to despair! He is subject to the human
emotions we all feel at times. Who of us has not said, "I have had enough of
this!" But God doesn't answer this prayer; instead, He sends an angel, not once but
twice, to Elijah to feed him. When Elijah is strong again, he travels on to Horeb—and
hides in a cave!
God isn't going to let him get away with that, either. "What are you doing here,
Elijah, so far away from your duties? What are you doing here, Elijah, you of all my
people who should have remained at your post? My past compassions to you should have
strengthened and served you especially for a time such as this."
God understands when we cry out in exhaustion and heartache and despair. Just as He
brought Elijah out of the cave, He will bring us out of the darkness of our cave into His
light once again (Psalm 18:28). Elijah thought his labor was useless; that it had come to
nothing. Those with the highest and holiest purposes are the very ones who experience such
intense dejection and rejection. As the vine had withered over his head, Elijah's heart
withered at the thought that he had failed.
A saint left this thought with us: "So, in the Lord's ministry, the nucleus of the
Church was not found in the applauding multitudes on Olivet, but in the few faithful ones
in the garden of Gethsemane." Sometimes we have to enter the cave for the contrast of
light and darkness, and then come out for an even better perspective and service for our
Lord.
Pat Nordman ©
May 13
"But I said, `I have labored to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain and
for nothing. Yet what is due me is in the Lord's hand, and my reward is with my
God.'" Isaiah 49:4.
When Keats was dying he said, "I have written my name in water." He didn't
realize at the time, nor would he have cared, that it was written in marble. This is true
of many while they live; they have no idea of the influence and the beauty they will leave
behind. During life their love and hopes were not reciprocated nor their mistakes
vindicated, so they feel they have disappointed God and others. Especially if they aimed
high do they feel a crash.
Many of God's servants have despaired of their seeming inadequacies. Elijah mourned,
"I am no better than my ancestors" (1 Kings 19:4); Moses lamented, "I
cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy" (Numbers 11:14);
and David felt like giving up: "One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of
Saul" (1 Samuel 27:1). And then there was Jesus, most certainly a failure, who was
crucified by the majority.
But God sees all this in a very different light. Instead of comparing our work with that
of others, let us refer it to His fair judgment. "My reward is with my God," not
with men. It's impossible for us to estimate our life's work. Even the Messiah became
disheartened: "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate
people" (Romans 10:21).
God judges by motive and mission. Many a noble effort slips by relatives and friends, but
God sees and knows all. If we keep in mind that our Brother Jesus missed out on fame and
fortune while on earth, then we can forget about reward. For His unceasing kindness Jesus
was rewarded with the ultimate cruelty of being nailed to a cross, so we need not worry or
complain about what we receive or don't receive on earth.
Pat Nordman ©
Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions |
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| "And will manifest myself to him." - John 14:21 |
"Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again." - Genesis 46:3,4 |
The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. |
Even beyond the ocean our Father's love beams like the sun in its strength. We cannot hesitate to go where Jehovah promises his presence; even the valley of deathshade grows bright with the radiance of this assurance. |
| Spurgeon's Morning for May 13 | Spurgeon's Evening for May 13 |
| "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." - Psalm 30:5 |
Thou art my portion, O Lord." - Psalm 119:57 |
Christian! If thou art in a night of trial, think of the morrow; cheer up thy heart with the thought of the coming of thy Lord. Be patient, for "Lo! He comes with clouds descending." |
Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant, and flows to them in constant streams, until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with thy God? |
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Current Bible Question ?
What king prophesied while accompanied by a minstrel?
Previous question and Answer:
How did Michal, David's wife, help David to escape the king's messengers?
She put a dummy in the bed (1 Samuel 19:12-16)
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MINE by Cathy Vinson
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What is in a soul that will break out and exclaim "Mine is...!"? What sort of possession has occurred to call that out? Isn't there in every day that which presents itself closest to our heart, when acknowledged to God becomes "mine?" Life is so full. One moment lends itself to the next, joy then sorrow, etc. Who can know it, who can have it? We go through the day accumulating events and impressions, ones that will run through our fingers like water if not acknowledged to God. Matthew 6:4,6,18 speak of our Father "who is in secret" and "sees in secret." It is here where life is transformed from runaway water to a thread that weaves into a story and becomes "mine." Farjean wrote the above phrase in a song as it escalates to verse 3: "Mine is...!" She has been acknowledging the steps of her God in the new morning and now realizes she has gained it as hers. Let us not lose through our daily noise and busyness that which is meant to be ours. We may even pray a prayer that calls Jesus into that locked up, dark territory. "When you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them" (Mk 11:24). As the Shepherd comes back with that lamb upon His shoulders (Lk 15), who can steal away the elation of answered prayer? "you shall have..." It is mine. If there is any type of possessiveness favorable in this lifetime might it be sought here, the reward of the God who is in secret. © Send a note to Cathy Vinson
, the writer of this devotion. |
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More Whispers from the Wilderness
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