Crevice with a View - Charles Spurgeon

God's great design in all His work is the manifestation of His own glory. Any aim less than this would be unworthy of Himself.

But how shall the glory of God be manifested in such fallen creatures as we are?
Man's eye is not single in its focus; he always has a side glance toward his own glory, has too high an estimate of his own powers and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord.


It is clear then that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted.

And this is the reason why He often brings His people into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when He comes to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path will see but little of the glory of God, for he has few occasions for self-emptying and hence but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God.

They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks shall know but little of the God of tempests; but they who are doing "business on the great waters" see "His wondrous works in the deep."*

Among the huge waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach we learn the power of Jehovah, because we find the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led  by a rough road. It is this that has given you your experience of God's greatness and loving-kindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained through no other means.

Your trials have been the crevice of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as He did His servant Moses, that you might behold His glory as it passed by.

Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance that continued prosperity might have involved, but in the great fight of affliction you have been qualified for the outshining of His glory in His wonderful dealings with you.

                   --- Charles  Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Then the LORD said, "There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see my back; but My face must not be seen."  Exodus 33:21-23
                                 

*Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, His wonderful deeds in the deeps. For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves, they mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths.

In their peril their courage melted away, they reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wit's end. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper, the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it became calm, and He guided them to their desired haven.   Psalm 107:23-30

The Tongue - A Weapon

 

                                                 When is the Tongue a Weapon?

From James, Chapter 3:

"The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider how a great forest is set in fire by a small spark. The tongue is also a fire...it corrupts the whole body...no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in Christ's likeness. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."

Lord, You caution us in Your Word to be careful with our tongue. It is a small but powerful tool. It can be a dangerous weapon! Our words can harm, wound, discourage people around us who are made in Your image.

We are surrounded by people who want to damage others -- social media, TV, speakers and ranters, all pouncing on others and  causing chaos.

It is all around us. They distort truth and spread malicious lies.

Help us to discern truth in the midst of all the hateful rhetoric.

But also help us model a different way of communication -- Your way. Make our words speak the truth in love, thoughtful and kind, and full of Your grace and mercy -- like You speak to us.

As You have been to us, help us to be to others.

We want to bless the world with Your beauty. Help us be different from the world around us! Where there is hate, help us bring love.

And praise and gratitude  to You for hearing our prayers.

Amen

What is Special Revelation? - J I Packer

The Bible teaches about two different kinds of revelation.

There is the revelation in nature, which is usually called general
revelation, and there is a more specific revelation, revealed, not in nature, but in Scripture, which is usually called special revelation.

What is Special Revelation?

J. I Packer talks about special revelation, occurring the three phases:

First, there is revelation in history.

God is a God who acts.

This truth, perhaps more than any other, clearly distinguishes Christianity from other religions of the world.

Christianity is not, as Eastern religions would say of themselves, essentially a discipline by which we direct our thoughts and so order our lives that we progress in the direction of truth and eventually merge with the Eternal.

Christianity is not so much a way of life as it is the intervention of God in history.

We read in Genesis that God "created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

"God created man" (Genesis 1:27).

God called Abraham to create a special nation through whom a Deliverer would come.

God acted in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, to die and rise again for our salvation.


Second, there is revelation in writing.

We can see at once how essential this is. Because when we speak or write, as I just have, about the revelation of God in history  --  about God's creating the heavens and the earth, creating man, calling Abraham, and eventually sending Jesus Christ to die for our sin --  we want to ask, But how do we know that God has done these things?

We know through the Bible God has given us.

First, God acts. Secondly, He reveals Himself in inspired writing that we might understand what He has done.


Third, there is revelation to the individual mind and heart.

This is the work of God's Holy Spirit by which our minds are opened to understand and receive what has been written.

As a result, we are changed so that the Bible's teaching becomes no longer merely an academic thing but the actual point at which we hear God speaking.

But again, notice the centrality of the Bible.

We talk about the revelation of God in history, in writing, and in the personal illumination of the mind by the Holy Spirit.

But the Bible is at the center of the process.

The only way we know about God's acts in history is through the Bible, and the only point at which we hear the voice of God speaking to us personally is , again, through the Bible.

The whole process of God's work is centered in the record of it in God's Word, the Bible.

Stay Sober

A story......

This story is about a man who imagined himself to be quite spiritual. He was talking with a more mature friend, and he asked his friend to pray for him that he might be humble. "Pray for me that I might be nothing," he said

.

His friend wisely replied,, "You are nothing, brother, take it by faith."

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose
the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
I Corinthians 1:27-29

On the Other Hand....

These words from Ray Stedman:

Ray Stedman said that every morning when he got up he tried to remind himself of three things:

First, I am made in the image of God. I am not an animal and I don't have to behave like an animal. I have an ability within me, given to me by God himself, to respond and relate to God. Therefore I can behave as a man and not as a beast.

Second, I am filled with the Spirit of God. The most amazing thing has happened! Though I do not deserve it in the least degree, I have the power of God himself at work within me. I have become, in some sense, the bearer of God, and God himself is willing to be at work in me through the problems and pressures I go through this day.

Third, I am part of the plan of God. God is working out all things to a great and final purpose in the earth, and I am part of it. What I do today has purpose and significance and meaning. This is not a meaningless day I am going through. Even the smallest incident, the most apparently insignificant word or relationship, is involved in his great plan. Therefore all of it has meaning and purpose.

And so.....

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly that you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment.... Romans 12:3