THE BENEFITS OF A SNOWSTORM!

THE BENEFITS OF A SNOWSTORM!

Isa 45:22

22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

On January 6, 1850, a snowstorm almost crippled the city of Colchester, England; and a teenage boy was unable to get to the church he usually attended. So he made his way to a nearby Primitive Methodist chapel, where an ill-prepared layman was substituting for the absent preacher. His text was Isa 45:22 "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." For many months this young teenager had been miserable and under deep conviction, but though he had been reared in church (both his father and grandfather were preachers), he did not have the assurance of salvation.

The unprepared substitute minister did not have much to say, so he kept repeating the text. "A man need not go to college to learn to look," he shouted. "Anyone can look - a child can look!" About that time, he saw the visitor sitting to one side, and he pointed at him and said, "Young man, you look very miserable. Young man, look to Jesus Christ!"

The young man did look by faith, and that was how the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon was converted.

(from The Bible Exposition Commentary. Copyright © 1989 by Chariot Victor Publishing, and imprint of Cook Communication Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.)

Dear Lord, we gripe and complain when we are inconvenienced by the weather but we can’t know your reasons. Help us today to understand that we don’t understand and to submit to your purposes in everything. AMEN

YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

YOUR FOCUS REVEALS YOUR HEART!

Luke 18:9-14

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

          Do you see the difference between the Pharisee and the publican? The Pharisee was focused on himself. Actually two views are offered to explain the phrase “stood and prayed thus with himself.” One says that he stood aloof from the despised tax collector. This would have been the characteristic stance of all Pharisees as they thought themselves to be more holy than others. Another view is that the Pharisee stood and rehearsed the good deeds he had done which he supposed would win him favor with God. Five times he begins with the letter “I” in reminding God that he was worthy of being blessed.

          The Publican [one employed in collecting taxes and therefore hated] would not even lift up his eyes. Wycliffe says: “The Pharisee stood in the center of the temple area, where he would be noticed; the publican crept into a corner crying ‘God be merciful to me, the sinner.’ ” The Pharisee reached into his pocket to find good works which would impress a God who he thought required them. The Publican reached into an empty pocket and asked for mercy by virtue of God’s grace.

          Jesus Himself pronounced the result when he said “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” How sinister is the pride that stands while the humble and broken stoop. How vile is the pride that dares to look God in the face and demand blessings based upon a list of works. How charming and polite is the one who fears even the presence of God but pleads for mercy. How blind is pride?

Dear Savior, I know that today I am not worthy of the least of Thy mercies but I plead with you on the merits of Thy own Cross. AMEN

WHAT WILL I DO?

WHAT WILL I DO?

Ps 27:10

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

2 Sam 16:11

11 And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life:

Isa 49:15

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Our relationship with Jesus can’t be compared to any other relationship. The psalmist expressed the need of the orphan. David described the pain of having a son pursue him in battle. Isaiah could not imagine a nursing mother forgetting her duties. Yet our closest relationships sometimes fail.

1. What will I do when the one I rely on FAILS me?

This circumstance calls to our strength and independence. We dry our tears and we lie to ourselves and say that we did not need them anyway! We may pout, complain, or seek some kind of retribution. Some solid rock in our life has crumbled and we have lost our moorings.

The simple reality is that the most reliable of friends sometimes fail. They are, after all, only human and the frailty of being human make them susceptible to failure. The next question is more difficult.

2. What will I do when the one I rely on NEEDS me?

This is a greater strain on relationships and often proves whether love is the glue that holds it together. What will I do when the one who always lifts me up needs to be lifted? How will I respond when I must be the one to minister? Will I be strong or dependable enough? The Widow of Zarephath found herself responding to an impossible request. How did she respond? She simply gave what she had – she did what she could.

1 Kings 17:12

12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

3. What will I do when I feel I can’t do ANYTHING?

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater!

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase.

To added affliction, He addeth His mercy;

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.

His power has no boundary known unto men.

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus…

He giveth – and giveth – and giveth again!

Dear Lord, someone today feels drained and down! Please fill them and lift them up. AMEN