If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. 1 Peter 4:11.
Christ is our pattern, and those who follow Christ will not walk in darkness; for they will not seek their own pleasure. To glorify God will be the continual aim of their life. . . . But how many who have been entrusted with talents of means and influence have lost sight of the pattern, and followed the standard of the world. . . . Men and women who have been blessed with an abundance of money, with houses and with lands, generally train their children to a life of idleness and selfish indulgence. Thus they are made useless for this life, and unfit for the future, immortal life. . . . The youth of today are educated to believe that it is the money that makes the man.
Our power is not in our talents of education or means, neither is it in our popularity; it is in self-sacrifice, our willing obedience to Jesus Christ. Those who truly surrender all to Him, will carry a weight of influence, and will carry others along with them, because they walk in the light. Brain power will be inefficient, purse power of little account with God; but heart power, thorough godliness, humble fidelity, will bear a weight of influence that will be irresistible.
Shall we not consecrate ourselves to God without reserve? Christ, the King of glory, gave Himself a ransom for us. Can we withhold anything from Him? Shall we think our poor, unworthy selves too precious, our time or property too valuable, to give to Jesus?–No, no; the deepest homage of our hearts, the most skillful service of our hands, our talents of ability and of means,–all are but too poor an offering to bring to Him who was slain and has “redeemed us to God by his blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
Sons and Daughters of God p. 236
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Sons and Daughters of God p. 236
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Prayer requests:
—–We got a call last night telling us that Durwin has had a stroke and was in surgery..please hold Durwin and Virginia up in prayer to our gracious Lord! Thanks! Doug
—–I pray God will give my friend Fay (who has is ill and his lost the use of her legs), Randy, her children, grandchildren & fiends peace and comfort. I pray he will show His great mercy and love to all. Fran
—–Please pray for LS that God will guide her and supply all her needs and JT that God will supply him with a good job. LH
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Dear Friends
Over the years, we have lived in many different cities and states. Wherever we go, one of the first things we do is find a church to attend where we can feel totally at one with the service. This has sometimes been difficult. Some places we have attended have been a real blessing. They are truly a place to come and worship our Great Redeemer. Others have been less of a blessing.
When we first attended one particular church, we were impressed. The worship service helped us keep our focus on God. Little by little over the course of a few years, that focus was lost. During the prayer request and praise time, some began to praise other members of the congregation instead of praising God. Soon more members joined in this misdirected praise. Strangely, once praise was focused upon one another instead of on the great King of the Universe, the spirit of unity in that church suffered. Things went from bad to worse and eventually many members went elsewhere or just quit going to church altogether. It was very sad.
Just so, our Dear Saviour was filled with sadness as He saw the deterioration of the worship service in the temple when He was on this earth. The ceremonies, established by God, first at the gates of Eden after sin entered the world (Gen 3) and then more illustratively shortly after the Exodus, lost their meaning to most. Even the priests had lost sight of the true ”Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29 Gradually, the service became nothing more than a form, a ceremony, but a little above the ceremonies of the nations around them. The leaders cheated the people who came to bring their offering. Many turned away in sadness or disgust. How heartsick this made the One of Whom all these services pointed. John records the fulfillment of David’s prophecy in Psalm 69. “And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” John 2:13-17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Mark 11:17
How careful we should be to worship God aright and not make the same mistake that those church leaders did at the time of Christ. Church is not a social club or a place where we come to entertain or be entertained. Church is not a place to make business contacts. Church is not a place to look at others and compare ourselves among ourselves. Church is a place to come to worship the One Who gave Himself for us that we might have eternal life in His Heavenly Home. How vital it is that we keep our focus on our Great Creator Who longs to meet us in His Sanctuary. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” Ps 95:1-6
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Ps 34:3 “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Let us ever look “unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:28, 2
Rose
Read more at the source: Glory Not in Talent and Influence
Article posted on en.intercer.net from Rose’s Devotional.
Rose’s Devotionals are prepared by Rose Hartwell, one of the Intercer founders. Since 1999, Rose sends out a daily devotional newsletter that includes a commentary on a Bible passage, a list of prayer requests for the current week and an illustration from daily life that applies to the Bible passage in study.
