Gems for the Weekend
May 7
"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue." (2 Peter 1:3)
Do you excuse yourself for your shallowness on the ground that the circumstances in which you find yourself are not advantageous to the kind of a life that you would like to live? You have reasoned it out and you think that it would be different if you were living in a different position. There is not one thing lacking! We have complete equipment. God is not going to put us into a position where we cannot live for Him and yet ask us to live for Him. He has given us all things necessary; right in your present position God has given you the fullest resources to live for Him. We do not have to wait until we are older, or know our Bibles better, before we begin to live for Him. (C.H. Brown)
N.J. Hiebert # 2240
"No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)
In a small art studio I observed the works of an artist who portrays western scenes and people. An unfinished sketch on his easel reminded me of the story of a boy who sat at his mother's desk, drawing a picture. Using a fountain pen and a bottle of black ink, he exhibited considerable talent in sketching a picture of a dog. But he stopped drawing before giving the dog a tail. When his mother noticed the picture, she asked, "Where is the tail?" Looking up, he explained, "It's still in the bottle."
As Christians, we are sometimes like that boy. We don't always finish what we start. Despite laying plans that honour the Lord, we fail to put them into practice or to follow them through to completion. Perhaps we intend to devote more time to the reading and study of the Word of God. Or maybe we resolve to be more faithful in praying for others. And for a while we do better. But then we let other things take priority. We start the picture, but we don't finish it.
When Deborah, Israel's fourth judge, sang her song of victory (Judges 5:2-31), she mentioned that the people of the tribe of Reuben had great resolves of heart (v.15). But she also noted with dismay that they were content to sit "among the sheepfolds" (v.16). They had not turned their plans into action.
How rewarding it is to carry out a project to completion! Our plans can't glorify God if they are "still in the bottle." Let's take up the pen, fill it with ink, and finish what we start. (P.R.V.)
If a task is once begun,
Never leave it till it's done;
Be the labour great or small,
Do it well or not at all. (Anon)
Even if you are on the right track, you won't get anywhere if you just sit there.
OUR DAILY BREAD, RBC MINISTRIES, COPYRIGHT (1985), GRAND RAPIDS, MI REPRINTED PERMISSION
N.J. Hiebert # 2241
