— Deuteronomy 5:24
God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, 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 bringeth his people ofttimes 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 forth to work their deliverance. He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft 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 which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.
Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening : Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
A friend sent this today. Mr. Spurgeon was wise and words are here weighty. Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Trials, then, remind us, who it is we serve, and truly, that we do not hold ourselves- but He holds us. He is BIG and we - tiny.
My waters always seem big to me, I always come back to my age old "thorn" - "it's alway about me" - LIE - it is always about Him. He is faithful, we fall on His grace and He saves us, because - of me- Oh, no! because its who He is.
A friend sent this today. Mr. Spurgeon was wise and words are here weighty. Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man. Trials, then, remind us, who it is we serve, and truly, that we do not hold ourselves- but He holds us. He is BIG and we - tiny.
My waters always seem big to me, I always come back to my age old "thorn" - "it's alway about me" - LIE - it is always about Him. He is faithful, we fall on His grace and He saves us, because - of me- Oh, no! because its who He is.
3 comments:
Beautiful, encouraging, and convicting words, dear Jo. Yes, I've learned lessons in my trials that I would have never have learned otherwise. How good and kind and merciful God is to us, each minute of the day.
Trisha,
I love that He starts where we are not where we think we should have been or should be. He is indeed, gracious and merciful.
This is what I've been thinking about a lot lately. I am trying to really meditate on what it means to humble myself before God.
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