"The Lord's Doing"

     One of the most joyful experiences in our relationship with God involves those times when He provides opportunity to perform things for others that our beneficiaries will never know we have done for them.

    "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Matthew 6:1-3).

    In such times, the doings of the right hand actually serve as the extension of the Lord's own hands.  He privileges us to include us in His working on behalf of others, and the matter is so personal between Him and the beneficiary that it is best that the one blessed never knows of our involvement.  Moreover, our blessing lies in the realization of our Heavenly Father having privileged us to see Him expressing His love to another, with our own heart and hand quietly serving as His holy means of grace.  "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23).

    Our fleshly inclinations, of course, would have our right hand not only informing the left of its actions, but the hands of all others as well.  "Look at what I've done!"  Conversely, our spirits, as motivated and empowered by the Holy Spirit, seek the hidden place of anonymity and the path of "no reputation" the Lord Jesus Christ trod during His earthly sojourn (Philippians 2:7).  "Look at what He's done!"  This is the desire and sensibility of the Spirit-led right hand, and of the heart that rejoices in being the hidden means by which the glory not of ourselves, but of our blessed Savior shines forth in open display.

Let Me Be Forgotten

As the dew which brought sweet manna, and then quietly stole away,
I long to be forgotten, Lord, to seek no accolade.
For each day the Light grows brighter, as it shines from Your dear face,
only One is due all honor, only One inhabits praise.

So let me be forgotten, Lord, let me be forgotten.

Yes, I see it, Lord, no, I see them, those prints upon Your hands,
and I know that 'til forever, the cry of heavenly lands
will sing 'Bless the name of Jesus, praise to the Father be,'
as by the Spirit's humble heart we hide our face, fall to our knees...

Yes, let me be forgotten, Lord, let me be forgotten.
Oh, take my life and let it be a hidden cross revealing Thee.

"Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory!"
(Psalm 115:1)