"The Quiet and the Shadows"

(a repeat from 2009)

"The Quiet and the Shadows"

   

        The vast preponderance of God's working in the world occurs, as it were,  in the shadows, behind the scenes, and below the surface. This was true in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is true in the life of the church.

    "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written" (John 21:25).

    "But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth" (Matthew 6:3).

    Public Christianity has its place, but it is a small one in relative terms. Our Lord has far more grist for the mill in the throngs of unknown believers who quietly walk and minister in their everyday lives. Modern times would seem to belie this because mass media makes it so possible for ministers and ministries to become broadly influential to the masses.  However, the truth remains that just as in the life of the Lord Jesus, most of God's doings by His church are effected in the quiet and the shadows where all glory is given to Him for His doings.

    This truth speaks powerfully to you and to me. We are among the hidden company through whom our Heavenly Father determines to most fulfill His purposes. We will receive little or no notice for our role, and will even be called to aggressively seek anonymity regarding our ministering to others.  Our Lord commands that we not even let our left hand know what our right hand is doing.  Our flesh may be tempted to chafe at such forgottenness.  We counter the temptation by remembering the confession of John the Baptist: "There cometh One mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose" (Mark 1:7).  Indeed, our sins were the reason the Lord Jesus was tortured to death, and forsaken of God and man. All pride for doings and fleshly lust for notoriety dies on the altar of such remembrance, and the quiet and the shadows becomes our most cherished venue of ministry.

"As the dew that brought sweet manna, and then quietly stole away,

we 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 us be forgotten, Lord, let us be forgotten."

"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake."

(Psalm 115:1)

Weekly Memory Verse

    If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.

 (I Peter 4:14)