"The Blessed Obscurity"

   Most of humanity's achievements - I suspect about 99.99% - result from the dedication, work, and self sacrifice of people who labor in complete obscurity.

   By this, I mean no disrespect to the famous and well-known, many of whom achieve their status by their own determination and effort.  I simply mean to suggest that like the subatomic particles and unseen forces that comprise matter and energy, the unknown and the obscure accomplish by far most of humanity's doings.

  As a tribute while writing this piece, I am listening to the composer Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare For the Common Man".  I'm a huge fan of such folk, and am blessed to know so many who do so much without being noticed.  Many of these intentionally labor in the shadows as the expression of their relationship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Not unto us, o Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory!" (Psalm 115:1).  Believers seek to honor and draw attention to Someone other than ourselves, leading us to purposefully live in such manner that we do not inform our left hand of the the doings of the right (Matthew 6:3).

   In our spheres of influence, we must all consciously take steps to direct attention to the Lord Jesus, and away from ourselves.  Our demeanor and our attitudes must bear the "Not unto us… but unto Thy name!" determination of love, faith, and humility.  This does not mean that if we are noticed and appreciated, we should fail to graciously receive the encouragement (in so doing, we might end up drawing even more attention to ourselves).  We simply do not live our lives seeking human accolade and affirmation.  Moreover, if possible, we take proactive action to ensure that we labor in the blessed obscurity wherein the brightest Light shines upon us.  Only One is worthy of honor, glory, and the "Name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:9).  Let us rejoice in His worthiness and in the peace of the shadows where we best live and labor.

"It is written, He that glorieth, let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord."

(I Corinthians 1:31)

Weekly Memory Verse

   He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

(Proverbs 11:28)

"Able To Receive"

   When we begin conducting service in retirement communities and nursing homes many years ago, a good friend counseled that I should be careful to avoid evaluating the residents' capacity to understand and assimilate information.  "They may not be able to respond, Glen," my friend said.  "However, they may be well able to receive."

   Such advice serves us well in our ministry, and not only to those with physical liabilities.  Some people do not give evidence of spiritual response when first presented with God's truth.

   "A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first" (Matthew 21:28-31).

    Ours in not to judge fruit, especially concerning the appearance of initial response, but rather to faithfully present "the Root of the righteous" that leads to a bountiful spiritual harvest in God's time (Proverbs 12:12).  Some who initially reject the Lord and His truth come to their senses as the Holy Spirit works in their hearts.  Others who seem to quickly respond ultimately reveal no lasting and fruit bearing faith.  Only God sees to the heart of such matters of His grace and truth, thus challenging us avoid both discouragement and overmuch excitement as we communicate the Gospel to our hearers.

   No less than the Apostle Paul initially rejected the Lord Jesus, to the degree of persecuting His followers.  Many others will likely grace the courts of Heaven who seemed to us as having no means of spiritual  receptivity, but who later came to their senses.  Long ago, this lesson presented itself in those with compromised physical capacity for response, and I seek to remember it in both ways.  You never know who's hearing with their hearts, and who is not.  Nor do we need to know as we fulfill our role of sowing seed, while trusting God for nurture and harvest.

"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

(John 7:24)

Weekly Memory Verse

   He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

(Proverbs 11:28)

“The Us and the We”

    The Lord Jesus Christ delivers us from existence as merely a “me” to an abundant life as a “we.”

    “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:20-23).

    I must confess to a bit of frustration every time I read this prayer of our Savior.  The glory for which He makes request to our Father seems so transcendent and wondrous that, as the old hymn suggests, “I scarce can take it in.”  Indeed, the Lord Jesus prays for the uniting of His trusting children with Himself and the Father (as actualized by the indwelling Holy Spirit), and then dies and rises again to make the gift possible.   For all who thereafter receive the blessedness by faith, life becomes the “us” and the “we” referenced in the Lord’s request - the “us” and the “we” as realized and experienced with God.

    Attempting to communicate such inscrutable truth to others increases the frustration all the more.  However, I fall back upon the fact that some Truth can only be declared rather than fully explained.  Too often through the years I’ve attempted to speak of that which I know little or nothing of.  In this case, therefore, allow me to reiterate that the Lord Jesus invites us to life as a “we” and an “us” with Himself, His Father, and the Holy Spirit.  I’ll allow the latter Party of the triune God to personally interpret such glory to each of our hearts.

    How beloved we must be, that our Lord so cherishes our hearts as to make them His home.  May we more and more realize how near He has drawn to us, and how near we are to Him.  “One in Us” - the Lord Jesus prayed, died, and rose again to make possible this most sublime and wondrous of gifts.  He sent His Spirit to actualize it, and then His Word to tell us of the glory.   Oh yes, how beloved we must be…

“God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
(Ephesians 2:4-7)

Weekly Memory Verse
    He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
(Proverbs 11:28)