Our unconscious, perpetual, pervading, and immortal difference
"To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Corinthians 2:16
Every human life has an influence in this world. Our impact perpetually continues on every side. If our lives are true and good — then this influence is a blessing to other lives. Let us never set in motion any influence that we would later want buried. When we think of our unconscious, perpetual, pervading, and immortal difference in the world — we can only cry out, "Who is sufficient for these things?" How can we hope that the efforts from our lives will always be blessed? Let us be faithful in all our duties, obligations, and responsibilities — in act, word, and attitude, all our days, in whatever makes an impact. In no other way, can we fulfill the responsibility of living for others.
"To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?" 2 Corinthians 2:16
Every human life has an influence in this world. Our impact perpetually continues on every side. If our lives are true and good — then this influence is a blessing to other lives. Let us never set in motion any influence that we would later want buried. When we think of our unconscious, perpetual, pervading, and immortal difference in the world — we can only cry out, "Who is sufficient for these things?" How can we hope that the efforts from our lives will always be blessed? Let us be faithful in all our duties, obligations, and responsibilities — in act, word, and attitude, all our days, in whatever makes an impact. In no other way, can we fulfill the responsibility of living for others.
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Yes, Lord!
"Lord, what will You have me to do?" Acts 9:6
Whatever command God gives — we should instantly and cheerfully answer, "Yes, Lord, I am ready to obey!"
It is not hard to say "Yes, Lord!" when God leads us in pleasant paths, where the flowers are plentiful, where the way is smooth and agreeable. But we know that sometimes the path is covered with thorns and is rough and steep — or runs through fire or flood. We are still called always to say, "Yes, Lord!" If God calls us to some trial or cross-bearing or sacrifice, our answer should always be the same. We should be able to trust His loving heart — when our eyes cannot see blessing or goodness in the way He takes us. Every true path of God leads to rich joy!
"Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path!" Psalm 27:11
"He led them forth by the right way" Psalm 107:7
"Lord, what will You have me to do?" Acts 9:6
Whatever command God gives — we should instantly and cheerfully answer, "Yes, Lord, I am ready to obey!"
It is not hard to say "Yes, Lord!" when God leads us in pleasant paths, where the flowers are plentiful, where the way is smooth and agreeable. But we know that sometimes the path is covered with thorns and is rough and steep — or runs through fire or flood. We are still called always to say, "Yes, Lord!" If God calls us to some trial or cross-bearing or sacrifice, our answer should always be the same. We should be able to trust His loving heart — when our eyes cannot see blessing or goodness in the way He takes us. Every true path of God leads to rich joy!
"Teach me your way, O LORD; lead me in a straight path!" Psalm 27:11
"He led them forth by the right way" Psalm 107:7
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If God sent two angels to earth
Use your one talent for God's glory — and He will give you more to use. Do the little duties faithfully — and you will grow in skill and ability and be able for greater duties. No duties are small or unimportant. There are many who grow discouraged, because they are occupied all their lives with little tasks. Men praise grand and heroic deeds — and no notice is taken of the common, sacrificial deeds of daily duty. But someone once said, that if God sent two angels to earth, one to rule an empire and the other to clean a street — they would each regard their employment as equally distinguished. True faithfulness regards nothing as small or unimportant.
The service of the angels in Heaven's glory, is no more radiant than the faithful duty of the lowliest saint on earth.
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Use your one talent for God's glory — and He will give you more to use. Do the little duties faithfully — and you will grow in skill and ability and be able for greater duties. No duties are small or unimportant. There are many who grow discouraged, because they are occupied all their lives with little tasks. Men praise grand and heroic deeds — and no notice is taken of the common, sacrificial deeds of daily duty. But someone once said, that if God sent two angels to earth, one to rule an empire and the other to clean a street — they would each regard their employment as equally distinguished. True faithfulness regards nothing as small or unimportant.
The service of the angels in Heaven's glory, is no more radiant than the faithful duty of the lowliest saint on earth.
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If He were in our place
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The spirit of Christian love, if allowed to work deeply and thoroughly in all hearts and lives — will prevent divisions and alienation among Christians. It will lead us to forget ourselves and think of others, not pushing our own interests excessively nor demanding the first place, but in honor preferring one another. It will make us willing . . .
to serve,
to minister,
to stoop down to wash a brother's feet.
It will make us thoughtful, too, in all our acts, in all our manners, in all our words. It will make us gentle, kind, and patient, teaching us to be all that Jesus would be,if He were in our place.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" Matthew 11:29
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The spirit of Christian love, if allowed to work deeply and thoroughly in all hearts and lives — will prevent divisions and alienation among Christians. It will lead us to forget ourselves and think of others, not pushing our own interests excessively nor demanding the first place, but in honor preferring one another. It will make us willing . . .
to serve,
to minister,
to stoop down to wash a brother's feet.
It will make us thoughtful, too, in all our acts, in all our manners, in all our words. It will make us gentle, kind, and patient, teaching us to be all that Jesus would be,if He were in our place.
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart" Matthew 11:29
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We are like Christ
"May Your will be done on earth — as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:10
Obedience is what Heaven is made of. All the life of Heaven, is simply perfect obedience. A little bit of Heaven comes into our lives on earth, when we learn to obey the will of God. Obedience is the mark of royalty. Wherever God finds a soul that is ready to always yield to His will, to do His commandments without question, and to submit to His care without murmuring — there is a person whom He is ready to crown.
We are like Christ — only as much as we learn to obey and do God's will. Heaven comes down into our heart — only as we yield our lives to God.
"If you love Me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23
"May Your will be done on earth — as it is in Heaven." Matthew 6:10
Obedience is what Heaven is made of. All the life of Heaven, is simply perfect obedience. A little bit of Heaven comes into our lives on earth, when we learn to obey the will of God. Obedience is the mark of royalty. Wherever God finds a soul that is ready to always yield to His will, to do His commandments without question, and to submit to His care without murmuring — there is a person whom He is ready to crown.
We are like Christ — only as much as we learn to obey and do God's will. Heaven comes down into our heart — only as we yield our lives to God.
"If you love Me, you will obey what I command." John 14:15
"If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23
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We are lifted up in the arms of omnipotence
"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother!" Proverbs 18:24
God helps and blesses us through our friendships, but these are meant only to draw us up to Himself. Jesus is the only man in whom we can have eternal trust. All other friendships are only shadows — His is the perfect friendship.
Behind the sweet, gentle, human qualities in Jesus which make it so easy for us to come to Him and rest in Him — is the power of the eternal God. When we come to His precious human love, for which our hearts crave and which seems so satisfying — we know that His infinite, divine fullness lies behind the tender warmth of the Son of God. His humanity comes very close to us, and we only need to lay our heads upon its bosom. Then when we lean on Him, we are lifted up in the arms of omnipotence.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!" Isaiah 9:6
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"There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother!" Proverbs 18:24
God helps and blesses us through our friendships, but these are meant only to draw us up to Himself. Jesus is the only man in whom we can have eternal trust. All other friendships are only shadows — His is the perfect friendship.
Behind the sweet, gentle, human qualities in Jesus which make it so easy for us to come to Him and rest in Him — is the power of the eternal God. When we come to His precious human love, for which our hearts crave and which seems so satisfying — we know that His infinite, divine fullness lies behind the tender warmth of the Son of God. His humanity comes very close to us, and we only need to lay our heads upon its bosom. Then when we lean on Him, we are lifted up in the arms of omnipotence.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given . . . and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!" Isaiah 9:6
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The blemishes and faults of others
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
We should learn to look at the blemishes and faults of others — only through the eyes of love, with sympathy, patience, and compassion. We do not know thesecret history of the lives of others around us. We do not know what piercing sorrows have produced the scars we see in people's lives. We do not know the painsand trials which make life hard, to many with whom we are tempted to be impatient. If we knew all the secret burdens and the heart-wounds which many keep hidden beneath their smiling faces — we would be patient and gentle with all people.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8
We should learn to look at the blemishes and faults of others — only through the eyes of love, with sympathy, patience, and compassion. We do not know thesecret history of the lives of others around us. We do not know what piercing sorrows have produced the scars we see in people's lives. We do not know the painsand trials which make life hard, to many with whom we are tempted to be impatient. If we knew all the secret burdens and the heart-wounds which many keep hidden beneath their smiling faces — we would be patient and gentle with all people.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12
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The way to waste our life
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Luke 9:24
The way to waste our life, is . . .
to be very protective of it,
to hold it back from dangerous duty and costly service,
to save it from the work of self-denial and sacrifice.
The way to make our life an eternal success, is to do with it what Jesus did with His — present it a living sacrifice to God, to be used wholly for Him. Some say He threw His life away — and so it certainly seemed, up to the morning of His resurrection. But no one would say that now of Christ. The throwing away of His life — led to its glory. In no other way can we make anything worthy of our life. Saving is losing. It is losing life in devotion to Christ and His service, which saves a life for Heavenly honor and glory.
"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it." Luke 9:24
The way to waste our life, is . . .
to be very protective of it,
to hold it back from dangerous duty and costly service,
to save it from the work of self-denial and sacrifice.
The way to make our life an eternal success, is to do with it what Jesus did with His — present it a living sacrifice to God, to be used wholly for Him. Some say He threw His life away — and so it certainly seemed, up to the morning of His resurrection. But no one would say that now of Christ. The throwing away of His life — led to its glory. In no other way can we make anything worthy of our life. Saving is losing. It is losing life in devotion to Christ and His service, which saves a life for Heavenly honor and glory.
~J. R. Miller~
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