"The Rights of God" # 25

God's Rights In His House (continued)

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

Now when Elijah comes to the widow, she has just enough flour and oil for one cake, but Elijah tells her: "First make me something to eat." This looks like selfishness. But the Lord and he are one. Is the widow ready to recognize this? Is she willing to honor the Lord in His prophet? Should God have His right at the peril of herself possessing nothing any more? The woman obeys. What a victory! It is the recognition of the rights of God that leads to the jar of flour not becoming empty and the cruse of oil not drying up. The recognition of the rights of God has opened the door to wonderful experiences. Not that her faith did not have to go through depths. That happened when her son died. Then she could see life out of death, the power of resurrection, something which not everyone has the privilege to see. She had recognized God's rights and had give Him the first place. Then the Lord manifests the power of resurrection.

Read 1 Kings 17:17-23

Let us see this in the light of the house of God. The house of God is the place where He is everything, where the Lord has been recognized in the power of His resurrection, where we come together as living stones, in whom heavenly life has become a reality.

Let us not think that we will be spared difficulties. How Moses suffered! How Elijah was persecuted! The presence of the Lord does not mean that we will be spared suffering. On the contrary. We will be slandered, denied, and persecuted. We will be abandoned and hated. We will not be spared this. This does not mean that the presence of God is not with us. We find it in the life of the Lord in us. We find it in the ability to be calm. We find it in the peace and joy in the midst of all storms and tribulations. That is enough. That is worth more than all recognition and outward confirmation. But when the Lord comes, we will appear with Him, and because we have sought His rights and have given Him His rights, we will exult and rejoice in the universal reign of our Lord, Who will be "The Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Revelation 17:14).

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 26)