REFUSING HELP

(1 Corinth. 12:7 ~ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.)

In 1869, John Roebling dreamed of building a massive bridge over the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Unfortunately, at the outset of the project, his foot was crushed in an accident. In the recovery process, Roebling insisted he knew best and took charge of his own medical care. After refusing help, he began to show signs of tetanus. Before long, Roebling’s jaw had knocked into a permanent smile. Seizures and dementia plagued him until his death weeks later.

The Bible records a story about an independent person who balked at the help offered to him. Naaman, a great warrior of Syria, suffered from leprosy. He sought out the prophet Elisha for healing but had preconceived ideas about how the healing should take place. So when Elisha sent his messenger to tell him to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times, Naaman was enraged. But Naaman’s own servants gave him the wise advice: “My Father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (1 Kings 5:13). And so Naaman followed the prophet’s simple instructions, and his leprosy was cured. (…and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. -1 Kings 5:14).

God gives us gifts to aid each other (1 Corinth. 12:7). But self-sufficiency shuts the door on much-needed help. Let’s be open to the helping hand He provides. –Dennis Fisher

The Lord extends His gracious hand
To those in desperate need,
He lifts them up, He helps them stand
Through caring saints and loving deeds. –D. De Haan

[read- 2 Kings 5:1-14]

THE FIRST STEP IN GETTING HELP IS HUMILITY

GETTING THROUGH

(Psalm 85:8 ~ I will listen to what God the Lord will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints…)

Gone are the days when a real person greets you on the other end of a phone call. It seems as though whenever we try to “reach out and touch someone”, we are greeted with a computerized voice.

I’m glad that this isn’t true of our Father in heaven. He is always there. No voice-mail boxes, no “press 2 for more grace” and no “call waiting” interruptions. Thankfully, “Call to me and I will answer you…” (Jer. 33:3) has not been replaced by, “All lines are now busy. Your call is important to Me. Please stay on the line”.

Yet I wonder what kind of access He has to us?

Communication with God is a two way street. He speaks to us through us His Word when we come attentively before Him in prayer with absolute submission, and through the clear voice of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He paid a great price to keep the lines open so that we can experience the great joy of being still long enough to know that He is God (“Be still, and know that I am God;…” ~ Ps. 46:10). As my grandmother’s favorite hymn ‘In the garden’ says:

And He walks with me, and talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. –Miles

The joy of hearing His voice is a call you don’t want to miss! –Joe Stowell

[read- Psalm 46]

IS GOD GETTING THROUGH TO YOU?

MY PRINCE

(Ephesians 5:25 ~ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her)

People around the world reacted with a shock in September 2006 when news broke that Steve Irwin, the ‘Crocodile Hunter’, had died. His enthusiasm for life and for God’s creatures was contagious, making him a favorite personality worldwide.

When his wife Terri was interviewed shortly after Steve’s death, her love for him was obvious as she said through her tears, “I’ve lost my prince”. What an affectionate way to memorialize her husband! She saw him as her prince and her best friend.

The husband-wife relationship is often viewed today as anything but the tender one that Terri and Steve must have shared. We see bitterness, insults, animosity, distrust, desertion and discouragement in most families everywhere. How much more desirable it is to see true love—to see a husband unashamedly cherish his wife, to unselfishly be her ‘prince’.

How can a husband continue to love his wife in a more princely way? Try these suggestions: Listen—enjoy those tender times when she can unburden her heart without fear, just as a true friend would. Love life—find ways to add fun and pleasure to your marriage. Lead spiritually—guide the way into prayer and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Be based—lead the family to be based on the true source of every joy, peace, rest, happiness and blessing- which is Christ the Rock alone.

Men, be a prince to your princess. –Dave Branon

Honor your wife and in love with her dwell,
Yield to the Savior and all will be well;
Peace He will give to both husband and wife,
Blessing their marriage with joy throughout life. –Anon

[read- Ephesians 5:22-33]

MARRIAGE THRIVES IN A CLIMATE OF LOVE AND RESPECT

SHHH… QUITE, PLEASE

(1 Kings 19:12 ~ After the earthquake came a fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper)

In recent years, the spread of personal digital music players has resulted in concerns about hearing loss. The design of the music players and their earphones has been the target of complaints and lawsuits. Long-term exposure to music at a high volume has been shown to cause serious hearing impairment. In a sense, too much hearing can result in an inability to hear.

We live in a world filled with noise—noises designed to sell, plead, persuade, and mislead. In the midst of this cacophony of sound, it is easy to miss the one voice that matters the most.

Elijah having heard Jezebel’s threats and the voice of his own fear, fled to a cave to hide. (1 Kings 19: 1-3, 9) In the cave he was confronted with the overwhelming noise of wind, an earthquake and fire (1 Kings 19: 11-12 ~ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there came a fire, but the Lord was not on the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper). Then the cave grew silent and the voice of the Lord—the only sound that mattered—broke through as ‘a still soft voice’ (vs. 12-13).

If we are to hear God speaking to our hearts through His Word, we need to pull away from the noise of the crowd. Only when we learn to be quite can we really understand what it means to commune with God who cares for us.

In our ‘quite time’ today, let’s make an effort to listen for the voice of God. –Bill Crowder

Speak, Lord, in the stillness
While I wait on Thee;
Hushed my heart to listen
In expectancy. –Grimes

[read- 1 Kings 19:1-12]

TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE, TURN DOWN THE WORLD’S VOLUME

JESUS SETS US FREE

(John 8:32 ~ Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free)

Perhaps no one since the apostle Paul has written more graphically about the experience of spiritual bondage than the great theologian Augustine (A.D. 354-430). Although blessed with extraordinary intelligence, in his younger years he had wallowed in deep depravity.

Looking back, Augustine gave this account of his struggle: “I was bound by the iron chain of my own will. I was rather an unwilling sufferer than a willing actor. And yet it was through me that habit had become an armed enemy against me, because I had willingly come to be what I unwillingly found myself to be."

Many of us have gone through a similar struggle. We wanted deliverance from sin yet found ourselves unable to shake off the chains of habit. Then as we turned in faith to Jesus, we were liberated and could repeat the words of Charles Wesley’s hymn: “Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature’s night. Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke- the dungeon flamed with light! My chains fell off, my heart was free; I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.”

Jesus alone can break the shackles of sin in life. Receive Him as your Savior, and “the Truth shall set you free” (Jn. 8:32). –Vernon Grounds

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee. – Sleeper

[read- Galatians 5:1-6]

TRUE FREEDOM IS FOUND IN CHRIST ALONE