The Lord's decrees (his promises, his plans, his every word) stand fast, no matter what news we receive. A child has run away. A mother has cancer. A business has failed. The events in our private lives and the great catastrophes in the world do not budge the solid ground on which the Christian takes his position. How can this be? Are there not conditions which harm and hinder and destroy? Not in the end. There is nothing, on earth or in hell or heaven, in time or in eternity, which can alter in any final sense what God has promised--because all things serve Him.
A word in the Book of the Revelation shows this truth most gloriously. Ten great kings will join their powers with an enormously powerful beast to wage war on the Lamb. God does not intervene to prevent that war.
"But the Lamb will defeat them, for He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and his victory will be shared by His followers, called and chosen and faithful" (Rv 17:14 NEB).
All things serve Him. That is, everything will at last be seen to be under his control, contributing to his eternal purposes--and (here is another marvel) the Lamb's victory will be ours as well.
Lord, who has called and chosen us--make us faithful. Enable us to keep our eyes on the final victory.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
All Things Serve Thee
A most timely devotion by Elisabeth Elliot....what a blessing it was for me - I pray it will bless you as well.
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Timely is a good word to use, thanks for sharing this! I have clung to these scriptures for several years now, the Lord reminds me of them always at the right time they are most needed.
ReplyDeleteIsiah 55:11
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
and
Numbers 23:!9
"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
I hope these bless you too! :)
Amen and amen. God certainly gifted Elisabeth Elliot as a communicator! I miss her radio program, but am thankful to still be able to re-read her books.
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