Devotions by Ralph Chambers

WHEN WE KNOW WE CAN

A high school freshman wanted to join the glee club, but he was not accepted. He was told that he could not sing well enough. But he knew he could sing, and he kept on practicing. Each year he was turned down, but he practiced on. He was sure of himself and he proved that he was right. Who was he?. Opera's Lawrence Tibbett.

A budding young author worked long and hard on a western novel. The publisher he contacted turned it down with the following insult: "There is nothing in this manuscript to indicate that you have the slightest ability to write fiction." But the young man knew that he could do it, and he did. His name was Zane Grey.

A new member of Parliament stood up and made what was probably the poorest speech ever delivered to that assembly. He was hissed and booed. He was hurt, but not defeated. "It is in me," he said, " And it shall come out." It did. He was Richard Brinley Sheridan, one of the most brilliant orators England ever produced.

What was the deciding factor that made the difference between defeat and success in each instance? It was confidence in self and the willing-ness to persist in the pursuit of success. This Fall many of our young folk will be going back to school. Afraid of failure and unwilling to apply themselves to the discipline of study, many will give up and quit school as soon as they can. Happily, others will refuse to accept defeat and go on to become the doctors, lawyers, scientists or statesmen of tomorrow.

A more important area of concern than any of the above mentioned is our soul salvation and spiritual growth. The world, the flesh: and the devil tells us we can't live consistent Christian lives. Of course we can't if we depend on our own strength. But we have an assurance-yea, a guarantee of guidance and strength beyond our natural self.

Paul says,

• "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Behold, old thing pass away. All things become new."

Through the new birth (here referred to) we can say with Paul,

• "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

We know that we can be victorious Christians. Everyone can be a winner in Christ by trusting Him and following Him each step of the way.

August 23, 1972

HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN GROWTH

Solomon in our text is trying to point out the threat of "small things" to our spiritual welfare and growth. Now, I don't know too much about foxes, but I have learned some things about a creature that is much smaller than the tiniest fox this summer-the mosquito. This little creature has set up a guard over our garden and prevents us from cleaning out the weeds or even gathering the matured vegetables. Also, he sounds a curfew at dusk, and woe be unto the hapless person who may be caught outside.

Of course you are not interested in my complaints about this tiny form of life that with his buddies is able to put to flight an adult 157 lb. Man. Indeed, there are more dangerous little things that we need to shun if we expect to have an abundance of spiritual fruit in the garden of our life.

There are many so-called "little sins" that apt to creep into our life and hinder our lives from being spiritually fruitful. Some of these are: neglect of public and private worship of God, failure to read and study God's Work, neglect of prayer, failure to witness to others of our faith in Christ, being conformed to worldly ideas and ways, failure to give of our time, our talents, and means to the cause of Christ and a host of other so-called "small sins".

Now, back to the mosquitoes: There is a spray or mosquito repellent that if thoroughly and often applied will prevent the mosquitoes form biting you on the protected areas of the body. Also, for the so-called "little sins" that hinder our spiritual growth and fruitfulness, God enjoins us through His Holy Word to "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Isn't it wonderful that God has provided such a wonderful protection from those sins that so easily beset us and prevent us from bringing forth fruits to His honor and glory? Are you walking in the Holy Spirit?

Aug. 18, 1980

BEHOLD, I STAND AND KNOCK

Our Christmas meditation comes from the concluding book of the canon of Scriptures and are the words of our Savior, Jesus Christ as He speaks to the back-slidden Church at Laodica. I think it is significant that we find this picture of Christ seeking an entrance into the life of all who will receive Him.

In this word picture of Christ, He speaks from beyond the crucifixion. His resurrection and ascension to the Father, to all who will hear His voice and open the door of their life. The heavenly Guest has always sought admittance to our life that He might bring us the joy of salvation and the more abundant life.

On that first Christmas, Christ came into the world as a tiny babe. While it is Mary and Joseph that seek adequate lodging for that night and are refused admittance to the inn by the inn-keeper, in actuality, it is the meek, lowly and undemanding Christ that is refused, to the eternal regret of an inn-keeper. It doesn't take much imagination to see how much differently the business minded inn-keeper would have appeared in the minds of the readers and hearers of the story of Christ's birth if a comfortable room in the inn had been provided. Certainly, his own life would have been blessed by the presence of Christ in his home.

Many individuals, groups, and Israel as a nation were to turn a deaf ear and refuse Christ room in their life. John tells us that "His own received Him not." But happily some received Him then, and many still "hear" His "voice" and open the door of their life and "To them He gives the power to become the sons of God."

This Christmas Christ will appear at the door of many lives and humbly ask an entrance. Many will be so involved with the business of profit or pleasure that like the inn-keeper, they will have no room for Him. What a blessed Christmas time this can be for all of us if we would just open wide the door of our life and invite the Heavenly Christ into the throne room of our life to be our eternal king.

Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door of your life and knock, if you will open the door, I will come in and sup with you."

November 27, 1973

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