J41 You mean, my lips are unclean again?

Most older believers have been used by the Spirit at least a few times, to communicate a "Word" to another. You know when this is genuine. It not only "sounds right," but in your heart you KNOW it was from the Lord, and not from you. But...next time it might be different.

Two years or so ago [ca 2017], I collaborated with a theologian friend on writing a series of meditations, like this one. For a decade, my quiet time has consisted of reading scripture, followed by reading the commentary on the verses as written in the earliest centuries of the church. I received positive feedback from family and friends, eventually writing a few dozen. I became very proud of "my" meditations.

Alas, the flow of thoughts slowed and stopped. Then I experienced a terrible bike wreck, which changed my life dramatically. Yesterday morning, after my devotions, I felt inspired to write, and the result (J40) was one I could be proud of...

Oops.

This morning, my text was Daniel 10:18. "Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me."

Hot dog! I wanted to write about the Spirit being the source of my strength! But as I read the commentaries, I became confused...unsure...was it an Angel, as many church fathers believed? If not, then one of the persons of the Godhead - but which one?

Ammonius (the Alexandrian one) set me straight: "When the strength of of our life fails and we leave behind all earthly glory, so that we are no longer strong in it, then we receive the power from God, as Christ stretches out His hand upon us and says, 'Be bold and strong'."

Don Francisco has a wonderful song, in which he sings that we should have no pride when God uses us: "He could have used the dog next door, if He wanted to"...or Balaam's ass... My own efforts are very like the scene in Fantasia where the Sorcerer's Apprentice becomes confident in his own abilities. No wonder Augustine named Pride as the chief of all sins.

My prayer today:

Lord, it is so very good to be useful to You. Let me never confuse my feeble efforts with the work of your hand. I welcome your rebuke for my pride. Please do not stop changing me. Please let me be a faithful servant. Root out my pride. Let me be faceless.

3/17/2020