I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6).
This passage is like a High Sierra range with four glorious snow-clad peaks of promise that reflect God's promise in four words--call, hold, keep, give. God calls His children, He holds them, He keeps them, and He gives them.
When Staupitz commanded Martin Luther to ascend the pulpit and preach, the modest professor put up 15 arguments, or pretexts, with which to excuse himself. Staupitz persisted.
"Ah, worthy doctor," said Martin, "it would be the death of me."
"What then?" was the response. "Be it so in God's name."
Luther then ascended the pulpit in the old wooden chapel, which was propped up on all sides to keep it from falling, and there commenced the Reformation by preaching. The mighty results that followed proved the call to have been from God.
God calls all believers to His service. They are all to be workers for Him. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15) was said to all Christ's disciples. He holds the hands of those He calls and leads them through every dark place and into the right fields of labor. He keeps them as "a wall...on their right hand, and on their left" (Ex. 14:22) when they cannot keep themselves. Then, to bless others, He gives them His covenant, His promise, as a light to the nations.
Are you Christ's light bearer? of His joy a sharer?
Is this dark world fairer for your cheering ray?
Is your beacon lighted, guiding souls benighted
To the land of perfect day?
__Priscilla J. Owens
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name" (Ps. 18:49).
This passage is like a High Sierra range with four glorious snow-clad peaks of promise that reflect God's promise in four words--call, hold, keep, give. God calls His children, He holds them, He keeps them, and He gives them.
When Staupitz commanded Martin Luther to ascend the pulpit and preach, the modest professor put up 15 arguments, or pretexts, with which to excuse himself. Staupitz persisted.
"Ah, worthy doctor," said Martin, "it would be the death of me."
"What then?" was the response. "Be it so in God's name."
Luther then ascended the pulpit in the old wooden chapel, which was propped up on all sides to keep it from falling, and there commenced the Reformation by preaching. The mighty results that followed proved the call to have been from God.
God calls all believers to His service. They are all to be workers for Him. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15) was said to all Christ's disciples. He holds the hands of those He calls and leads them through every dark place and into the right fields of labor. He keeps them as "a wall...on their right hand, and on their left" (Ex. 14:22) when they cannot keep themselves. Then, to bless others, He gives them His covenant, His promise, as a light to the nations.
Are you Christ's light bearer? of His joy a sharer?
Is this dark world fairer for your cheering ray?
Is your beacon lighted, guiding souls benighted
To the land of perfect day?
__Priscilla J. Owens
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name" (Ps. 18:49).
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