And they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and they sang the song of the Lamb, "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, righteous and true are Your ways, O King of the nations." Rev. 15:3.
Several times the book of Revelation describes God and the "almighty." The English word translates a Greek compound of "all" with "powerful" or "strong." If God is truly all-powerful, then we don't need to worry. He can do great things with our small efforts, if we put ourselves in the place where He wants us to be. An amazing story that comes out of Philadelphia around the year 1900 illustrates this point.
A sobbing little girl stood near a small church. She had been turned away because it was "too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday school," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the real reason for her rejection and, taking her by the hand, led her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.
Some two years later the child died, and her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, the child's family found a worn and crumpled red purse that seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. It contained 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying the note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there. A newspaper learned of the incident and published an account. A wealthy real estate agent read it and offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands of dollars. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. As a result, church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000--a huge sum for that time. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church with its seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, which educated thousands of students. That girl's dying gift inspired others to establish both of them. It goes to show what the Almighty can do with 57 cents.
Lord, help me not to hold back in serving You because the task seems small or the outcome meager. Give me faith in the Almighty today!
Several times the book of Revelation describes God and the "almighty." The English word translates a Greek compound of "all" with "powerful" or "strong." If God is truly all-powerful, then we don't need to worry. He can do great things with our small efforts, if we put ourselves in the place where He wants us to be. An amazing story that comes out of Philadelphia around the year 1900 illustrates this point.
A sobbing little girl stood near a small church. She had been turned away because it was "too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday school," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the real reason for her rejection and, taking her by the hand, led her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class.
Some two years later the child died, and her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, the child's family found a worn and crumpled red purse that seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. It contained 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday school."
For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying the note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there. A newspaper learned of the incident and published an account. A wealthy real estate agent read it and offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands of dollars. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. As a result, church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000--a huge sum for that time. Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church with its seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, which educated thousands of students. That girl's dying gift inspired others to establish both of them. It goes to show what the Almighty can do with 57 cents.
Lord, help me not to hold back in serving You because the task seems small or the outcome meager. Give me faith in the Almighty today!
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