"So the last will be first, and the first will be last”- Mathew 20:16 (NIV)
When God had rejected Saul as King, Samuel was given the task to look for his successor. As the story goes Samuel knew of a certain family with strong boys. Samuel invited Jesse who gathered and presented him his muscled boys, for a pick.
In most cultures, the eldest always have the first choice. Years back when the patriarch Joseph took his sons to his father Jacob for blessing, he wanted Manasseh, the eldest to be blessed before Ephraim, who was younger. Jacob had waved him off. He “refused and said.. truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations” (Genesis 48: 19).
In this case too, starting with Eliab, on to Abinadab, then Shammah, Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, only to fail to make the cut. Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these” (1 Samuel 16:10). Jesse looked around. It is then as an afterthought, David came into the picture. “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep” (vv 11). Once David arrived on the scene, there was no guessing. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one” (vv 12).
In life one may appear at the bottom, a bit late for the party. One may be at the end of the list, all the names, with surpassing distinctions read, and yours is not mentioned. One may get to the fuel depot of life late, all the cars ahead filled, and one wonders if he will too be called up for the springs of life. The years may be rolling and one might be still at the bottom, seemingly forgotten, wandering about in nameless tasks.. There are many such situations when one feels he is completely out of the picture, all chances to strike and make a hit gone.
The Lord has a way in which He can bring a smile to the seemingly forgotten, turn the tables around to those who thought one was forgotten. As David, who knew a lot about of what it means being at the bottom wrote, in Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where sometimes I feel it is getting late to realize certain dreams yet here you show through scriptures there is never too late or forgotten with you, as you can reveal yourself and anoint one even when least expected, and so I pray for unwavering trust in you through all situations.
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
