Monday, May 16, 2016
Paul shared an eternal truth with the Corinthians we would all do well to still heed today. He wrote: Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:31) I was thinking of this advice recently when I heard a TV preacher recount the story of Daniel. He spoke about the time he stood before Nebuchadnezzer, the king of Babylon and was asked by him: “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” Before I tell you what Daniel replied, let me remind you that it was Daniel himself who asked the man who was in charge of all the captives, permission to go interpret the troubling dream of the king. He did it mostly because the king had threatened to kill all his appointed magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers, because none of them could explain his dream. To be sure, Daniel had a gift that none of the rest of the king’s advisors had. Even so, in answer to the king’s question, this is what Daniel replied: “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. (Daniel 2:27-28)
As you can see, Daniel was quick to give God the glory. He knew his gift was not ordinary, that very few people in the world are as blessed. And had Daniel been like the many “so called” servants of God around the world today many of us have seen or heard, the ones who boast in their spiritual gifts, his answer would have been something like: “Yes, yes I can. I can indeed interpret dreams.”
The bottom line regarding the matter of all spiritual gifts is that if we ever see a person healing, working any kind of miracle, or even raising a dead person, the One who is actually doing it is God and not a human being. Of course, He has blessed many with extraordinary spiritual gifts, but the power always comes from God. Those who walk close to the Lord, never forget the words Jesus gave to His disciples: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”(John 15:5) Lets not be like the monkey who was always riding atop his elephant friend. Whenever they crossed a swinging bamboo bridge in the jungle he would always remark “we really shook that old bridge, didn’t we?” May we never forget today’s eternal truth; may we always remember to give God the glory in all things and at all times.
Memory verse for the week: (Isaiah 42:8) “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
