Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:15:44 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 14); BP: Ps. 46; RBTTY: Mt. 10:1-20; Gen. 33-35
January 14 “Be Still and Know”
“Be still and know that I am God. . .”
Psalm 46:10a
This can happen atop near a babbling brook atop an idyllic mountain peak or sitting in front of a computer in the midst of a hectic day.
“Be still and know.”
Four simple words, aren’t they? Assuredly so—but, oh how hard they are to embody in our helter-skelter lifestyles. Running here. . .going there. . .appointments to keep. . . deadlines to make. . .people to meet. . . pressure-packed environments, causing our blood pressure to go up and our peace-of-mind to vanish like the early morning dew before the rising sun.
Inwardly, we know it shouldn’t be so; yea, it “needn’t” be so.
We know of Christ’s Invitation to “come and rest” (Mt. 11:28-30) and “cast all our cares upon Him” (I Pet. 5:7). Yes, we know them well; yet, like Paul in the transparent confessions of his internal struggles and agony of soul, we also say “but how to perform that which is good I find not” (
Sound familiar, Pilgrim?
If so, welcome to the “Struggling Saints Club.”
What we must remember is that we’re “saved by grace, not works” (Eph. 2:8). Like Paul, if we’ll back away from the devil’s accusations and our own self-condemnation and look to the Christ and the Cross, we’ll find “no condemnation” (Rom. 8:1). Hallelujah!! Instead, in the loving arms of our “Defense Attorney” (I Jn. 2:1) we find solace of soul and grace sufficient (II Cor. 12:7-10). And, it’s in that “communion-union” with Jesus (Jn. 15:1-7) that we begin to learn how to “be still and know that He is God.”
The Hebrew word “raphah” is used here for “be still” and also means “to slacken, abate, cease, forsake, leave, be idle, etc.” Thus, it’s a cessation of activity, whether it be physical (menial or monumental) or mental. It’s a “stop-worry order” that says “Cease-and-Desist” and reminds us of the signs on the railroad crossings of another generation to “Stop, look and listen.”
This may require us to get away for awhile to a secluded location; however, it could be by simply reprioritizing our schedules we’ll find times and places in our own house or office to “be still and know that He is God.” Why, even while traveling to and from work we can experience this “solitude of soul” by turning off the radio or Ipod and listening to the “sound of silence” as the Lord speaks to us “in a still, small Voice” (I Kings 19:12).
As someone once said, “We all need to come apart or we will come apart.” So true, so true. May the Holy Spirit help us to learn or re-cultivate the lost spiritual discipline of “being still.” Only then can we “know Him for Who He is” (Phil. 3:10).
No comments:
Post a Comment