FWD: Morning Manna (Sept. 24); BP: Jer. 31; RBTTY: Gal. 3; Song of Sol.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:25:11 -0500
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Sept. 24); BP: Jer. 31; RBTTY: Gal. 3; Song of Sol.
 

DEAR FELLOW PILGRIM:

     This edition of "Morning Manna" celebrates 10 years of writing this daily e-mail devotional.  Begun in the Philippines as a daily thought of inspiration with one other person half a world away, the readers now number close to 1,000 folks in 10-11 countries around the world.  How the Lord has blessed!   So, I hope you'll rejoice with me and give thanks to the Lord for how He uses this means of sharing His Word to minister to others.  To Him be all the glory!  God bless you!

 

September 24                                                                                                            “Grace in the Wilderness”

 

“Thus says the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness. . .”

                                                                                                                                                    Jeremiah 31:2a

     In life’s most unusual places, we find Him there and, in finding Him, we find everything we’ll need (and more).

     “Grace.”

     How small this word, but how powerful its implications.  Like so many other words, we use it glibly. . .sing of it powerfully. . .quote Scriptures referring to it, etc.  But, the question is, “Do we really know what it means?”

 

     We can check the commentaries and discover that the Hebrew word “chen” is used here and also means “graciousness, beauty, precious, well-favored, etc.”  This is the same word used for what Noah found that day when he looked up into God’s eyes (Gen. 6:8).  But, do we really know what it means?

 

     Likewise, we can jump to the New Testament—which, in reality, is all about “grace”—and we’ll discover the Greek word “charis” is used there and basically means “the Divine influence upon one’s life, God’s favor, love which cannot be earned, etc.”  But, again, do we really know what it means?

 

     John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness in the spirit and likeness of the long-awaited Elijah.  His message was a stern one:  “Repent!”  But, soon He’d stop, point to the silent Stranger Who’d drawn near, and say “He’s the One!  He’s the One!  Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29).

 

     Later on, another John—the Apostle and fiery son of Zebedee—would write of Him, “He was/is the Word made flesh. . .full of grace and truth” (Jn. 1:14, 17b).  Say those words again, Pilgrim:  “Full of grace and truth.”

 

     Thus, it’s clear:  In Jesus we find the fullness of grace and truth.  And in Him we find their Source.  So, it follows that when we find “grace in the wilderness,” it’s because we find Him there; or, would it be better to say “He found us there” (cf. Dan 3:19-25)?

 

     “Grace for the wilderness.”

     Grace in our darkest hour of need, distress and despair.  Grace in our weakness (II Cor. 12:9-10), when all of our resources have been depleted and our friends are long-time gone.  Grace for our trials, when we find ourselves at “Wits’ End Corner” (Ps. 107:27) and we’re “down for the count.”

 

     Wherever we find grace, we find Him. . .the One with nail-scars in His Hands. . .the One Who embodied Grace in everything He did and said. . .the One Who “runs to meet us and restores us” when we’ve messed everything up, but decide to come Home anyway (Lk. 15:11-24).  Yes, weary one, there’s “grace in the wilderness.”  Come to Him.  Come now. . .and rest.  He’s ready, willing and able.  Come.