Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
18 December , 1996 - Singapore
Good Morning!
After King David's tragic liaison with Bathsheba, he cries
to God for a SPIRIT characterized by:
I STEADFASTNESS:
"Create
in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a STEADFAST SPIRIT
within me."+
Paul
exhibited a STEADFAST SPIRIT as he set his
face toward Rome and certain death:
"I only know that in every city
the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing
me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only
I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has
given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace".
(Acts 20:23, 24)
By way of contrast,
Peter reveals his spongy character at Jesus' arrest as a young
woman links him with Jesus. In response, Peter blathers back
to her, "Woman, I don't
know Him."++
II WILLINGNESS:
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation...grant me
a WILLING SPIRIT, to sustain
me."+
Remember the father who approached Jesus
to heal his son who was afflicted with an evil spirit? In his
struggle to believe he exclaims,
"I do believe; help me overcome
my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)
Now that is the kind of WILLING
SPIRIT - imperfect as it is - that Jesus can work
with!
III BROKENNESS:
"The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN
SPIRIT; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will
not despise." (Psalm 51:17)
A BROKEN SPIRIT is evidenced when:
Our ungodly self is slain.
Our impenetrable hardness is softened,
and when
Our haughty pride is brought low.+++
In our quest to walk with God, let us join
with David in seeking a SPIRIT characterized by STEADFASTNESS,
WILLINGNESS, and BROKENNESS.
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
Dwight Hill
+ Psalm
51:10, 12; ++Luke 22:57; +++Adapted
from Keil-Delitzsch's Commentary on the O.T.
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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