False Conclusions

When the children of Israel received the report of the tall men of Eshcol they were terrified, they refused to go up, and immediately concluded that God hated them. How could He love them if He had taken them out of Egypt only to deliver them over to giants to be wiped out? (see Deut. 1:27.)

It looked like a logical deduction, based on what little human evidence they had. But of course they were totally ignoring far more important and trustworthy evidence: the promise of God. He had promised a rich land, a Father’s care, and everything they would need en route.

We look backwards at the “good old days,” and bemoan our losses; we look around us to the many threats to our security, and tremble with fear. Our conclusions are false. God has not forgotten us. He does not hate us. He is taking us to a rich land if we will only trust and obey instead of making things complicated for ourselves.

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

Even In Temptation

It is easy to feel that God has left us alone or turned His attention elsewhere when we are being tempted. The reality of the enemy’s presence can dim the sense of God’s. But Scripture tells us that Jesus was “led by the Spirit up and down the wilderness and tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:2). I imagine the presence of Satan seemed at times nearly overpowering to Jesus (remember, He was a man, tempted exactly as we are tempted), and He summoned against him the Sword of the Spirit: “Its is written.” The Spirit had not left Him for a moment, even though the enemy was terribly present, and when the wilderness experience was over, we are told, “Jesus, armed with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee” (Luke 4:14).

I do most desperately need that assurance today ---the assurance that no matter how powerful the temptation of the enemy may be, and no matter how watery-weak I know myself to be (e.g., I can’t concentrate in prayer, or I react with sudden anger to something somebody does), the Holy Spirit has not left me alone. He is here to guide me through my “wilderness,” and to arm me, as He armed Jesus, with His power.

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

Choose To Be Strong and Resolute

When the Lord commissioned Joshua to take over from Moses the leadership of His people, these were the words of the commission: Be strong, be resolute.

God appealed directly to the man’s will. When a man’s will lines up with God’s, that is faith. Joshua could have chosen to disobey, but the choice was to be strong or to be weak, to be resolute or to vacillate. Obedience would mean, for Joshua and for all of Israel, what it always means for any of us: Life, Nothing less than Life. God was not asking an impossible thing. He never does, for what He asks (or what He commands) He will certainly enable us to do. He was not appealing to Joshua’s temperament or moods or natural inclinations, but to his will. Would he obey? Would he accept the charge to be strong and resolute? He would and he did.

The task God has for us today is not the leadership of a great tribe, but, whatever it is, we must choose to be strong----in His strength----and to be resolute-----by His grace. When we bring our wills, wholly under the divine strength and that amazing grace, who can estimate the possibilities of such a union?

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

Choose the Better

Mary and Martha had made choices. It seems that Martha may have chosen a menu that was too elaborate. A simple one would have sufficed, and left her time to sit down with Jesus and Mary. Mary’s choice was better.

Sometimes our difficulty arises from unreasonable expectations ---of ourselves, of what we can accomplish in a given time, or of others, of their abilities and temperaments. We stew over failure (again ---ours or others’) instead of quietly giving it over to Christ, thanking Him for His strength in place of our weakness, and then simply going on in peace.

“O Lord, make us, we implore Thee, so to love Thee that Thou mayest be to us a Fire of Love purifying and not destroying” (Christina Rossetti).

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

Be Resolute

Another minister of the gospel has left his wife. He seems to have followed a familiar pattern: dedication to god, call to the ministry, difficulties, discouragement, loss of self-confidence which turns to loss of confidence in God, resentment, rebellion, and finally the deliberate choice to “worship other gods.”

“Be resolute!” said Joshua just before he died at 110. “You must hold fast to the Lord….Be on your guard then, love the Lord….worship Him in loyalty and truth…. Choose here and now whom you will worship” (Josh. 23:6, 8, 11; 24:14-15).

Responsibility is laid upon us to exercise the wills God gave us. We cannot let go of our wills and wait passively for God or fate or somebody else to do for us what the will was given us to do. We have choices. We must resolve. We must purpose to obey. There are powerful forces against which we must be on guard. The only defense is the Lord Himself, who is a mighty Fortress, indeed, our Refuge, our Shield against the enemy. Run to Him! Trust Him!

A heart turned to Him will be filled with Him.

Help me, Lord, to resist with all my strength the very first beginnings of evil. Grant me Your strength and grace.

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot

A Powerful Advocate

“Their captors hold them firmly and refuse to release them. But they have a powerful advocate, whose name is the Lord of Hosts” (Jer. 50:33-34).

Not many who read this are literal captives of their enemies as Israel and Judah were, but it is possible to be limited and constrained by others in such a way that we feel captive. The One who left heaven for us was put into the hands of sinful men, bound, beaten, and led away to be fastened on a cross. He is our companion and fellow sufferer, understanding well the sense of helplessness that the captive feels.

“Since he himself has passed through the test of suffering, he is able to help those who are meeting their test now” Hebrew 2:18.

Not only does Christ fully understand our test---He can do something about it. He is no longer held by nails on a cross, but stands as our powerful Advocate before God, victor over whatever enemy we face today.

The “captivity” may last a while----He did, too----but He can make it shine for you. Bear it in His name and be glad. It will be transformed into a privilege as you offer it back to Him.

A Heart With Skill To Listen

Solomon recognized that he could not fulfill his responsibility as king without the help of the Lord. The assignment came from God (“Thou hast made thy servant king”; 1 Kings 3:7) so the qualifications must also come from Him. “I am a mere child, unskilled in leadership,” Solomon said, but he did not go on to say, “Therefore make me a great leadership.” He prayed rather for a heart with skill to listen (v.9).

What temptation it is, when one is in a position of leadership so that others want to (or must) hear what one has to say ---what a temptation to talk! The skill of listening must begin with the heart, silent and open first to God for His word, then ready to hear others before speaking. Solomon listened to God. He stood ----in silence, I should think---- before the Ark of the Covenant, the place of the Mercy Seat, before he met the people.

God give me a heart with skill to listen. May I have grace to stand silent before You when I am tempted to open my mouth at once. Help me to cultivate in quietness that skilled heart.

The Music of His Promises by Elisabeth Elliot