Empower your Day in Just Seconds

By Grantley Morris

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Everyone’s service to God is beautiful, precious, vital. Too often, however, we are blinded by what we see. Most Old Testament prophets looked like failures. If they weren’t experts at handling rejection, it wasn’t through lack of practice. (Hebrews 11:36-38). They were as much fun as bathroom scales at a banquet. Their message would curdle the milk of human kindness. In just two minutes their hearers’ faces would take on the appearance of used chewing gum. Jeremiah was branded a traitor (Jeremiah 38:4-5). Elijah was a fugitive (1 Kings 18:10; 19:2-3). Many were ridiculed. Few managed to slow the moral landslide (Isaiah 6:9-13). Some may not have understood their own prophecies (Daniel 8:26; 12:8-9; 1 Peter 1:10-12; compare John 11:51). But their heavenly assignment touched none of these things. They were simply God’s mouth-pieces. Results were not their responsibility(e.g., Jeremiah 1:7-9, 19; Ezekiel 2:3-7; 33:7-9; Isaiah 6:9-13). ‘For twenty-three years,’ moaned Jeremiah, ‘I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.’ The heart-piercing thing is that at this point Jeremiah had about as many years of rejection ahead of him as the twenty-three years of ostracism he had already endured (Jeremiah 25:1-3; 1:2-3). (There’s something to be said for having a short ministry.) Yet though they rasped a message as comforting as burrs in bed-linen, these prophets were the talk of the nation. As welcome as slugs in cabbage soup, but their names were on everyone’s lips. They were Israel’s most wanted – special guests at rock concerts; proudly hung in public exhibitions; sawn in half by popular demand; that sort of thing. Centuries later, Paul so excelled that everyone thought of him as the man to beat. Some left no stone unturned in their eagerness to leave a lasting impression. A few even took the time to rock him to sleep. (Acts 14:19-20) It’s hard not to be envious, isn’t it? Taken from God’s Measure Of Success Love others! May be freely copied. Just include this notice: © Grantley Morris, www.net-burst.com Next Inspirational

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