short almost all your troubles are over. The whole idea is bothersome because it bears hardly any resemblance to a cross and smacks of conformity to the world rather than to the One who said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
Jesus indeed indicates that we are likely to receive no applause at all from those on the streets of life. The apostle John quotes Him: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). Not much applause there. A little later Jesus adds: “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20b).
Just before his crucifixion, Jesus said: “In this world you will have trouble.” Then he gave this promise: “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
God does not promise that life will be a bed of roses, free from trials, without any pain. But He does promise strength to overcome. Annie Johnson Flint’s poetry, which became the words for the hymn “What God Hath Promised,” tells us about some of God’s promises. The first verses and refrain are as follows:
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower–strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.2
Our Duty
March 04
Lord Baden Powell, as is well known, founded the Boy Scouts organization. To be a Scout, a boy must promise, on his honor, to do his duty to both God and country, to help others at every opportunity, and to obey the Scout law. Lord Baden Powell chose a fine motto for the Scouts: “Be prepared” is a fine precept indeed, even for those of us who are quite a bit older.
It is rather unfortunate, I think, that the whole concept of duty seems to be out of favor in so many quarters in our day and age. Duty, of course, carries with it the idea of responsibility and obligation, and somehow many feel that they don’t owe anything—even to God.
If we think about it, we owe a great deal to our God. He is our Creator. He made us. God supplies us the very air we breathe—the sunshine, the rain, the fertile soil.
With familiar phrases, the final chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes also speaks of a word that is prominent in the code of the Boy Scouts—duty: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). And we find these words in verse 13 of the same chapter: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man.”
Like good Boy Scouts, we have a duty to our Heavenly Father.
Cocoons
March 05
Someone has said, “No one helps a caterpillar become a butterfly.” Indeed, if you try to help, the result may be a badly injured butterfly . . . or none at all. God has so designed the caterpillar that it knows instinctively when it must spin a cocoon. Within that cocoon, the caterpillar, through the remarkable processes of nature, turns into a beautiful butterfly, bearing no resemblance to the creepy, crawly creature we all love to hate.
We humans don’t do very well when, as it were, we make our own cocoons and climb in. Some like cocoons because they have the whole place to themselves. We have no need to talk to others. We have no need for outside relationships. Sometimes this withdrawal is caused by some pain or hurt we’ve received, but we soon find that the pain of loneliness is much greater.
We need relationships, friends with whom we can laugh . . . and cry. When we have the courage to break out of the cocoon, our cocoon, and accept the fact that in life we have sorrow and pain as well as the feelings of comfort and well–being, we’ll be able to face the future well.
God is within and surrounding us with His love and care—if we only ask.
The prophet Isaiah reveals a marvelous promise from the Heavenly Father to those facing difficulties in life and feeling perhaps that they should withdraw into a cocoon. “Fear not, [God promises], for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God” (Isaiah 43:1b–3a).
We have the promises of God. Trust Him. Don’t bother about cocoons.
Self–Made
March 06
In an interview of a rather notable person, published in the papers some years ago, the reporter stated: “I understand, sir, that you are a self–made man.”
“Well,” was the rather slow response, “I suppose I might be called a self–made man.” And he paused, then added somewhat ruefully: “But if I had it to do over again, I think I’d call in a little help.”
We live in the kind of world where self–made people are greatly admired. Starting with very little and often under difficult conditions, they have accomplished a great deal in the world’s eyes. That’s the secular world, and the attainments are great wealth, great position, and great power. These things alone never quite spell peace and contentment. As life nears its conclusion, these attainments become increasingly meaningless.
That’s why Jesus’ conversation with his apostles about the vine and the branches is so very significant. The setting was just before the crucifixion. Following the Last Supper in a Jerusalem upper room, the eleven (Judas had slipped away to commit his terrible act of betrayal) met to talk with Jesus in His final, solemn hours.
“I am the vine;” Jesus said, “You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). No self–made persons there. The wonder of it all is that we are not self–made but God–made . . . the One who made us in creation is the One who makes us in re-creation—new birth, if you like.
Like the branch in the vine or in the tree, as long as we remain attached to our Master, we will grow, be successful, and produce much fruit—God–made men and women.
Dreams . . . and God
March 07
What sort of dreams do you have? Perhaps you don’t dream at all . . . or not very often. Most of us, I believe, have quite a few dreams, and sometimes they are very odd.
In Old Testament times, God used dreams many times for sending His messages to people. In the New Testament, however, this method of reaching people came almost to a halt. Joseph, in a dream, was told of the coming of the Christ child
