And you said, “Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man and man still live.”
God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are?
Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance.
He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.
Morning and Evening, C.H. Spurgeon
Rich,
ReplyDeleteThis is powerful! It is so true to my personal experience. The "littleness of man" has been my teacher. The "Atlantic-waves of bereavement" have thrown me into the hands of a tender, loving God whose glory has left me stunned and forever changed.
Thanks, Julie. I posted this today because it is something I need to remember right now as I am currently being swept under those "Atlantic-waves." I know in my head that our sovereign God controls those waves and works through it to his ultimate glory and our blessing. This devotional, which I read this morning, ended up posted on my blog as a personal reminder that my head needs to communicate with my heart.
ReplyDeleteIt's not always easy. But these are the times when we grow the most and when we learn the most about our loving and powerful God.