Food for Friday
So then, it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:16
A little boy was involved in a race in which he started off not doing well. He was trailing the field badly for awhile, then the spectators noticed that he began to pick up speed. They noticed at the same time that the lad was also talking as he sped along. The faster he talked, the faster he moved, until he began passing the other runners. Finally, he burst into the lead, and was able to win the race. Some of the spectators came to him afterwards to ask him how he was able to pick up enough speed to overcome his early slow start. They told him they noticed he was talking to himself, and asked him what he was saying. ‘I was praying,’ the lad replied. ‘I was saying, Lord, You pick ’em up, I’ll put ’em down, You pick ’em up, I’ll put ’em down.’ This lad would have no trouble understanding today’s text.
The first thing we need to realize, and we certainly do, is that everything God gives us – other than judgment – is mercy. That applies to our daily bread, our health, strength, and sanity, our protection from highway dangers, and the joys of home and family. Of course, it also applies to our spiritual blessings. And, as our text intimates, it also applies to everything we do and are able to accomplish. It is surely God’s great mercy that we are able to serve Him. But when we consider our service for our Lord, we are not being told to abandon our wills or our running, even though the results all depend on God’s mercy. Without our willing and our running, God’s mercy would have no base from which to bless.
We need to be like Daniel, who ‘purposed in his heart’. God expects from each of us a commitment in our souls to be faithful to Himself, and to honour the Name of our Lord Jesus. Our greatest desire should be that our will is lost in that of our Lord. As for running, Scripture speaks of those who ran well, those who stumbled, and those who completed their course. The picture is one of service, of faithful striving, worshipping, and witnessing. Like the little boy in the race, we need to realize our responsibility to do our part.
Although our Lord expects us to continue in faithful commitment and service, He assures us that the results of our commitment and service are not up to us, but to Himself, according to His mercy. -Jim MacIntosh