God lives and works today, but He can
only work when our hearts are open and
when we don't stand in His way.
Yes, whoever wants God to do great things
in his life must first be willing to
go in a new direction.
Today's meditation by Vasileya Shlink is a testimony
which throws light on what this direction is.
What does it mean to become a conqueror
in our everyday lives?
A minister tells in the story of his
life how during the war at a military
hospital, he had to do orderly work and
clean the nurses' rooms and get their breakfast
ready.
Although a new nurse came, they still made
him wait on them till he became annoyed
one day and thought, That settles that.
I'll tell them they can get their own
breakfast.
I'll not wait on them.
He was experiencing what is so often our
difficulty in daily life at work and at
home when we're together with people who try
to exploit us.
We know from experience that for quite a
time we can stand this, but in our
hearts, anger and rage build up, and then
comes a time when, like the minister, we
decide that we've just had enough and from
now on we'll stand it no longer.
But what happened to the minister?
On the very morning when he made his
decision, he received a postcard which said, Whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be
your servant.
He was deeply moved after reading God's word
on the postcard and praying about it, and
he decided to turn to the way of
the Lamb again, and so with special love
and care he got the breakfast ready for
the nurses.
There was a great astonishment among them.
What made you change your mind, they asked.
Well, answered the minister with humor, I want
to be chief, and the Bible says, Whosoever
will be chief among you, let him be
your servant.
On the next day, all wanted to help.
How did this change between the minister and
his fellow men come about?
He didn't do anything differently from what he
had done before, yet everything had changed entirely.
Now he had joyfully decided to choose consciously
the way of the Lamb.
His selfishness melded away, and his ego was
no longer fed.
He no longer wanted to be thought important
and to stand up for his rights.
His desire was to be meek like Jesus.
And strangely enough, whereas before the minister's heart
was smarting and angry, now everything was wonderfully
resolved.
From this moment on, joy and peace lived
in his heart instead of selfish pride.
If only we would realize what power lies
in sacrifice.
The way of the Lamb is the way
of sacrifice through which world-shaking powers proceed
from us.
Oh, that we would hear the loving call
of Jesus, Come, follow me on the way
of the Lamb, and you will become a
conqueror in your everyday life.
Your likeness preached on me, Jesus my master,
Let men see you in me, and give
you honor.
Your likeness preached on me, your perfect nature,
So will my nature be by love made
perfect.
This program by Basilea Schlink has come to
you from the Little Land of Canaan.
If you would like a free leaflet by
the same author, please write to God Lives
and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix,
Arizona, 85028-4099.
That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North
40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099.
God bless you.