Happy New Year! At times, I complain about the clock and look forward to an eternal heaven where time shall be no more; however, today I thank the Lord for a new beginning. Oh, how we need them!
The following poem is from The Continual Burnt Offering, a 1941 daily devotional book by H. A. Ironside. As I read it, I thought it put life into perspective for this New Year.
The Maker of the universe
As Man, for man was made a curse.
The claims of Law which He had made,
Unto the uttermost He paid.
His holy fingers made the bough
Which grew the thorns that crowned His brow.
The nails that pierced His hands were mined
In secret places He designed.
He made the forest whence there sprung
The tree on which His body hung.
He died upon a cross of wood,
Yet made the hill on which it stood.
The sky that darkened o’er His head
By Him above the earth was spread.
The sun that hid from Him its face
Be His decree was poised in space.
The spear which spilled His precious blood
Was tempered in the fires of God.
The grave in which His from was laid,
Was hewn in rocks His hands had made.
The throne on which He now appears
Was His from everlasting years,
But a new glory crowns His brow,
And every knee to Him shall bow.
— F. W. Pitt
For those of you who are familiar with the movie White Christmas, think for a moment about one particular scene. They are all sitting in the grist mill inn are the ladies sing. Bing Crosby makes as statement about his former general who now owns the inn: “We ate, then he ate; we slept, then he slept.” He was really bothered by the fact that this man whom he served under was now serving him.
What a wonderful picture of our God! I serve Him because of His great example as Servant! I die to selfish ambitions because He died for me! May this year find you joyfully serving the Great God of the Universe Who came and died that we might live!
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Beyond Common Sense 