- Apr 10, 2005
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Prophecies are amazing. They come true, and so show the Lord's power. Some of the most amazing prophecies of God are the ones which tell folks what they will be thinking ... before they ever think it. Take for instance Mat 25:37 ... "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?'" The Lord told them about their own beauty and goodness before hand in giving us the prophecy, but they lived out their entire lives, never having recognized their own beauty ... never having remembered this or that particular goodness. How could they have asked, "When did we see You a stranger and take You in", and at the same time remember that good deed? The Lord never lets them see their own beauty or goodness ... an amazing prophecy.
We see plenty of our own beauty and goodness for sure, but that's called pride. We do not see our true beauty and goodness. We may think we see it, but if we find something good about ourselves, that is always counted as pride and sin ... just like the person who prays in their heart, "Thank you, Lord, because I am not a sinner like that fellow." [Luk 18:10-14]
Now, when we look at others, there is a chance to see, not our own goodness, but goodness and beauty which comes from the Lord [Romans 1:19 and 20]. All good things come from Him [Jam 1:17]. When you see the beauty of a flower ... that comes from Him. When others see good in you, that has come from Him, that is, until you claim recognition or reward for that good, and it becomes pride. You see, as the prophecy says ... we will not remember or even recognize our own good deeds ... they are things that only God and others around us can see. As soon as we recognize the deeds as good, we will have already received our reward [Mat 6:2].
This morning, I saw my wife ... in the light of the window behind her. She is beautiful and it was good, and only the Lord and myself know it, and now you. She did not see her own beauty and goodness, and would not recognize it if we pointed it out ... she'd just think we were silly ... unless she sinned and took pride. We should not plan to give her the chance to take pride, and so cause her to sin. Her beauty at that moment is for us ... the onlookers. And on that day, if I may be counted as even the least of His brethren, the Lord will show her how I was a stranger, and she took me in ... she will ask, 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?' ... and the King will answer and say to her, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' [Mat 25:40]
Praise the Lord!
We see plenty of our own beauty and goodness for sure, but that's called pride. We do not see our true beauty and goodness. We may think we see it, but if we find something good about ourselves, that is always counted as pride and sin ... just like the person who prays in their heart, "Thank you, Lord, because I am not a sinner like that fellow." [Luk 18:10-14]
Now, when we look at others, there is a chance to see, not our own goodness, but goodness and beauty which comes from the Lord [Romans 1:19 and 20]. All good things come from Him [Jam 1:17]. When you see the beauty of a flower ... that comes from Him. When others see good in you, that has come from Him, that is, until you claim recognition or reward for that good, and it becomes pride. You see, as the prophecy says ... we will not remember or even recognize our own good deeds ... they are things that only God and others around us can see. As soon as we recognize the deeds as good, we will have already received our reward [Mat 6:2].
This morning, I saw my wife ... in the light of the window behind her. She is beautiful and it was good, and only the Lord and myself know it, and now you. She did not see her own beauty and goodness, and would not recognize it if we pointed it out ... she'd just think we were silly ... unless she sinned and took pride. We should not plan to give her the chance to take pride, and so cause her to sin. Her beauty at that moment is for us ... the onlookers. And on that day, if I may be counted as even the least of His brethren, the Lord will show her how I was a stranger, and she took me in ... she will ask, 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?' ... and the King will answer and say to her, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' [Mat 25:40]
Praise the Lord!
