Cornerstone

Hebrews 11
I have never run in a marathon. I admire those who have the stamina to do so. And yet I realize that like many other things, even in that all are not equal. Once again I am humbled as I consider the question: “Who am I?”

The Wired Word quotes a runner saying, “I am a former marathon runner — a very slow marathon runner. The marathon is an amazing public event, open to everyone. You can take your glove to the ballgame but you don’t get to join the team on the field. You can wear the most expensive basketball shoes, but you don’t get to take the court with the big guys in the NBA (or the big girls in the WNBA). But anyone can run with the world-class athletes in the marathon. That was always amazing to me. I’d be warming up, hoping to break four hours, but the thin Kenyans and Ethiopians were competing on the same course with me. There was a spot in the Long Beach Marathon where the course looped back towards itself. The elite runners, eight miles ahead of me, and with no physical outward sign of strain, would glide by going the other direction. I enjoyed that moment each year.

“I’m also humbled because I am part of the same church as the saints and the martyrs, of prayer warriors whose very humility makes them look the same as everyone around them (though I know better), as well as [modern] prophets … whose lifestyle and message pierces my heart and makes me strive to do better. There aren’t two churches, there isn’t a major league and a Sunday afternoon softball league when it comes to the Christian faith. Dante saw it right. At first Heaven looked layered, with people at the circles of the moon and stars and sun, but in the last cantos of the Paradiso when he looked again, all the saints were part of the great rose, a stadium-like structure with God at the center where everyone is part of the great everything.” (The Wired Word – April 21, 2013)

Who am I?

I study the scripture, I try to minister faithfully and at times I feel good about my accomplishments for God. And then, I read Hebrews 11. I recognize that I am among many. Many have out served me . . . and yet in God’s sight I am included in the “great race” . . . the journey toward the ultimate finish line where I will receive the same accolades from the Royal Judge that are given to those who were faster, stronger, and wiser than I.

Who am I? A child of the King.

by Dr. Gayle Woods
thedocsdocs@blogspot.com

Genesis 3:15

And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

A monument located in Palo, Leyte, Philippines commemorates the landing of Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the beaches of Leyte in October 1944. The Japanese army had invaded the Philippines in 1941. Gen. MacArthur was unsuccessful in overcoming their army and finally he retreated to the Bataan peninsula. Japanese assaults forced him back farther and finally with the promise “I shall return,” he retreated to Australia. While there he accumulated men and material. Finally in late 1942 he began his attack using his famous island hopping tactic. This involved amphibious landings on vulnerable islands avoiding frontal assaults. By the early part of 1944 his soldiers were victorious in most of New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomons and the Admiralty Islands. On October3 20, 1944 he invaded Leyte Island fulfilling the promise he made to return when he left in retreat. Within six months the Philippines were liberated.

A greater promise of deliverance was given in Genesis 3:15. This promise was repeated in various forms through the years and was finally fulfilled when God stepped into the body of a human infant being born in a stable in Bethlehem. In this manner God established a beachhead on earth to bring deliverance to sin enslaved mankind.

Dr. Gayle Woods

2 Tim 2:12-19 (15)

Some people, somehow demand respect in their humility. Dr. Omar Lee is such a man. He earned this respect in classroom and pulpit. I and many of his other ministerial students who sat in his classes at Kansas City College and Bible School hold him in high esteem. One reason this is the case is that he is not only a man of God but he is also a man of the Word. Students, pastors and lay people naturally turn to men like Dr. Lee when in question about a matter of Scripture or doctrine. His tremendous knowledge of the Word and his orthodoxy regarding doctrine would not be impressive, however, if it wasn’t for the fact that he has been unchangeable in his belief and teaching. As a reference point in the lives of many who have wavered he has always been dependable. While others were swayed he has remained firm. He has studied and has shown himself to be approved unto God. He is a workman of the Word which is not ashamed. He rightly divides the truth. His faithfulness in doctrine has been the needed anchor to many who have not been as strong. The holiness movement must have more men like Dr. Omar E. Lee.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Col 2:6-12 (7)

To be complete in Christ means that we are settled in our Christian experience, we are supported in our endeavor to develop in character, our faith in God is strengthened, we are learning the precepts of Scripture, and we overflow with thanksgiving to our Lord.

Leighton Ford, once said, (Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 1) “God loves us the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way.” We have not always been complete in Christ, and the paradox is that even when we are complete in Christ we are not complete. The Christian life must be maintained. Our feet must not moved from the Rock on which they stand, the development of Christian character must ever continue, our faith must constantly be reinforced, the Scriptures are never total absorbed in their entirety, and unfortunately our thanks is often slow in being manifested. Our Christian life must be maintained and unless it continually grows it cannot be maintained.

Something we must continually remember is that it is not all our work. We are not making ourselves Christians. We are involved in the process of Gods handiwork but the job is not entirely up to us. J Sidlow Baxter expressed it like this:

What God chooses, He cleanses.

What God cleanses, He molds.

What God molds, He fills.

What God fills, He uses.

Dr. Gayle Woods

Matthew 2:10

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Kings don’t know how to kneel. Others kneel before them. Others praise them, honor them, and bring gifts to them. If a king is humbled it normally means that he has been defeated. For a king to be humbled is to be debased.

In our devotional reading for today we have an example of one king who refused to kneel and others who longed to kneel. King Herod revolted at the idea of kneeling before a baby King. His reaction to the thought was to destroy this baby King who had seemed to be a divine challenge. The other kings had traveled long and far at great expense. They brought gifts fitting for a royal birthday party. They were urgent in their inquiries as they sought to kneel beside the cradle of the baby King.
Do we have a similar urgent desire to set aside our ambitions, to forfeit our dreams, to sacrifice our substance in order to have the privilege of kneeling before the King? Jesus seemed to refer to this level of commitment when He said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 )

Dr. Gayle Woods