Glen Pickren, a brother in Christ from California, sent me the following devotion from T. Austin Sparks. These words were written over 50 years ago.
February 11
Once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher. (Galatians 3:25 CEV)
Sometimes revelation will bring to us the fact that things have been but tentative, provisional…. As Paul puts it: “a schoolmaster,” to bring us to Christ, to lead us to Christ. The test for Saul of Tarsus is as to whether he will adjust to the light of the fact that, while he has been right, up to a point, that was only intended to lead him to something else. The Lord, in His sovereignty, allows us to come into something which is only tentative, but not in His final and full thought. That should lead us to a certain point, and at that given point something else is coming in. At that point a revelation will be given us which will make us say, “Well, that has served its purpose, but it has come to an end now, unto the greater fullness.” It depends upon whether we cling to the thing that we say the Lord led us to and make it the final thing, when the Lord only meant that to lead us to another thing. So often in looking back upon a thing that has been used of God, and perhaps blessed of God, people say, “Well, if that is the case then we should cling to that way, should stay with that, or in that.” Not necessarily. For Paul the challenge was whether now, with the fuller revelation in the light of which he saw that this first thing while not wrong was only provisional, he was prepared to leave that and come on into the fullness and adjust to the fuller revelation.
In all these connections you see that it is a matter of obedience to the heavenly vision, because this obedience to the heavenly vision is marked by cost. There is a price attached. In every case mentioned we see there was a cost. It meant that a price had to be paid, or, in other words, it meant that difficulties had to be faced. There would be a great deal of misunderstanding, a great deal of having to go on alone. Others who had not seen would not be able to follow on. There would be loneliness, misunderstanding, and in many other ways difficulties would arise in relation to obedience to the heavenly vision.
By T. Austin-Sparks from: That Which Was From The Beginning – Chapter 3
On another topic, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. For those who have not yet reviewed the highly illustrated teaching on the origins of this holiday, you can find it at the Heart4God website. I do caution the readers, however, that there are some sexually graphic elements included in the article. The presentation can be found here:
http://www.heart4god.ws/id625.htm
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Joseph Herrin
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
(comments may take a while to appear)
Brother Joseph,
Thank you for these insights. I had no idea Valentine's Day was celebrated in other countries. Very interesting.
I really had never given the holiday much thought. I do remember the card exchanges as a child in school. My husband and I have not had extra funds to pay for flowers that are extremely expensive. Sometimes we managed a small bag of candy but usually nothing. That really isn't my point but I will never look at the holiday the same after reading this.
Very deceptive I must say.
Thank you,
JMD