Wednesday, November 12, 2008

And it was given to her [the wife of the Lamb] to be dressed in fine linen, bright and clean (For The Fine Linen Is The Righteous Actions Of The Saints). Rev. 19:8.

The word translated "righteous acts" occurs only two times in the book of Revelation. First it appears in Revelation 15:4, which puts the righteous acts of God on view. The nations at the end of history worship before God, because His righteous acts "have been revealed." The total focus is on divine aciton. But in Revelation 19:8 the saints are the authors of the righteous actions. I suspect that John wanted the reader of Revelation to connect the dots between the works of God and those of the saints.

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually wandered through a door marked "No Admittance." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her sead and discovered that the child was missing.

Suddenly the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Stainway piano onstage. In horror the mother saw her little boy sitting a the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." At that moment the great piano master made his entrance, quickly approached the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep palying." Leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obligato. Together the old master and the young novice trasformed what could have been a frightening stituation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played that night. Only the classic "Twinkle, Twinkel, Littel Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful. The next time you set out to do something really great, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear: "Don't quit. Keep playing." God sometimes "calls" those He has already equipped, but more often He equips those He has already "called."

LOrd, it often seems that things won't work right unless they are done my way. Thank You for the reminder that whatever "greatness" I may achieve in this life, it is based primarily on what You add to my feeble efforts.

The heart in which Christ dwells will be so filled, so satisfied, with His love that it will not be consumed with longing to attract sympathy and attention to itself. And through the surrender of the soul to God, His wisdom can accomplish what human wisdom fails to do. Through the revelation of His grace, hearts that were once indifferent or estranged may be united in bonds that are firmer and more enduring than those of earth--the golden bonds of a love that will bear the test of trial(TFMB 65).