Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The natural religious bent
of man moves to him to put his religion on display. This is
very appealing to the flesh and feeds into his desire to be well
regarded by other men, thus earning their coveted regard. It is seen
in those who love the chief seats and titles of distinction among
the sons of God, and by those who desire to be noticed by others
in their level of devotion. The Lord took notice of a poor
widow who cast in all her living, that is, all the means of livelihood
that she had, into the treasury of the temple. He used her selfless
example to teach his disciples of the nature of accounting in
the kingdom of God. She not only gave more than those
wealthy men who cast in out of their great abundance, but she
did so without fanfare, seeking no recognition for her act of
love, which she was moved to manifest by the Spirit of God.
There is no greater blessing bestowed upon the sons of God
than a spirit which moves them to give freely of those things
which they possess unto the Lord. Paul recounts this teaching of
the Lord Jesus, which he had demonstrated to the Ephesian
elders. I have showed you all things, how it is so laboring
ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of
the Lord Jesus, how he said it is more blessed to give than
to receive. The Lord stands in need of nothing
which men might give or of any service they might render. He
does bless them, however, by enabling them to give of themselves
to him, even as Paul recounts of the generosity of the Macedonian
brethren as they first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto
us by the will of God. We read in Solomon's writings
of a poor wise man who delivered a besieged city by his wisdom.
Yet the inhabitants of this city forgot him, or as we might say,
had no regard to him. This is no doubt a reference
to Jesus Christ, who has delivered his people while they were yet
sinners, living in a city besieged by a great enemy. That enemy
is the prince of the power of the air, the God of this world,
who has a willing subject in the flesh of men. The Lord Jesus
came into this world as a poor man, yet full of wisdom and power
of the Holy Ghost. He dwelt among the sinners of
this world as accompanied with harlots, wine-bibbers, and publicans.
He had no place to lay his head, and possessed no earthly riches.
He was despised and rejected by those he came to serve. His
truth was disregarded by men, and his wisdom was counted by
them as foolishness. Yet he spoke words of truth and
light to them. It is by his wisdom that victory
is brought to this city, for he ordained every aspect of the
world's creation in order to demonstrate the glory of his
grace. Who among men can fathom the depths of his wisdom or uncover
the limits of his grace and truth, which he not only taught to men
as he walked in this world, but demonstrated by his life and
ultimately his death on the cross as an atonement for his people's
sin? He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces
from him. He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he
had borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem
him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He was in the
world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him
not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. There
was nothing seen in him by the wicked men of this world that
would cause them to recognize his greatness, nor to embrace
his teaching. He came not with great fanfare,
nor did he seek to exalt himself, but rather came to do his father's
will, and to manifest his glory, as he bore witness to the truth
and wisdom of God. He spoke of a kingdom which is
not of this world, and cannot be gained by the endeavor of
men. Rather, it is a kingdom which none can even see, apart
from being born again by His Holy Spirit's power. As such,
He spoke of a kingdom which man by nature will despise, because
it gives no place for him to glory. This is a kingdom which
exalts none but Christ. Those who are given grace to
enter therein desire that no other name be glorified. And
he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And
he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have
the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that
in him should all fullness dwell. And having made peace through
the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto
himself, by him I say whether they be things in earth or things
in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ held back
nothing, but gave himself for those he came to save. Be ye
therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in love
as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who
for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising
the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne
of God. In what do you glory? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.