The Mouse and the Elephant

There once was a little mouse who had to take a long and arduous journey. As the day wore on the little mouse grew tired and began looking for some easier way to complete the trip. By and by an elephant came along and gave the little mouse a ride on his massive back. Hour after hour the mouse rode on the back of the elephant. The mouse was filled with joy to see how much distance he was able to cover while riding on the back of an elephant. Finally they came to a narrow bridge. The elephant paused and then passed over the bridge. With each step the elephant took the bridge shook. When safe on the other side, the little mouse told the elephant, “We really shook that bridge.”

Gideon was called by God to deliver Israel from their enemies. Gideon protested, “How can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” God listens to his fears and then says, “But I will be with you.” (Judges 6:14-16). Gideon did not know it, but God did not need him to defeat the enemy. God only wanted him to go along for the ride. The victory was assured.

You and I face our own difficult journeys. We go through minefields, we cross shaking bridges, and pass through the valley of the shadow of death. As Christians while going through all of these places, we too are traveling on the strength of someone else. Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13). Jesus promised, “I will be with you always.” (Matthew 28:20).

When we face scary life passages, we must remember that we are merely a mouse riding on the back of One who is able to shake the bridge. When we are eventually safe on the other side of the shaking bridges of life, we may be tempted to say, “We really shook that bridge,” but we must remember that it was not us, but Him who shook the bridge.

Lonnie Davis

WiseWords

I love WiseWords. You know, those things that are so wise that they must be in the Bible somewhere. Here is one of my favorite: “A luxury once tried becomes a necessity.” In my family, I can start that quote and any of them can finish it. I thought about this truth a lot during the 2008 Olympics. I enjoy watching it on my plasma television in high definition. I cannot imagine watching it on an old black and white set or even a 19 inch color TV.

I remember once when a member of the church used the phone in our house and was talking to his wife. He told her “They even have a color TV.” Now that which seemed to wonderful to him has become a common possession. We can’t go back to how things used to be. A luxury once tried becomes a necessity.

I read about one young bride who was showing her great-grandmother all of the modern conveniences in her kitchen. She showed her a garbage disposal, dishwasher, icemaker, and trash compactor. When she got through she asked her great-grandmother which modern convenience she liked best. Her great-grandmother replied, “I think I like running water the best.”

Not only does a luxury once tried become a necessity, but it also becomes an expectation and an entitlement. We must remember to be appreciative or else our possessions will possess us.
Lonnie Davis

It is a great text: Romans 5:1-5.

Rom 5:1-5
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

From this text we see 10 assets that come from Justification:
1. We have PEACE with God.
2. ACCESS to God.
3. we have GRACE
4. We can rejoice in Hope.
5. We can rejoice in Adversity.
6. PERSEVERANCE!
7. CHARACTER.
8. HOPE
9. The love of God
10. The Holy Spirit