II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
August 20th
"This is life age-lasting, that they might know YOU...." John 17:3
Here, "life age-lasting" is shown as dependent on KNOWING God. "Have I been so long time with you, Philip, and yet you have not KNOWN Me" (Jn. 14:9)! Hearing or reading about God throughout many years, a person may still not KNOW Him. Then we must also observe that "might" word. It translates to MAY. That is, we are given the opportunity to KNOW Him; yet that does not mean that God undertakes to knock that into us. You have the opportunity; yet you remain the master!
"I have glorified YOU on the earth; I have finished the work which YOU gave Me to do." John 17:4
The Lord's "glorification of the Father" on earth was incidental to the manifestation of the "KEEPING" power! When multitudes hungered when there was nothing there for more than ten or twelve, He fed them to overflowing (Lk. 9:17)! When boisterous waves were swamping their boat, the Lord told the storm to "pull in its horns" (Mk. 4:39)! When Peter was sinking as if a stone, Christ walking and standing on the water lifted him up and put him into the boat (Matt. 14:29-32)!
Regardless of the sickness, ailment, or handicap, Christ's word was fully equal! Even the dead and rotting came back to life, in health and normalcy at His word! Those were the Power-feats (rendered "miracles" in the Bible) which PROVED THAT THE SON OF GOD ON EARTH COULD MANIFEST THE FULLNESS OF "KEEPING" POWER, AND THAT IN A SPLIT MOMENT OF TIME!! Yet again: "WHY NOT GIVE HIM THE CHANCE?"
Chat 11/1990 (continued tomorrow...)