“So
they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The
planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah
61:3b
“Therefore
as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly
rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you
were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”
Colossians
2:6-7
God
moves in a mysterious way
His
wonders to perform;
He
plants His footsteps in the sea
And
rides upon the storm.
Deep
in unfathomable mines
Of
never failing skill
He
treasures up His bright designs
And
works His sovereign will.
Ye
fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The
clouds ye so much dread
Are
big with mercy and shall break
In
blessings on your head.
GOD
MOVES IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY
William
Cowper ~1774
It
requires storms to produce this rooting business. No tree becomes great unless
it is transplanted out on a meadow where the winds and storms can get at it. It
remains small if sheltered in the forest.
Out
on the meadow it stands to shelter the herds and the flocks. The earth about
the tree hardens. The rains do little good for the water runs off.
But
the terrific storm strikes. It twists, turns, wrenches and at times all but
tears it out of its place. If the tree could speak it might bitterly complain.
Should Nature listen and cease the storm process?
On
and on the storm almost bends it double. It is wrath now. What can such seeming
cruelty mean? Is that love? But wait.
All
about the tree the soil is all loosened. Great cracks are opened up away down
into the ground. Deep wounds they might appear to the inexperienced. The rain
now comes in with its gentle ministry. The “WOUNDS” fill up. The moisture
reaches away down deep even to the utmost root. The sun again shines. New and
vigorous life burst forth. The roots go deeper, ever deeper. The branches shoot
forth. Now and again one hears something snap and crack like a pistol. It is
the expansion of the bark of the tree. It is getting too big for its clothes. It is growing into a giant. It is
rooting.
"The
brightest souls which glory ever knew,
Were
rocked in storms and nursed when tempests blew."
Dean Dutton
This devotional is dedicated to our dear friend, Hank, who is battling a storm called cancer right now.
