anybody to do something for us that we can do ourselves. The Bible re minds us that unless we become as little children, willing to accept God’s gift freely, how can we be saved? The Lord makes His people meek. The next step is that He beautifies us. Sometimes this portion of Scrip ture is translated, “He shall beauti fy the afflicted with deliverance.” Or another translation that’s so beauti ful and comforting is, “He will adorn the tested and tried with victory.” Are you tested and tried? Do you feel frustrated and anxious? Wait upon the Lord, and He’ll adorn you with victory, triumph, deliverance, and beauty. Meekness is lowliness of mind. Hu mility is not so much thinking low thoughts of yourself. The fact of the matter is that humility is not think ing of yourself at all. It is rather a heart-concern and thoughtfulness of others. This means forbearance un der pressure or provocation. It means forgiveness for injuries. It means not pushing yourself forward, trying to get ahead, not propelling oneself into the limelight. It means prefer ring others before ourselves. Would you say that this is an adequate pic ture of the way in which God is deal ing with your life? You see, the Lord desires not only to save us but also to adorn us after our .salvation. In this way we can become more con formed to His likeness. Scripture as sures us, “Whom He justifies, them He also glorifies.” Here it is, then. Having saved us, He adorns us. C hapter F ive In verse 5 of the 149 Psalm we find the exhortation, “Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds.” When you stop to think about it, joy is con tagious. There was a book written some years ago by a minister based on the value of thinking anything but that which is negative. He wasn’t teaching anything new. This is exact
ly what- the Psalmist is talking about. Frankly, it’s easy for me to see something wrong with almost every thing. My wife often reminds me of this failing and I’m glad she does. One of the sad admissions I would have to make is that the older I get, the more I realize there is a ten dency as well as a danger in be coming cynical, critical, and fault finding. Nothing satisfies us and it is easy to become discontent with this thing or that. But we are told to be joyful. And we have much for which to be joyful! Here is the assured protection of God which is given to us in confidence. The little nightingale received its name because it was willing to sing when everything around it was dark. This is what the Psalmist is telling us. We are to sing aloud upon our beds; even when sleep eludes us, let's praise the Lord. Notice that it doesn’t say, “Let the saints in glory be joy ful.” That’s a foregone conclusion. We know we will be happy there. Just to be in the Lord’s presence
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Mr. Gerald Gooden,Biola College librarian, looks over some of fhe stamps which have beensent in by friends of the school. Commemorative U.S. issues and foreign stamps can be sold by the pound to wholesale dealers. Proceeds are then turned over to the school for the ministry of preparing students. Readers are encouraged to save stamps and send them in large bulk to the school. Stamps always soaked off will save time, however, volunteers are willing to assist in the projectof removing paper from the stamps before they are sold.
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