not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3). * * * What you are ii God'« gift to you, but what you can become it your gift to Him! * » » THE ONE TOOL SATAN WONT SELL An ancient allegory states that the devil once decided to sell all of his tools which he so effectively wields against the believer. On the day .appointed he had them all displayed. There was anger, jealousy, hatred, lust; they were all there. The price depended upon the degree to which he valued them. One of the implements, however, the one which seemed to be more worn than any of the others, lacked a price tag. Satan was asked what its cost was. He responded, “Why that’s not for sale. It’s my tool of discouragement. I can afford to sell the others, but when everything else fails, 1 know I can make discouragement work.” And so, as the parable concludes, our adversary continues to use discouragement at op portune moments in the lives of be lievers. The Bible reminds us, “Casting all your care (your frustrations and discouragements), upon Christ, for you are His special concern!” * A man who walks wirtt God always gets to his destination. ♦ * * TELLING ALL One of Satan’s most effective tools in destroying a Christian’s witness is “gossiping.” The Bible tells us to re joice, not in iniquity, but in the truth. Interestingly enough, the word “gos sip” came from the fact that in cen turies past one who represented another at baptism, giving a testimony on his behalf, was known as a “God sib.” The two words have been contracted and shortened to just “gossip,” with the meaning now representing not just one who knows all about another but rather one who tells all about him. The Word of God reminds us, “These six things 18 * *
Parable« and Pearl« (continued) There is no true peace or tranquility of soul from such things. The secret of true restful happiness of soul and pur pose is found in Christ who said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are haven laden, and 1 w ill give you rest?’ (Matt. 11:28). * * * If your life had no cloud« then you would never see the rainbow«. * ' . HOW FAR CAN YOU SEE Life is filled with disappointments and frustrations. God doesn’t promise our pathway only to be strewn ■with fragrant, rose petals. There are neces sary thorns which serve to draw us closer to Him. A father had promised his son that he would take him fishing on his day off. This was providing, of course, that it didn’t rain. The boy was filled w ith eager anticipation. But, when the day came — you guessed it — it was pouring down rain. As the lad looked out the rain streaked win dow he wondered why God would have to spoil his plans. “It isn’t right, dad! It’s just not right at all,” he com plained. “Here we have sun for a whole month, and then, when we don’t want it to rain, it does. Seems like things would come out right once in a while.” His father smiled and tried to point out the value of the rain. But all his son could do was grumble, “Looks like God could have waited one day, anyway.” By afternoon the storm had passed. Not wanting to disappoint his son, the father and his boy took off for a nearby stream. Whether be cause of the heavy rain, or for some reason only fish understand, the crea tures were biting hungrily, and the two came home early with creels filled with the lim it. That night, when the boy was asked to pray at the table, he added, “And Lord, if I seemed grurnbly this morning, it was just because I couldn’t see far enough ahead?’ If God gave us now what we think we just simply must have, it might be the very thing which would bring further frus tration, defeat and ruin. In the book of James we read, “Ye ask, and receive
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