Let Jesus...

A South American company purchased a fine printing press from a firm in the United States. After it had been shipped and completely assembled, the workmen could not get it to operate properly. The most knowledgeable personnel tried to adjust it, but to no avail.

The company finally sent a wire to the manufacturer, asking for a representative to come and fix it. Sensing the urgency of the request, the U.S. firm sent the designer of the press. When he arrived on the scene, the company officials were skeptical because he was young. After discussing the situation, they sent this cable to the manufacturer: "Your man is too young. Send a more experienced person." The reply came back, "He made the machine. Let him fix it!"

Mankind is in a similar situation. Every area of life seems to be in chaos. People don't know how to "put it all together." Addictions, enslaving sins and nagging guilt leave them confused. Man-made plans and panaceas offer little hope. It is only Jesus who can really fix our lives.*

Do you fully trust Jesus to get your life victorious?

Psalm 62:6,7 - "He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge."

The Missing Element...

A woman with a beautiful singing voice took lessons for several years from an outstanding teacher. Although she learned to sing every note perfectly, her performances were cold and mechanical.

One day her teacher told her: "My dear, I have taught you all I know; yet you lack one thing that I cannot supply. Something will have to come into your life that will break your heart. Only then will you be able to sing with feeling!"

Sir Malcolm Sargent (1895-1967), the outstanding orchestra conductor, found this principle to be true in his own life. Early in his career he battled against tuberculosis. After regaining his health, his 13-year-old daughter Pamela was stricken with polio.

One night, as he was about to conduct Handel's Messiah, he was handed a note that read: "Your daughter Pamela is dying." With tears in his eyes, he directed the orchestra and choir through such tender passages as "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people." Not only did he find strength from God's Word set to music, but his sorrows produced in him a deep feeling that flowed through his conducting.

Life may hold bitter experiences for us, but God can use them to help us understand the suffering that others go through and to minister to their needs.*

Has your heart been broken before God yet?

Isaiah 61:1 - "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives."

A Tested String

A talented violinist was scheduled to play before a very critical audience. Although she had a fine instrument, she was not satisfied with the quality of its sound. So she said to her father, "This violin must yield its full resonance and vibration of tone. I'm going out to buy some tested strings."

When asked what tested strings were, she replied, "First, they're put on a rack and stretched and strained to take all the vacillation out of them. Then they are hammered and put through an acid test. This is what enables them to produce a perfect and full tone." When she attached the tested strings and tuned the instrument, the music was noticeably more warm and rich than before.

If our lives are going to produce beautiful music for the Lord, testing is imperative. Just as a tested string gives the highest quality of sound, so Christians who accept their trials and learn to profit from them are able to bring the greatest glory to the Master Musician.*

Will your trials make you bitter or better?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)