Working for Him
Now Playing: Are we willing to learn His plans, and do what He calls us to ?
Topic: Learn
The question then comes, "Who hath despised the day of small things?" Some, if not all, had been tempted to do this (Ezra 3: 12); for they had compared the meanness of the present building with the glory of that of Solomon. They had been thus discouraged by comparing the present with the past, and, in their discouragement, they had low thoughts of the work on which they were engaged.

They are now shown that, in this state of mind, they were not in fellowship with the mind and heart of God; that the question was not concerning the outward glory of their work, but what were God's thoughts about it. They had been repining and were unbelieving while God's heart was upon His people, and His eyes were waiting to express their joy when they should see the building completed for this is the meaning of the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel.*

It would be well for us if we carefully treasured up this instruction; for we also are slow to learn that the importance of any service depends upon God's estimate of it. If we have once lost fellowship with Him as to our work, our spiritual energy and perseverance are gone, we cease to look to the only source of our strength, and give place, at the same time, to doubts if not despair, because we have commenced to walk by sight instead of by faith.

Let us learn then, with these returned captives, that the meanest service, as to its outward character, is worthy, of all our devotedness and zeal if the mind and heart of God are upon it, if He has put it into our hands, and that nothing is to be despised, no day of small things, when it contains in itself the pledge and guarantee of the fulfilment of the purposes of God.
E. Dennett

Learning
Now Playing: What are we learning ?
Topic: Learn
Every day, whether we realize it or not, we are gaining knowledge and insight; the only question is what are we finding out and how does it affect us?

The prophet Isaiah could write "Cease to do evil, Learn to do well" (Isaiah 1:16-17). "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God..." (Deuteronomy 31:11-12)

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus could say to the Jewish people, "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God'. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45). Of the Lord, it was written, "Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). The Romans were instructed, "For even Christ pleased not Himself...For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:3-4).

Paul could write to the Ephesians, "But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have learned Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:20-21) To the Philippians he urged, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:9) To Timothy He wrote, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" (2 Timothy 3:14) May we each seek to "learn of Him" (Matthew 11:29) more and more!