January 12

Too big for God to use

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isa. 57:15).

One of the last messages of G. Fred Bergin, Director of the Ashley Down Orphan Homes, Bristol, was: “Tell my younger brethren that they may be too big for God to use them, but they cannot be too small.”

“Too big for God to use me!”
This is the reason why
Poor longing souls are famished
Who come, and go, and die!
O God, my Savior, help me
In deep humility
To make a full surrender
Henceforth to own but Thee.

“Too big for God to use me!”
But if I am possessed
With unction through His Spirit,
Then shall my work be blessed;
I’ll count myself as nothing,
Seek Christ to magnify,
And use my gifts in service
My Lord to glorify. 

There is a story told of a very brilliant preacher who, wherever he went, moved crowds to enthusiasm by his splendid eloquence, culture and genius. He possessed every attractive gift of mind and body, and he was accompanied by a poor, blind brother who had no gifts at all but simply lived a holy life, and knelt in prayer while the man of power and intellect preached. One day, when an assembly had been stirred and lifted up to an unusual ecstasy of fervor and devotion, the preacher had a vision. He saw Heaven opened and the glory of the great throne streamed down; but he saw, to his surprise, that it shone not upon his head, but upon the face of the lowly brother kneeling at his feet, and from that face it was reflected upon the faces of the crowd. Then he knew that the power came not through his genius and eloquence, but through the pure life and fervent prayers of the brother at his side.

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