October 30
The mightiness of meekness
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5).
“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit” (Prov. 29:23).
Pride was Nebuchadnezzar’s downfall—“Is not this great Babylon which I have builded?” Do we take glory from God after doing some small service for Him? Can God trust us with success or are we like the vain woodpecker in the following story?
“A certain woodpecker flew up to the top of a high pine tree and gave three hard pecks on the side of the tree as woodpeckers are wont to do. At that instant a bolt of lightning struck the tree, leaving it on the ground, a heap of splinters. The woodpecker had flown to a tree nearby where it clung in terror and amazement at what had taken place. There it hung expecting more to follow, but as all remained quiet, it began to chuckle to itself saying, ‘Well, well, well! Who would have imagined that just three pecks of my beak could have such power as that!’”





