Study 122 – Secret Devotion

We next read, ‘The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him and he lived’ (1 Kings 17:22). It’s easy to be involved in Christian activity for the praise of men, but God looks at the things we do which remain secrets between him and us. So when Jesus saw a poor widow throw two small copper coins into the collection box, he said, ‘That’s genuine sacrifice.’ God’s vindication is the only vindication worth having.

Vindication
Imagine Elijah’s joy as he gave the boy back to his mother. What rejoicing must have filled the house that night! God vindicated Elijah because of his faith and obedience. In contrast, King Saul wanted vindication to come cheaply. He despised the amazing privilege that he’d been given and threw away his right to rule. But when Samuel told him, ‘The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today’ (1 Sam. 15:28), Saul replied, ‘I have sinned. But please honour me before the elders of my people and before Israel’ (1 Sam. 15:30). Yes, there was a faint acknowledgement of wrong, but no sign of true repentance. Saul didn’t say, ‘I’m going to fast and pray and get right with God.’ All he was concerned about was his reputation. ‘Stay with me, Samuel. You’re the national prophet. Stay with me. Vindicate me before men.’

‘How can you believe,’ said Jesus to the Pharisees, ‘if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?’ (John 5:44). You’ll never develop genuine faith if you have that attitude. Elijah was able to say, ‘You know about my secret devotion. You know I stand before you, Lord.’ And the God who saw what Elijah had done in secret rewarded him openly. There are no short cuts to being useful to God. Even Jesus had the testimony that he learned obedience through his sufferings (Heb. 5:8). Will you embrace God’s training and testing? Only God knows what is ahead for you. In Elijah’s case, the training was for a ministry that would affect the whole nation.

Preparation
Maybe God is taking you through severe trials and pressures. Maybe you wonder if you can take much more of it. Maybe you don’t even really know what’s happening to you. Remember Elijah: God was preparing him for a huge stage appearance on Mount Carmel, a historical event comparable with the fall of Jericho or the parting of the Red Sea. God doesn’t want to see you run away as soon as things begin to get difficult. He wants you to be diligent, to break through and to develop some spiritual muscle. You have a great calling. Receive God’s hidden preparation. The day will come when you will call for the fire of God and he will vindicate you fully.

Quote
‘He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and his glory. Waiting in the sunshine of his love is what will ripen the soul for his blessing. Waiting under the cloud of trial that breaks in showers of blessings, is as needful. Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. God waited 4000 years, till the fullness of time, before he sent his Son. Our times are in his hands; he will avenge his elect speedily; he will make haste for our help, and not delay one hour too long.’
Andrew Murray