Day 31: 31 Days of Prayer

July 31, 2010

Morning

Psalm 27:11 (NIV) Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.

God will answer that prayer with Jesus. John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The great Bible teacher, R.A. Torrey, told a story of four men who were climbing the Matterhorn mountain. A guide, a tourist, a second guide, and a second tourist were all roped together for the climb. As they went over a particularly difficult place, the second tourist lost his footing and fell over the side of the cliff. The sudden yank of the rope carried the second guide over the side with him. He carried the other tourist with him over the edge. Three men were now dangling over the cliff, but the guide who was in the lead, feeling the first pull on the rope, drove his ax into the ice, braced himself, and held on for dear life. The first tourist regained his footing, then the guide, and then the second tourist. They continued the climb in safety.

So it is in this life. As the human race ascended the lofty cliffs of life, the first Adam lost his footing and tumbled headlong over the abyss. In his sin, he pulled the next man after him, and then the next, and the next, until the entire human race hung in deadly peril. All was not lost. Along came the second Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, who kept His footing and stood fast in His sinless deity. Thus, all those who are united to Him by a living faith in Him, are secure and safe on the path to Heaven.

So hang on to Him. Mark 13:13 (NIV) All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Evening

“LORD, my portion,” David declared in Psalm 16:5. John Phillips shares the story of the born-again ruler of England, King George VI. In the course of his duties, King George traveled to Canada. It was thought by the Canadian officials that the king might want to meet a native-born Indian chief. They chose Chief Whitefeather. The chief was asked to sing something for the king. They assumed he would sing an Indian war song. Whitefeather, however, was a Christian. Chief Whitefeather began to sing:

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold.

I'd rather have Jesus than house or land. I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hands.

Than to be the king of a vast domain, Or be held in sin's dread sway;

I'd rather have Jesus than anything, This world affords today.

The stunned Canadian officials waited to see what King George would do. The king went over, took Chief Whitefeather by the hand and said, "I'd rather have Jesus too."

If you have Christ, you lack nothing. If you lack Christ, you have nothing. Is He our portion? Ask God to reveal the answer to that question and, if needed, to reveal Jesus.