Friday: Success in Examinations Guaranteed
WEEK 49
FRIDAY
SUCCESS IN EXAMINATIONS GUARANTEED
Galatians 6:1-S
We are studying the mastery of beginning at the wrong place, others. The only effective place to begin anything is with you. The Word has to become flesh in us before it can become power through us. I am more and more persuaded that no one can help another except through sharing what has become vital to him or her—not good advice, but the good news that it works.
I saw a sign on a school in India that specialized in coaching students for their examinations. The sign said: “Success in examinations guarateed”; the guarantee didn’t guarantee them against their own misspelling! It wasn’t very inviting!
Always the illustration becomes the illumination. The disciples were ineffective in getting evil spirits out of people until they got rid of their own evil spirits of self-seeking pride and self-righteousness. When they got the evil spirits out of themselves, they began to get them out of others.
So don’t try to save the world or our circumstances or even your family—begin with yourself. Go over everything in your own life that could possibly block the power of God getting through you to others. Surrender those blocks to God. Then share with those around you in ever-widening circles your victory. Then your work for others will be that of, not a moralistic whip, but a loving witness.
You will remember the question of Peter to Jesus about John, “‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus replied, . . . ‘What difference does that make to you? You must follow me!’ ” (John 21:21-22). The first thing Jesus directed Peter’s attention to was Peter.
When Peter got straightened out, that would automatically help John. But Peter was asking first what the other man was going to do instead of what he was going to do. Begin with yourself, said Jesus, and the other man will catch it by contagion. Then we will not be preaching to people—always an irritation, but we will be sharing with people—always an inspiration. It is the only method that will work.
O Lord, I thank you that you have started us at the right place, ourselves. Now heal us at the heart, and then we’ll have something for healing other hearts. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Remember, O soul of mine, that it is only one loving heart that can set other hearts aflame.