Matthew 25:35-36 - For I was hungry, and you gave Me
something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a
stranger and you invited Me in; naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you
visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. (NASB)
At the very first rendition in Dublin on April 13, 1742, Handel's Messiah raised
400 pounds for the poor and indigent, and freed 142 men from debtors' prison.
Handel personally performed it for charity more than thirty times, and it was so
popular that women were asked not to wear hoop skirts. This allowed organizers
to pack the house more effectively!
Reviewers described it in the very words of today's Scripture:
Messiah has fed the hungry, clothed the naked and fostered the orphan more than
any other single musical production. It has done more to convince thousands that
there is a God about us than all the theological works ever written.
Just think of it! The created (Handel) used his God-given gift to create
something that displayed his Creator, Christ.
What about the gifts God has given to us? When we use them, do they have the
same result? We might want to ask ourselves this question: Do I have a "Handel"
on it?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for reminding us that we are not alone in that personal
struggle. Especially, we thank You for the Holy Spirit, Who revives us when we
are weary, and encourages and strengthens us in a walk that we pray will leave a
vision of the Christ. Amen.
Brenda Wood brenda.w@nextcom.ca
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.