August 22

“The world will be no better for people who can recite chunks from Woolman’s Journal, even if they try to apply them to personal and social problems, unless they have drunk from the spring which was the inspiration of Woolman’s life.  ‘Seek ye first the Kingdom of God’ is not a counsel of ‘other-worldliness’, but a simple suggestion that you may as well get your bearings if you intend to reach the harbor.”  Reginald Reynolds, 1958, Daily Readings from Quaker Writings, 8/22

Mr. Reynolds makes a critical point.  As I’ve studied the lives of leaders of several spiritual revivals, including the Quakers, I find none of the resulting denominations to resemble the original movement.  This is because the next generation was guilty of trying to apply the teachings of the leader to their lives rather than going to the source that enabled the leader to be who he was.  These spiritual “giants” were all people who sought the Kingdom of God first.  Their followers, however, sought the results of seeking the Kingdom of God.  They wanted the power or the peace their earthly leader possessed rather than God Himself.  Even today within our churches we continue to follow after our leaders rather than God Himself.  We profess Jesus Christ as our Savior but do not possess Him as our Life.  Until we get this straight the Church will continue to be weakened and ineffective.  But I must follow my own advice and take my eyes off the Church and instead place them squarely on Jesus Christ.

“....let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1b, 2