John Brentz, who lived many years ago, was a faithful preacher of the gospel of the grace of God. Because of his faithfulness he incurred the hatred of Charles V who made an attempt to arrest him.
Hearing that the soldiers were coming he cast himself upon the Lord in prayer. Then he took a loaf of bread and hid in a loft. The search continued for fourteen days, and the one loaf of bread would not have been sufficient, but each day a hen came up into the loft and laid an egg, without even cackling! On the fifteenth day, the hen did not come and John Brentz heard the people in the street say, “They are gone at last.” He was then able to come out of his hiding place.
What a wonderful thing it is to know that all creation is under the hand of its Creator. He could keep a hen from cackling, and even the dogs from barking in Egypt long ago. He could make a donkey speak, to rebuke Baalam, and keep another one perfectly still while He, the Lord of glory, rode upon it.
And He gives to each one his life and breath at this very moment. If He took it away we would all drop dead. But there is something more wonderful than this. He also gives us the opportunity of being saved from our sins, and of receiving eternal life.
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). While He gives you your life and breath, dear reader, let me ask you, “Have you accepted His gracious offer of salvation?” God could create worlds by the word of His power, but think what it cost Him to provide salvation for you and me. He gave His Son to go to that cross of Calvary to take our guilty place. The very One who upholds all things by the word of His power, “When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:33Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Hebrews 1:3).
Now He is risen again, and He said to His disciples, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” Matt. 28:1818And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18). It is a wonderful thing that God should keep a hen from cackling, or dogs from barking, but it is far more wonderful to know the Creator of all things as your own personal Saviour. Have you received Him by faith?
ML 10/21/1956