The Scroll Marked VIII: Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
“A mulberry leaf touch with the genius of man becomes silk. A field of clay touched with the genius of man becomes a castle. A cyprus tree touched with the genius of man becomes a shrine. A cut of sheep’s hair touched with the genius of man becomes a raiment for a king. If it is possible for leaves and clay and wood and hair to have their value multiplied a hundred, yea a thousandfold by man, cannot I do the same with the clay which bears my name? Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
“…And how will I accomplish this? First I will set goals for the day, the week, the month, the year, and my life…so must I have objectives before my life will crystallize. In setting my goals I will consider my best performance of the past and multiply it a hundredfold. This will be the standard by which I will live in the future.
“…The height of my goals will not hold me in awe though I may stumble often before they are reached. If I stumble I will rise and my falls will not concern me for all men must stumble often to reach the hearth. Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
“…Today I will surpass every action which I performed yesterday. I will climb today’s mountain to the utmost of my ability yet tomorrow I will climb higher than today, and the next will be higher than tomorrow. To surpass the deeds of others is unimportant; to surpass my own deeds is all. Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.
“…I will commit not the terrible crime of aiming too low. I will do the work that a failure will not do. I will always let my reach exceed my grasp. I will never be content with my performance…I will always raise my goals as soon as they are attained. I will strive to make the next hour better than this one. I will always announce my goals to the world. YET, NEVER WILL I PROCLAIM MY ACCOMPLISHMENTS. Let the world, instead, approach me with praise and MAY I HAVE THE WISDOM TO RECEIVE IT IN HUMILITY.Today I will multiply my value a hundredfold.” (pgs.88-92)
In the Word: 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17, Psalm 89, 96, 100-101
God foreshadows the coming of Jesus when he tells David not to worry about building a temple for Him. But he mentions that he will punish [Jesus] with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men when he does wrong. (v. 14) I know that God is describing the Crucifixion that was to take place with Jesus, but why does he say “when he does wrong”. Christ never did anything wrong. Does He mean “wrong” in the sense of disobedience in the eyes of human priests teaching the Law? I like that this part is omitted from the 1 Chronicles passage because it’s much more positive and optimistic.
And I still can’t justify that God showed favoritism towards one group of people over the rest of the world. I’m going to feel completely idiotic if when I’m standing there in His presence someday and finally get to ask Him about it, He says, “Yes, the Israelites are my people, the chosen ones”. But until that question is answered directly by Him, I just can’t let it sit well within me.