November 26, 2021 -- I Kings 20:35 -- Anonymous to the world; known by the Father

And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the command of the Lord, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike him.
I Kings 20:35 ESV

Here is a nameless prophet. Two chapters back, Obadiah—who the text says feared the LORD greatly (I Kings 18:3)—hid fifty prophets in one cave and fifty in another cave to save them from the wrath of the king and his wife Jezebel, who hated the LORD and His prophets. So, the bible mentions 100 prophets who are nameless and unknown to us. They serve during the time of the famous prophets Elijah and Elisha.

Why mention this? Think about it. How often have you thought, listen to that preacher Alistair Begg, consider everything Tim Keller writes, hmm, that John Piper, I am not like them at all, therefore whatever I contribute to the kingdom of God is not really significant. Think again! Notice how often the Sovereign King of Heaven and Earth uses people who are anonymous in the eyes of the world, but are made in His image, are His workmanship, and are empowered by His Spirit to reveal the glory of Christ. Wherever the LORD has placed you, trust His Spirit is using your life, blessing you so that you are impacting others for the glorious Name of Jesus. This is also a beautiful warning—keep pure, guard your lips and sternly govern your actions so that your witness to Jesus will be consistent.

Purification

Lord Jesus, I sin - Grant that I
    may never cease grieving because of it,
    never be content with myself,
    never think I can reach a point of perfection.
Kill my envy, command my tongue,
   trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure,
peaceable,
to live for thee and not for self,
to copy thy words, acts, spirit,
to be transformed into thy likeness,
to be consecrated wholly to thee,
to live entirely to thy glory.
       Deliver me from attachment to things unclean,
from wrong associations,
from the predominance of evil passions,
from the sugar of sin as well as its gall,
        that with self-loathing, deep contrition,
            earnest heart searching I may come to thee, cast myself on thee,
             trust in thee, cry to thee,
   be delivered by thee.
       O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that
all things are shadows, but thou art substance,
all things are quicksands, but thou art mountain,
all things are shifting, but thou art anchor,
all things are ignorance, but thou art wisdom.
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat,
            so be it,
            but do thou sit at the furnace mouth
            to watch the ore that nothing be lost.
      If I sin wilfully, grievously, tormentedly,
            in grace take away my mourning
               and give me music;
            remove my sackcloth
               and clothe me with beauty;
            still my sighs
            and fill my mouth with song,
then give me summer weather as a Christian.
 
The Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions

https://youtu.be/1yBzIt_z8oY