Redeemed Oh How I Love To Proclaim It

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Our calling is not primarily to be holy men and women, but to be proclaimers of the gospel of God. The one all-important thing is that the gospel of God should be recognized as the abiding reality. Reality is not human goodness, or holiness, or heaven, or hell— it is redemption. The need to perceive this is the most vital need of the Christian worker today. As workers, we have to get used to the revelation that redemption is the only reality. Personal holiness is an effect of redemption, not the cause of it. If we place our faith in human goodness we will go under when testing comes.’  CHAMBERS

 

Do you see redemption as the most significant aspect of your life?  Those who are lost .. without Christ live an illusion.  The illusion is that even if there is life after death … it does not depend upon Jesus.  But the truth is that the only reality is redemption.  That we have been redeemed through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus.  That we have entered into reality and are no longer living in a dreamland.  Once we were living as if there was no tomorrow .. Now we are living as if we will live for all eternity … because we will …

 

Our responsibility is to live and walk in the Light and not be conformed to the world. Romans 12:2.  We should not only live in a way that gives testimony to our faith and redemption in Jesus, but we must tell others.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Is That You God?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9). Every time circumstances press in on you, say, “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than a means of discipline— it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? Was it Luke 11:13 , or was it 1 Thessalonians 5:23? As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time.[…]  Never ask another person’s advice about anything God makes you decide before Him. If you ask advice, you will almost always side with Satan. “. . . I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood . . .” (Galatians 1:16).’ CHAMBERS

 

When I was younger, I almost always went to an “Eli” to confirm what I thought to be God’s voice.  The problem … God was speaking to me .. not to them.  It was not that I wasn’t sure that it was God speaking … John 10:3-4,27 “the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. […] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. “  It was just that I lacked the faith to follow.

 

What has God been saying to you?  Has He called you into something that seems impossible?  That would be God.  He calls you to His work … not to do it on your own, but so you can be part of what He is doing.  Following Him is not easy … what you do … you do in a world that hates God …. John 15:18-20  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.'

 

I can recall when I told a friend of mine in Waveland, MS that we were going to Haiti.  He got close to me, looked me in the eyes and asked “Are you crazy!” I told him it was not my idea .. it was God’s.  What God calls us to do is contrary to the world’s thinking.  Don’t use earthly wisdom to consider God’s call.  You will say no every time.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Where are you looking?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances. God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do”-and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance.’ CHAMBERS

 

“Pain [ and I would add trouble] insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains [and troubles]. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path”

 

When we face difficult times .. we should not look around but we should look up.  Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

 

The Haitians have a proverb “Geyen mon gen mon” Mountains have mountains.  There will always be a hill to climb .. a mountain to overcome …. But I tell them … our God is bigger than the mountains .. He created them … and with faith the mountain can be cast into the sea. Matthew 21:21.

 

Listen for God in your circumstances and then look to the hills ..

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Staying Connected

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.’ CHAMBERS

 

I am very aware that the devotions I write are sometimes piercing, may sometimes seem harsh .. but I must tell you that they are just as piercing and harsh for me.  I share what the Lord tells me .. what He sees in my heart … All of us are on a journey.  The path is steep … and requires sure footing.  Our tendency is to stray.  God has given us His Word and Spirit to show us and teach us.  “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

 

Since scripture is spiritual it requires God’s Spirit for understanding.  I know that many reading this  .. know this .. but we so easily forget this as we live out our lives day to day.  We forget that we must stay connected to the Vine every day.  “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Jesus said , “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers … “ John 15:4-6

 

The straying begins with a thought like, ‘I don’t have time today .. but I’m good .. I will get back to it tomorrow” As Christians we are totally dependent upon our constant connection with Jesus.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Me .. Worry?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Do not worry about your life . . . —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life . . . .” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.’ CHAMBERS

You struggle with this?  Do you realize that you are struggling with this?  The problem is that these are common struggles in the world .. you must eat .. you must have a means to pay your bills .. you must have a place to rest … But … those facts must not be to primary focus of our lives … they crowd Jesus out … they are in direct competition with our devotion and dependence upon the Lord.  Jesus knew that and that is why He said that.  When you read the Bible always read it with the understanding that of all thing things that God could have shared with us … what you are reading is what He decided was most important.

 

Solomon said that there is nothing new under the sun … Ecclesiastes 1:9  “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”  Customs may change.  Technology will most certainly change … but the struggle between the Spirit and the flesh will always be the same.

 

John 6:63-64  “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.”

 

The things we be worry over and chase after have no eternal value .. but if you don’t have an eternal view on life you won’t see it.

 

Galatians 5:16-17  “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”

 

When we accepted Christ we took on a spiritual nature … a new life and a new struggle between the old and the new.

 

Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

The problem Jesus described is really a spiritual battle.  A battle between the Spirit of God and the god of this world.  God can offer what is eternal .. Satan can only offer those things which will be consumed in the fire.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Are You Willing?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘If God so clothes the grass of the field . . . , will He not much more clothe you . . . ? —Matthew 6:30

 

A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.’ CHAMBERS

Knowing the truth is not the same as acting upon the truth.  If I bought a car for you and parked it in your driveway then gave you the keys.  You would know that there is a car out there but until you get in and drive the car, it has no practical value to you.  So it is with your faith and new life.  The Word tells you that you have it, the Spirit confirms it within you .. but if you are unwilling to walk in that new life .. to make your relationship with Jesus the most important priority in your life .. your faith has no practical value … oh, you will surely go to heaven .. but eternity started when you said yes to Jesus.  Your faith and relationship with Jesus can take you above and beyond the troubles of this world … if only ….

 

"Without Him I could do nothing.  Without Him I’d surely fail.  Without Him, life would be hopeless.  Like a ship without a sail.  Jesus, oh Jesus.  Do you know Him today?  He won’t turn you away.  Jesus, oh Jesus without Him, how lost I would be.” Without Him (Words & music by Mylon R. Lefevre).

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

When God Shows Up

My Utmost For His Highest

‘Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never expected Him to come? Do not look for God to come in a particular way, but do look for Him. The way to make room for Him is to expect Him to come, but not in a certain way. No matter how well we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that He may break in at any minute. We tend to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way.’ CHAMBERS

 

When God shows up.  Focus on the Family has a ministry called the Truth Project.  The central point of that ministry is to communicate the differences between the secular and Christian world views. One question that is asked is “Do you believe, that what you believe is really real?”  Think about that for a moment.  Do you believe there is a God?  Do you believe that He cares about you and what happens to you?  Do you believe that He will intervene in the course of human events on your behalf?  Do you?

 

We pray to God and ask for His help.  But do you really believe that He is listening?  That He cares?  Do you believe that the Word of God is truth?  That it never changes.  That the words in the book we call the Bible are God breathed?  Infallible .. inerrant

 

Someone once said that the only part of the Bible that you believe is the part you obey!.  A person acts upon what they believe.  Many people will only believe it when they see it, but the Christian life requires us to believe in what we cannot see .. to trust in something that is super – natural … beyond man’s experience in the natural world.  We do that and then one day, to our surprise … God shows up.

 

That happened to me recently … God showing up unexpectedly.  It was concerning a particular problem … the cards seemed to be stacked against me … and then the entire situation turned and the aggressor became the target of their own aggression.  God brought confusion to “my enemy’s camp”  and they turned on themselves.  It was remarkable.  The men who were at my side stood in amazement.  Afterwards, one of the men said “I learned something today, God is with us.”  It was a revelation … something that he thought to be true, hoped to be true, was proved to be true.  It was a time for rejoicing and giving praise and glory to God.

 

John 20:28-30 “Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 

Matthew 6:31-33 “[Jesus speaking] So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 

“He Knows My Name” “I have a Father, He calls me His own.  He will never leave me, no matter where I go.  He knows my name.  He knows my every thought.  He knows each tear that falls and hears me when I call.”

 

Thank you Lord!

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Determined to Know Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

‘When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him [Jesus]. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).’ CHAMBERS

 

It is not the knowing that evades us .. it is the doing … I often make a reference to Paul and then add “but I am not suggesting I am like Paul”.  But, if we are Christians, we are all like Paul.  Sinners saved by grace.  The quality of our Christian life is not about the quality of our education .. it’s about the quality of our faith and relationship with Jesus. How important is it that I seek Jesus out every day?  It is essential to the health of my faith and witness to the world.

 

“All In All”  “He is my strength when I am weak.  He is the treasure that I seek. He is my all in all.  Seeking Him like a precious jewel, Lord to give up, I’d be a fool.  He is my all in all.  Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name.”

 

“Knowing You, Jesus” “All I once held dear, built my life upon.  All the world reveres and wars to own.  All I once thought gain, I have counted loss.  Spent and worthless now, compared to this.  Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You.”

 

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

 

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you …”  James 4:8

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Remembering The Day Of My Salvation

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?’ CHAMBERS

 

“Take me back, take me back dear Lord To the place where I first believed you.

 

Take me back, take me back dear Lord Where I first believed.

 

(Verse)

 

I feel that I'm so far from you Lord But still I hear you calling me.

 

Those simple things that I once knew, The memories are drawing me.

 

I must confess, Lord I've been blessed But yet my soul's not satisfied.

 

Renew my faith, restore my joy And dry my weeping eyes.” Andrae Crouch

 

Do you remember when you first believed in Jesus?  I do.  My life was so different.  I had in satiable thirst for the Word of God.  Everything seemed new.  How was it for you?  Do you remember when the glory started to fade?  When your excitement began to ebb and you settled into a more “reasonable - moderate” way of living the Christian life?  What would it take to get back that spark?  Only by intentionally seeking Him … like losing weight, it doesn’t happen by imagining it.  You actually have to do something.  It is not as far away as you might think …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Is Your Life Open to God?

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord . . . .” CHAMBERS

 

Is your life open to God?  Or, have you relegated Him to a couple hours a week?  We are to abide in Him.  There is a song .. “Be the Center”  'Jesus be the Center.  Be my source be my light.  Be my hope be my song.  Be the fire in my heart.  Be the wind in these sails.  Be the reason that I live.  Be my vision.  Be My path. Be my guide.  Jesus'

 

To enjoy the blessings that are ours, we must have a constant connection with the Lord.  Life’s issues can crowd Him out.  For a Christian that is equivalent to cutting off someone’s air supply.  The quality of our new life in Christ is totally dependent upon our abiding in Him.

 

Let this be your heart’s song and prayer …

 

Abide With Me.  Henry F. Lyte, 1847

 

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

It's All About Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved . . . .” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.’ CHAMBERS

 

We should not look to others for confidence in our faith.  The source of our faith is Jesus … if you look to others .. you will be disappointed … everyone has feet of clay.  The secret is to look to Jesus.  That is the simplicity of our faith, but it is also a stumbling block.  They want to trust in other things.

 

Jesus is our confidence.

 

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”

 

Jesus is the power of God.

 

1 Corinthians 1:22-25 “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

 

Jesus is the answer.

 

Matthew 11:27-29 “All things have been delivered to Me [Jesus] by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

When I First Believed

My Utmost For His Highest

‘God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember . . . the love of your betrothal . . .” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?’ CHAMBERS

 

“Take me back, take me back dear Lord To the place where I first believed you.

Take me back, take me back dear Lord Where I first believed.

 

(Verse)

 

I feel that I'm so far from you Lord But still I hear you calling me

Those simple things that I once knew, The memories are drawing me.

I must confess, Lord I've been blessed But yet my soul's not satisfied.

Renew my faith, restore my joy And dry my weeping eyes.” Andrae Crouch

 

Do you remember when you first believed in Jesus?  I do.  My life was so different.  I had in satiable thirst for the Word of God.  Everything seemed new.  How was it for you?  Do you remember when the glory started to fade?  When your excitement began to ebb and you settled into a more “reasonable - moderate” way of living the Christian life?  What would it take to get back that spark?  Only by intentionally seeking Him … like losing weight, it doesn’t happen by imagining it.  You actually have to do something.  It is not as far away as you might think …

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Misplaced Confidence

My Utmost For His Highest

‘Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God . . .”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.’ CHAMBERS

 

Not putting confidence in the world and the things of this world is a challenge for us.  Think about it.  Why would God have included the admonition if it wasn’t going to be an issue?

 

1 John 2:15 “Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father's love is not in him.”

 

That is not, “if” you love the world .. the assumption is that you do …. John said “stop” loving the things of this world.  Some might say, “Well wasn’t John writing to someone else who had this problem?” But God said ...

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

 

That includes 1 John 2:15

 

Matthew 6:19-21  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

 

Luke 12:16-21   “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’  “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

 

It’s about priorities not possessions.  God blesses us with possessions for his purpose, not ours.

 

"My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus and His Righteousness .... On Christ the solid rock I stand .. all other ground is sinking sand"

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Following Jesus

My Utmost For His Highest

‘“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). That means lives of pure, uncompromising, and unrestrained devotion to the Lord Jesus, which will be satisfying to Him wherever He may send us. Beware of anything that competes with your loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of true devotion to Jesus is the service we do for Him. It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him. We are not sent to do battle for God, but to be used by God in His battles. Are we more devoted to service than we are to Jesus Christ Himself?’ CHAMBERS

 

The central point of our salvation is our relationship with Jesus.  We can talk about obedience .. we can talk about service … but all of that springs from our relationship with Jesus.  If we are not abiding in Him …  John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

 

John 8:31 “31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.”  A disciple is someone who follows and does what the One he follows does.  Our faith is more than a mental exercise .. it is a way of life … it is more than talking about what being a Christian is but it is living out the new life … It is possible to talk about Jesus without actually knowing Jesus … it is possible to talk about faith in Jesus without actually living that faith …  proof that we are His disciples is that we live our lives in accordance with the Word of God.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Who's Your Daddy?

My Utmost For His Highest

‘Service is the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion. But strictly speaking, there is no call to that. Service is what I bring to the relationship and is the reflection of my identification with the nature of God. Service becomes a natural part of my life. God brings me into the proper relationship with Himself so that I can understand His call, and then I serve Him on my own out of a motivation of absolute love. Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God. Service is an expression of my nature, and God’s call is an expression of His nature. Therefore, when I receive His nature and hear His call, His divine voice resounds throughout His nature and mine and the two become one in service. The Son of God reveals Himself in me, and out of devotion to Him service becomes my everyday way of life.

 

Mark 10:43-45  “Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.  And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." [Jesus]

 

Matthew 6:24  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” [Jesus]

 

Joshua 24:14-15  "Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." [Joshua]

 

Service is part of life … those who believe they are their own person deceive themselves.  The question is not whether you will serve, but whom you will serve.  Many Christians try to serve both .. but rationalize to  themselves that they are only serving God. I once heard the definition of rationalize – rational lies … we lie to ourselves so we can continue living the way we want to.

 

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was (Matthew 22:37-39) He said  .. love God and love others … John 15:13 says we should lay down our lives for others … The only way we can live that life is to live by faith in the power of God’s Spirit.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)