Saturday, March 19, 2016

Living By Faith .... Not Understanding What Is Asked .... But Knowing Who Asked It

My Utmost For His Highest
 
He went out, not knowing where he was going. —Hebrews 11:8
 
“In the Old Testament, a person’s relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person’s life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26. Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason— a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world. The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process.”  CHAMBERS
 
Are you willing to live your new life and live with the consequences?  Even if it means rejection?  Even if it means ridicule? Fractured relationships.  Are you willing to give up things that mattered to you, but are contrary to the essence of your new life?  Are you willing to follow the voice of God even when you have no idea how you will get along if you do?  There are many people who are attracted to the message of Jesus, but are not willing to follow Him where He will take them.
 
(John 6:60-68) “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” ….  Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 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.” … From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
 
When I was in Army Basic Training, my Drill Sergeant was SFC San Felix.  He was 6 feet 4 inches, with red hair and was from Puerto Rico.  He had a very heavy accent.  Sometimes you were not quite sure what he said.  To that he replied, I don’t care if you don’t understand me, you better do it!  So if it sounded like “push-up”  we got down and knocked out “20”.  Living this new life is …. Not About Understanding What Is Asked .. But About Knowing Who Asked It.  When you hear God’s voice .. when the Spirit says “This is the way” … when the truth of the Word leaps from the page and into your heart … you are at a decision point .. will I obey … will I follow … or “Do you want to leave Him too?”  Well …. Do you?  ELGIN
 
"Trust and Obey”
 
“When we walk with the Lord In the light of His word What a glory He sheds on our way
 
While we do His good will He abides with us still And with all who will trust and obey
 
But we never can prove The delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay
 
For the favor He shows For the joy He bestows Are for them who will trust and obey
 
Trust and obey For there's no other way To be happy in Jesus But to trust and obey”
 
Charley Elgin

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