Monday, May 9, 2016

The Times They Are A Changing - But People Are Not

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Because you have kept My command to persevere… —Revelation 3:10
 
“Perseverance means more than endurance— more than simply holding on until the end. […] Entrust yourself to God’s hands. Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). Faith is not some weak and pitiful emotion, but is strong and vigorous confidence […] Faith is the supreme effort of your life— throwing yourself with abandon and total confidence upon God.[…] There are areas in our lives where that faith has not worked in us as yet— places still untouched by the life of God. There were none of those places in Jesus Christ’s life, and there are to be none in ours. Jesus prayed, “This is eternal life, that they may know You…” (John 17:3). The real meaning of eternal life is a life that can face anything it has to face without wavering. If we will take this view, life will become one great romance— a glorious opportunity of seeing wonderful things all the time.” CHAMBERS
 
At the risk of causing some cataclysmic event, I am using the Chambers devotion from yesterday, May 8th, and not today, May 9th.  I typically write the devotions Monday through Saturday, so whatever Chambers devotion falls on Sunday is missed.  However, I did not want to miss this one.  As a result of our travels, Martie and I have had the opportunity to observe the practice of faith outside of the boundaries of the local church that we attend.  From my observations I have concluded that generally there is a diluted devotion to the faith and practice.  I don’t think that problem has really changed all that much, but the veil that once divided how many if not most Christians live during the week and how they behave on Sunday morning is all but gone.  Not that there is evil intent on their part, but more likely people don’t feel the need to hide the fact that there is a  lack of total abandon to God and total confidence on God, in their work-a-day lives.  What had driven the difference about Sunday was that Sunday brought on an acute awareness of the faith aspect of their lives. The men have stopped wearing suits, the women their “Sunday go to meetin” dresses. Dampening the sense that, like a light switch, they no longer need to  switch their lives to the spiritually “on” position for the day.
 
Our job – yours and mine – is to encourage them to leave the switch on all the time. To let their light shine all the time.  What has happened is that the culture has overtaken them, just as it has and does all over the world.  Living by faith is a result of a world view, of life abandoned to God.  I read and hear much about Millennials.  As if that generation has morphed into something never seen before.  There is nothing “new” under the sun.  (Ecclesiastes 1:9)  The nature of man has not changed. The “wrapper” may change in terms of look and practice, but when you peel all of that away, nothing has changed.  That is why the Word of God prevails from generation to generation, culture to culture.  I have often asked people what 2 plus 2 equals.  Of course the answer is .. well the number you are thinking right now.  But then I say “And the answer is the same no matter where you go on this planet and no matter what century you were born in. And the Word of God is the same. It doesn’t change and neither does the heart of man.  Don’t look at the world the way the world looks at the world.  If you do, you will miss the reason that things are the way they are.  There is a spiritual reality that can only be seen and understood through the prism of the Word and the light of the Spirit.  A Christian’s faith is either getting stronger or weaker, but it never stays the same.  The fact that you are reading this tells me that you are interested in making yours stronger.  My purpose in writing this is to encourage you.  First that you will see your life rightly and be motivated to pursue God with more determination that you had yesterday.  And second, that you will encourage others to do the same.  For their good and God’s glory.  God bless you.  CHARLEY
 
Charley Elgin

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