Monday, August 1, 2016

Your Problem Is Not God's Reliability, But Your Faith-ability

My Utmost For His Highest
 
When Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples…He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. —Matthew 11:1
 
“He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.”  CHAMBERS
 
When we were first aware that God was calling us to Haiti, I recall two distinct responses from people we knew.  After having been involved in recovery work for 5 years after Hurricane Katrina, I remember one friend looking at me squarely in the eyes and saying “Are you crazy?”. At the opposite end, there were others saying that we should go, encouraging us even. Those two responses to our saying “yes” to the Spirit’s leading reveal the difference in perspectives in this world.  On the one hand, our first friend was not a Believer and could only see the danger and hardship of serving in Haiti.  On the other hand the other friends were Christians, having a spiritual perspective.  Seeing the spiritual opportunity and the sovereignty of God.  It reminds me of the 12 spies that went out for Israel to spy out the land before crossing the Jordan the first time. (Numbers 13) The majority of the spies only saw danger, from their mortal perspective.  But two, Joshua and Caleb, saw opportunity.  Israel chose not to enter the land and wandered in the desert for 40 years, until the disobedient generation had died.  Boy, that sounds harsh doesn’t it.
 
There is point that must not be missed.  Often times we treat spiritual opportunities as optional.  We can refuse now and do something later, with no consequence. Those spiritual opportunities are direction from God, but we dismiss them in the face of our fears and doubts, our lack of faith and devotion.   Let me put it in perspective.  (James 4:17) “ …. to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  We prefer to think of it as a choice .. it is, disobedience is a choice, the wrong choice.  There is a story in Matthew 19:16-22 about a young man who approached Jesus desiring to prove that he was right before God.  In verse 21 “Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”  Jesus essentially told him, “Get rid of everything you have put your faith, love and devotion in and follow Me”  The young man went away sad.  You see, it’s not the “thing” that is the problem, it is the devotion to the “thing” that is the problem.  To love God with all your heart, every facet of your being, (Matthew 22:37-38) means that if He says, leave what you have and go, that is what you do.  Trusting that He will provide, because He WILL provide.  The problem is not in God’s reliability.  The problem is in your faith-ability.
 
So we went to Haiti, and God showed up. We crossed the Jordan.  One last thing.  When Martie and I were considering starting Pathfinder Mission when we had been in Mississippi for about 3 months, we talked with my mom about it.  God was calling.  What would be our answer.  She said “Charley, the river Jordan did not back up until they stepped into the water.”  (Joshua 3:15-17)
 
In other words. Obey God even when those with no faith or little faith will think that you are “crazy”. CHARLEY

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