…to those who are…called to be saints… —1 Corinthians 1:2
“It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we
will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared
for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the
shape of the vision. […] Our little “I am” always sulks and pouts when God says
do. Let your little “I am” be shriveled up in God’s wrath and indignation— “I
AM WHO I AM…has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). He must dominate.” CHAMBERS
Have you learned that yielding to God is better than getting
your way? Has life not taught you that
you can’t control your circumstances? That
“little I am” that Chambers refers to is you trying to be your own god. Satan tried and failed. Adam tried and failed. Men and women, over the centuries, have tried
and failed. We are the creation, not the
creator. We have the capacity to take a
created thing and change its form into something else … we call that “our
creation” but it nothing more than a re-creation. We struggle to control our world but wear
ourselves out trying. It is only when we
finally yield to the great “I AM” that things are set right. But in my experience, we never quite get
there completely. We may yield in a
thing, a circumstance, but we still cling to things. We hold some things in a death grip, fearful
that our lives may fall apart, we may lose control, as if we ever really had
control over anything. Our whole lives
are fraught with our struggle to maintain control and the fear that we won’t. Henry David Thoreau wrote, "The mass of
men lead lives of quiet desperation."
That desperation is grounded in our natural desire to be in control when
we are clearly not.
And so we re-visit a familiar friend. Proverbs chapter 3: 1-13. “My
son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments; For
length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. Do not let
kindness and truth leave you; Bind them
around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find
favor and good repute In the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own
understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths
straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from
evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones. Honor the
Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns
will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine. My son,
do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the
Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights. How
blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding.”
I normally limited my reference to verses 5 and 6, but as
you can see, there is much “meat” wrapped on either side of those verses. I once saw a bumper sticker that said “No
Jesus, No Peace, Know Jesus, Know Peace”
Our language lends itself to turned phrases, but often they fall short
of conveying the full truth. Finding
peace – the peace that Jesus gives – is through yielding our lives to Him not just
knowing Him. Resisting the urge to be
our own god .. the captain of our own ship … instead picking up our cross and following
Jesus. Trusting Him and not
ourselves. That just doesn’t happen because
your are born again. It is a daily
decision .. maybe even a minute by minute decision to follow and not lead. ELGIN
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