"…and all things that are written by the prophets
concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished."…But they understood none
of these things… —Luke 18:31, 34
{CHAMBERS} “God
called Jesus Christ to what seemed absolute disaster. […] But what seemed to be
failure from man’s standpoint was a triumph from God’s standpoint, because
God’s purpose is never the same as man’s purpose. […] The call of God can never
be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that can only be
perceived and understood internally by our true inner-nature. The call of God
is like the call of the sea— no one hears it except the person who has the
nature of the sea in him. What God calls us to cannot be definitely stated,
because His call is simply to be His friend to accomplish His own purposes. Our
real test is in truly believing that God knows what He desires. The things that
happen do not happen by chance— they happen entirely by the decree of God. God
is sovereignly working out His own purposes.
If we are in fellowship and oneness with God and recognize that He is
taking us into His purposes, then we will no longer strive to find out what His
purposes are. […] And we begin to see that the compelling purpose of God lies
behind everything in life, and that God is divinely shaping us into oneness
with that purpose.”
{ELGIN} (Isaiah 55:8-9) “For My thoughts are not
your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My
thoughts than your thoughts.” One day, long
ago, when I had some time on my hands, I tried to imagine infinity. I didn’t get there .. to infinity that
is. My puny brain could not take me
there. But God is there. Always has been. We get into trouble when we try to figure
spiritual things out in our carnal minds.
We think about what is logical, what is reasonable, what is common
sense. All of that in the context of our
humanity. Our relationship with God is
based upon faith … not our imagination.
And faith, as you know, is based on what is hoped for and what is not
seen. (Hebrews 11:1) I still recall when we were just understanding
that God was calling us to serve in Haiti, a friend in Waveland looked me
squarely in the face and asked “Are you crazy?!” I replied, “It’s not my idea, it’s God’s
calling.” And so it is with our new life,
not just mine, but ours.
God has called
us according to His purpose, not our pleasure.
I don’t think our earthly comfort is of much concern to Him. Jesus said we have to be prepared to make our
affection for earthly things, even our own families, subordinate to our love
for God. Many, many people stumble when
their greatest love is revealed through His call … I can’t quit my job … I can’t
take my wife to a place like that, leave
my parents … I can’t sell my house or change my standard of living … not even
for God. (Psalm 51:16-17) “For You do
not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt
offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite
heart— These, O God, You will not despise.”
Listen, it is not the surrendering of things that God is interested
in. It is the surrendering of your heart
and its passion for those things above God that He desires. What is it that you have placed on the altar
of your heart that you love more than God?
That is the real reason you say no to God when He calls you. Confess it and repent. You won’t regret it.
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