If you know these things,
blessed are you if you do them. —John 13:17
{CHAMBERS} “Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself
do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to
sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon
God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes
will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in
the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the
dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and
begin to know things for yourself— begin to have spiritual discernment. When
you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more.
[…] The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your
own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are
mistaken for discernment. […] “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…” (1
Samuel 15:22).”
{ELGIN} Knowing is not the same as doing. You can memorize scripture
all you want or are able, but if don’t obey the scripture, it is to no
avail. It has not accomplished its purpose. James wrote “Be doers of the Word and not
hearers only” (James 1:22) We
conjure up all kinds of substitutes for obedience to the Word. The primary reason is .. well … it’s us. We do not want to give in or give up … lay down
.. turn away … or submit … we prefer to be in control … to not be is frightful
.. so it is really an issue of trust and faith.
We don’t really trust God … our faith is not in Him but in ourselves. We
have to protect ourselves … for many sad reasons … So what is the
solution? I have shared this before ..
some time ago. I can’t draw in this BLOG
but if I could, I would show you the Navigator’s Wheel. The Hub is Jesus – at the center. There are 4 spokes.. The vertical spokes are meditation on the
Word and Prayer. The horizontal spokes
are Witnessing and Fellowship with other Christians. The rim of the wheel is the Christ Centered
Life. Each of the components of the
wheel require us to do something. Not do
something so you can be something … be do something because you are
something. It starts with an intimidate relationship
with Jesus and goes from there. Works as
a result of faith … not faith as a result of works. The Christian life is supernatural
and dependent upon the Spirit of God – faith in Jesus and a willing – submitted
heart. If you are struggling with this .. there is no
better time than today to turn the corner.
Stop trying to change on the outside and let God change you from the
inside.
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