"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord…" —Isaiah 6:1
“What I need is God’s surgical procedure— His use of external circumstances to bring about internal purification. Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God and no one else is taken into account whatsoever.” OSWALD CHAMBERS
If I were to tell you that You must love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, you would most certainly nod your head in agreement or maybe even shout amen. Actually Jesus said that. Read Matthew 22:37-39. He said that all the law .. the essence of the direction that God has given us .. the foundation of our life with respect to God and man is summed up in two commands … Love God, first and love others next.
As you well know, that level of relationship is not automatic .. you can’t just flip a switch. It requires that each of us lay our own life down - daily. There is an old hymn that goes “All to Jesus I surrender. All to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him. In His presence daily live.” In John 21 Jesus asked Peter, three times, “Do you love me?” Recall Peter denied Jesus three times before Jesus’ crucifixion. We need to be careful about our attitude toward Peter – wondering “How could Peter deny his relationship with Jesus so easily?” We should be careful lest we go the “way of Peter”. When Peter denied Jesus he feared men more than God. Remember, Peter was on his own at that point. After Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Spirit of God. The same Spirit that inhabits every Believer. What God asks you to do, you cannot do on your own … it is spiritual that manifests itself in the natural. We look at the natural … everyday living … as if it is separate from the spiritual .. it is not.
" .... the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." - John 12:42-43
Have you ever been in a group that was saying things or doing things that made you uncomfortable, but you went along so as not to be different? People can act like a pack of ravenous animals when they have singled out someone as being different or not willing to agree with what they say is right. Be careful that you don't compromise your faith for the sake of the "comfort" found in acceptance by the world. Everything we do, think, speak, and desire must be in the context of who God is, our love for Him and who we are in Christ. God’s expectation for that level of devotion is not reserved for the super-saints or the zealots …. It’s for me and for you. You want to know what’s missing in your new life? At the root, it’s the level of your love for God.
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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