If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. —John 13:17
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).” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Knowing is not the same as doing. You can memorize scripture all you want or are able, but if you don’t obey the scripture, it was 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 in control is frightful .. so it is really an issue of trust and faith. The truth is that 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 .. several times actually. I can’t draw in this BLOG but if I could, I would show you the Navigator’s Wheel. The Hub of the wheel is Jesus – at the center. There are 4 spokes.. The vertical spokes are meditation on the Word and Prayer. The horizontal spokes are Witnessing to the world and Fellowship with other Christians. The rim of the wheel, the result of the hub and spokes being in place is the Obedient Christian 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 intimate relationship with Jesus and goes from there. Works as a result of faith … not faith as a result of works.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10
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.
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
