"Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)
Sounds great! Let's do it!
Maybe easier said than done. Is this a blank check, similar to "ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you"? That too sounds like a blank check, but is it really?
God is not a god who will be manipulated. He knows us intimately and thoroughly. He is all-knowing, therefore, He knows our hearts as well as our outward actions.
Delight yourself in the LORD--what does this mean? It means to make Him your priority--make Him the most important one in life. Find joy, find contentment, find peace in Him. There is a chorus which says, "You are my all in all." An old love song said, "You are my everything." That's what God wants us to find in Him.
When you gain delight from someone or something, you spend time with that person to really get to know them or you spend time doing that activity or hobby. And it gives you happiness--gives you a sense of reward or success.
I find delight in my family and spending time with them. I find delight in being with friends who love to do things I enjoy doing or in activities that I enjoy.
But most of all, the believer in God is to find delight in Him--being with Him--learning more who He is and what He is like.
The delight we can find with God is limitless, because God is limitless. He is eternal. He never sleeps or goes away. Whenever I am awake, He is awake and available. When I sleep, He is still there and awake.
Other friends, family and things I enjoy doing are there at times, but also NOT there at other times. They give delight for the moments when I am with them or the times I'm doing them. But they are not eternal. The delight one can have with God extends beyond this earthly life we have into eternal life. So it can last forever because He lasts forever.
The other part of the verse says,"He will give you the desires of your heart." What is it you want most? Will you get that? Well ...
God knows whether we genuinely find delight in Him, trust in Him, and make Him Lord of life or not. So if I have a selfish motive, He knows it. "I will praise Him, find delight in Him SO ..." In other words, I have an ulterior motive in doing this act. I am trying to manipulate God into giving me what I want. My heart isn't truly delighting in Him. My heart is delighting in what I think He can do for me, so I attempt to get my request from Him.
But when we truly delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart.
One thing a person finds is that if you genuinely delight in someone, you really want the best for that person. You even want the best for them at your expense. That is what sacrificial love, as the word, "agape'" (Greek word) implies. That love is a biblical and a godly kind of love. You don't have a manipulative kind of love, "I do this just to get that." But instead, you care for the person, regardless. And this is not a love that is second nature to us. It is given by God as we get to know Him, experience Him, and receive that love from Him.
So if I truly delight, I want the best for that other one. Even above my own wants or needs. I'm still working on that one. Aren't you too?
Another thing I find also, though, and it is really part of that sacrificial love, is that my desires may change as I truly delight in that one.
My desires, if I really delight in them and care for them, will be what they desire. Or, in the case of a person, at times what is really best for them, because sometimes their desires are not good for them.
With God, however, when I delight in Him, genuinely, sincerely, then my desires become what He desires. We come to agreement what is best, and what is best is what He believes is best. I get on His agenda rather than trying to get Him around to mine.
Human desires sometimes are impure, just as human motives for doing things are sometimes impure. But God's desires and God's motives are never impure. God is love--God loves everyone. And God wants the best for all.
When His desires are my desires, then it is easy for Him to give me "the desires of my heart." As I spend time with Him, my desires change--they come around to His desires for me and what is really best for me. (God always knows what is best--but I am limited in my knowledge.)
"Delight yourself (sincerely) in the LORD, and He will give you" godly desires, which are His desires for you, and then they can become the "desires of your heart."
So what are some of His desires that He can easily give you?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
PREACHERS ARE IDOLATORS
Preachers are idol worshipers! Strong statement (but remember I am one--so as one finger may point to you, three point back at me). In fact, people are idolators.
Think with me--years ago it was Barth and Bruner and Bultmann. Then it was Criswell and Rogers and Stanley. Now it might be Hagee or Piper or Maxwell or (you fill in the blank).
We might do it as Saddleback or Willow Creek or Brooklyn Tabernacle. Or it might be done as legacy church or house church or organic church. Or traditional or contemporary or blended.
It might be Calvinist or Reformed or Baptist or Catholic. It might be Driscoll or Chan or (you fill in the blank for today).
We live in a world that idolizes experts, successful people (as we deem success) and big. It might be Tomlin or Blackwood or Moen. Or it could be Augustine or Edwards or Kierkegaard. Or it might be (for some of the ladies) Meyer or Moore or Paula White.
Labels--categories--niches--success--but all human--human, just like you and me. Someone said years ago, "They put their pants on just like you do--one leg at a time."
Or it could be Paul or Apollos or James or Peter or Isaiah or Hosea. Paul talked about it in his own day in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, about the factions that came about when people got behind a person or a structure or form. Paul said they are all God's "servants." He suggested they get back to Jesus above all.
(By the way, I got this blog idea as I read Neil Cole, Organic Church--[Sam, you're doing it.])
Henry Blackaby said, in Experiencing God [there I go again], in paraphrase, that if you are just reproducing what someone else has done somewhere else, that is not God speaking nor it is God's way. God reveals Himself and His ways to each of us, if we invest the time to study and listen and wait. And each message from Him will be unique to our person and situation.
But it's so easy just to do it the way someone else (an expert--because they wrote a book or spoke at the last conference or have the biggest church) did it. Much easier than waiting on God. One of my friends recently posted of preacher's need to preach their own sermons, given them by God, rather than just repreaching some other's sermon (whether outline or actual manuscript). I agree as well.
One thing to remember though is what the writer of Ecclesiastes said, "There is nothing new under the sun." God can use the writings of others to inspire us and encourage us and give us insight, but we must listen to God above all.
Years ago, I did a study about prayer by T.W. Hunt, Disciple's PrayerLife (there you go again, Sam). At the beginning of it, Dr. Hunt said when he had just completed his doctoral work, he felt convicted by the Lord that he should for a while, read only Scripture. He said his life was so immersed during his studies by secularism and humanism that he felt God wanted him only to listen to God through the Bible for a while. During that time, he memorized and read and reread massive amounts of Scripture. And he felt it had purified his life.
One of the things that Neil Cole, Organic Church, and Cultivating a Life for God [oops--did it again!] considers crucial in discipling believers is that the guys or gals get into groups of three. One thing they do is read during the week between 25 and 30 chapters of Scripture. (They also meet weekly for accountability and prayer for unbelievers.) That is getting people into the "pure word of God" rather than someone's interpretation or someone's interpretation of someone's interpretation.
Lately, I have felt that maybe I read too many books about the Bible and not enough Bible, taking time to read, study, and listen for God's voice in the Scriptures, for me. (How many devotional books/blogs/studies do you read each day?) Some of you who are voracious readers may feel that way too. (Maybe it's not books, but it is blog posts [like this one] or internet sources.)
Beware! Let's quit just promoting a church or way of doing that, or a movement or structure. Let's quit pushing the experts we read and get back to the source--the True Source--Jesus and God and God's Holy Spirit.
In some churches I hear more about the pastor than I do about Jesus. From some people, I hear more about an expert than I hear about God the Lord. Could it be WE have also become idolators?
Three fingers at me--I can only speak for me. But I know where I need to be right now. Now will I do it? That's the next question.
Think with me--years ago it was Barth and Bruner and Bultmann. Then it was Criswell and Rogers and Stanley. Now it might be Hagee or Piper or Maxwell or (you fill in the blank).
We might do it as Saddleback or Willow Creek or Brooklyn Tabernacle. Or it might be done as legacy church or house church or organic church. Or traditional or contemporary or blended.
It might be Calvinist or Reformed or Baptist or Catholic. It might be Driscoll or Chan or (you fill in the blank for today).
We live in a world that idolizes experts, successful people (as we deem success) and big. It might be Tomlin or Blackwood or Moen. Or it could be Augustine or Edwards or Kierkegaard. Or it might be (for some of the ladies) Meyer or Moore or Paula White.
Labels--categories--niches--success--but all human--human, just like you and me. Someone said years ago, "They put their pants on just like you do--one leg at a time."
Or it could be Paul or Apollos or James or Peter or Isaiah or Hosea. Paul talked about it in his own day in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, about the factions that came about when people got behind a person or a structure or form. Paul said they are all God's "servants." He suggested they get back to Jesus above all.
(By the way, I got this blog idea as I read Neil Cole, Organic Church--[Sam, you're doing it.])
Henry Blackaby said, in Experiencing God [there I go again], in paraphrase, that if you are just reproducing what someone else has done somewhere else, that is not God speaking nor it is God's way. God reveals Himself and His ways to each of us, if we invest the time to study and listen and wait. And each message from Him will be unique to our person and situation.
But it's so easy just to do it the way someone else (an expert--because they wrote a book or spoke at the last conference or have the biggest church) did it. Much easier than waiting on God. One of my friends recently posted of preacher's need to preach their own sermons, given them by God, rather than just repreaching some other's sermon (whether outline or actual manuscript). I agree as well.
One thing to remember though is what the writer of Ecclesiastes said, "There is nothing new under the sun." God can use the writings of others to inspire us and encourage us and give us insight, but we must listen to God above all.
Years ago, I did a study about prayer by T.W. Hunt, Disciple's PrayerLife (there you go again, Sam). At the beginning of it, Dr. Hunt said when he had just completed his doctoral work, he felt convicted by the Lord that he should for a while, read only Scripture. He said his life was so immersed during his studies by secularism and humanism that he felt God wanted him only to listen to God through the Bible for a while. During that time, he memorized and read and reread massive amounts of Scripture. And he felt it had purified his life.
One of the things that Neil Cole, Organic Church, and Cultivating a Life for God [oops--did it again!] considers crucial in discipling believers is that the guys or gals get into groups of three. One thing they do is read during the week between 25 and 30 chapters of Scripture. (They also meet weekly for accountability and prayer for unbelievers.) That is getting people into the "pure word of God" rather than someone's interpretation or someone's interpretation of someone's interpretation.
Lately, I have felt that maybe I read too many books about the Bible and not enough Bible, taking time to read, study, and listen for God's voice in the Scriptures, for me. (How many devotional books/blogs/studies do you read each day?) Some of you who are voracious readers may feel that way too. (Maybe it's not books, but it is blog posts [like this one] or internet sources.)
Beware! Let's quit just promoting a church or way of doing that, or a movement or structure. Let's quit pushing the experts we read and get back to the source--the True Source--Jesus and God and God's Holy Spirit.
In some churches I hear more about the pastor than I do about Jesus. From some people, I hear more about an expert than I hear about God the Lord. Could it be WE have also become idolators?
Three fingers at me--I can only speak for me. But I know where I need to be right now. Now will I do it? That's the next question.
Monday, May 21, 2012
GREATER
GREATER
Easy to get discouraged about
life—family—church. But today a
reminder from Scripture to encourage us.
Matthew 16:13-18; 1 John 4:4
Jesus questioning disciples—“Who do people say that I am?” Elijah, Jeremiah, one of prophets
But really important question is the second—“Who do YOU say that I
am? Each person has to make their own
decision—and then live by that decision.
The Christ (Messiah), the son of the living God—not revealed by
men—revealed by God. Don’t come to it
on our own—without God’s help.
Heart decision—should become center of one’s life.
Jesus then states He will build His church—His church, not our
church.
“Gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Satan and his forces.
Gate—not an offensive weapon—holed up inside—hunkered
down—defense—protection.
Are we as the church holed up inside? As Christians?
Different picture here—church/believers on the offense
Gates of hell shall not prevail against church—cannot
defeat the church—they are defending against OUR onslaught—our offensive.
Is that what we see today in American churches?
Why is the church not on the offense—but instead holed up
inside—allowing satan and his forces to prevail?
Is Scripture still true today?
How do you read it?
Remember 1 John 4:4
“Greater is He—Jesus—the Spirit of God in you.”
Accept Jesus—receive the Spirit of God—H.S.—to live inside. Molding us—changing us—empowered us—fighting
with us—giving us all we need to be on offense.
Is Satan scared of you?
Probably not. Is Satan scared of
Jesus and God?
Is Satan scared of you and I when we allow His Spirit to control
us—empower us—live through us?
Greater is He who is in YOU than he who is in the world.
Satan doesn’t care what I do.
Satan does care what God does—God is all-powerful—not you and me.
To be on offense we have to rely on the One who is inside of us
who is GREATER.
That’s why we read the Word—study it—pray—obey Him—cooperate with
Him. He makes us stronger—able to quit
holing up inside and be on the offense instead against satan’s forces.
They cannot prevail against us—when? When we rely on the One who is GREATER.
But so often we only do what we can do. Experiencing God—Henry Blackaby--quotation:
Years ago, from this study, these questions came to me—need to
ask myself from time to time:
1)
What are you involved in that only God can do?
2)
What are you praying for that only God can do?
3)
What is your church involved in that only God can do?
Christians need to think bigger—churches need to think bigger.
In our own power? No.
Because “greater is HE who is in YOU, than he who is in the
world.”
Do we need to get back to the One who is greater so the “gates of
hell shall not be able to prevail against us”?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
GREATEST CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONAL BOOK
Have you read the greatest devotional book of all time? Actually, it is probably the second greatest devotional book, since the Bible would be the greatest devotional book for Christians and Jews as well. And many of you have probably never read it in its entirety either. (Yes, I have in a few different versions, in case you wonder. Not bragging here--just challenging you to read it through for yourself.)
Thomas a' Kempis is thought to be the author (or editor) of The Imitation of Christ. It has been read and reread probably by more Christians through the years than all other devotional books except for the Bible.
Today I share quotes from The Imitation of Christ.
In thoughts dealing with temptation and trials, this statement is given (as compiled in Richard Foster, Devotional Classics):
Thomas a' Kempis is thought to be the author (or editor) of The Imitation of Christ. It has been read and reread probably by more Christians through the years than all other devotional books except for the Bible.
Today I share quotes from The Imitation of Christ.
In thoughts dealing with temptation and trials, this statement is given (as compiled in Richard Foster, Devotional Classics):
"Finally I want to teach you the way of peace and true liberty. There are four things you must do. First, strive to do another's will rather than your own. Second, choose always to have less than more. Third, seek the lower places in life, dying to the need to be recognized and important. Fourth, always and in everything desire that the will of God may be completely fulfilled in you. The person who tries this will be treading the frontiers of peace and rest."
1. Do another's will--that would be God, not our own or other people.
2. Put away the cravings for more and more that are so prevalent in our world today. Allow what God provides to be "enough" for you. Paul said, "I have learned to be content in all circumstances." (Philippians 4:11)
3. Exercise humility--be a servant rather than always seeking to be in charge or seeking fame and recognition. (Jesus taught this, didn't he?)
4. Seek God's will above your own will--desire it, seek it, pursue it and live it.
Good advice for living life? Good advice, even beyond living through temptations and trials? I think so.
Monday, April 30, 2012
HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?
Last night, my pastor, was teaching from the beautitudes in Matthew 5. As we came to verses 6 and 8, something he said really struck a chord with me. These are the verses that especially spoke to me:
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
And the statement as I heard it that he made was, "Each of us have as much of God's righteousness as we want. Maybe not as much as we would like to have. But as much as we want." My wife heard it as related to the Holy Spirit (as least from her memory this morning, as we discussed it further). Either would be true.
Is not there much truth to that. We may "think" we would like to have more. We may even "think" we have more than we do. We may wish we had more of God's righteousness or His purity or His holiness or the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to doing what is necessary to acquire it, we do not follow through. We're just unwilling to do the work necessary.
For much of my life, I have been all about growth, maturity, seeking to know more and more. I was told years ago that the word "philosophy" means lover of wisdom or lover of the chase (in that pursuit). And I have been a "lover of the chase"--the pursuit of wisdom--godly wisdom.
And yet, there is within me laziness. I WISH I had more, but I am not really willing to PURSUE what is necessary for more. Not willing to SEEK above other things the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I have as much as I want, but not as much as I wish I had or as much as I COULD have.
Yes, growth in Christian maturity depends on God's provision--on His pouring out His blessings, His love, the experiences of life that provides that growth. But along with God's side is my side. My pursuit of Him--my abiding in Him and letting His words abide in me--my willingness to pray and study and fellowship and share Him and do other spiritual disciplines that would aid my growth in holiness and righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
So what do I often do? I settle for less than God offers. I settle for "as much as I want" but don't strive toward all of God's purpose and plan for me (see Philippians 3 for Paul's striving for finding God's purpose). I have as much as I want but not as much as I wish for. And therefore, I settle for less than I could have spiritually, in righteousness and holiness. And less of the Holy Spirit, Himself, than I could have. (Actually I have all of the Holy Spirit; but I do not let Him have all of me. I keep control instead of being in His control. I will receive no more of the Holy Spirit by allowing Him more control. I will just have more of life focused on Him and His purpose.)
I have all that I want--all that I am willing to pursue--to seek--to strive or work toward--all that I allow God to control. But there is so much more that I "wish" I had; so much more that is available to me, as I make myself more available to God and His Holy Spirit.
What about you, my friend? Do you have all that you want? Are you settling for much less than you could have? Much less than you often wish?
If you have not started the journey, then begin it. If you have lost your way or gotten sidetracked on this pursuit of God and His purpose, then get back to the path and pursuit. If you are seeking, then how could you seek more than you are seeking right now?
In the words of Neil Diamond song, "The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where." But the road is worth the effort--worth the pursuit--worth the challenges and the time. And there is more and more and more available.
Join me as a lover of the chase--lover of wisdom--lover of God. And see how you and I could make up some of the difference between "as much as we want" and "as much as we wish."
Join me.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ... Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
And the statement as I heard it that he made was, "Each of us have as much of God's righteousness as we want. Maybe not as much as we would like to have. But as much as we want." My wife heard it as related to the Holy Spirit (as least from her memory this morning, as we discussed it further). Either would be true.
Is not there much truth to that. We may "think" we would like to have more. We may even "think" we have more than we do. We may wish we had more of God's righteousness or His purity or His holiness or the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to doing what is necessary to acquire it, we do not follow through. We're just unwilling to do the work necessary.
For much of my life, I have been all about growth, maturity, seeking to know more and more. I was told years ago that the word "philosophy" means lover of wisdom or lover of the chase (in that pursuit). And I have been a "lover of the chase"--the pursuit of wisdom--godly wisdom.
And yet, there is within me laziness. I WISH I had more, but I am not really willing to PURSUE what is necessary for more. Not willing to SEEK above other things the kingdom of God and His righteousness. I have as much as I want, but not as much as I wish I had or as much as I COULD have.
Yes, growth in Christian maturity depends on God's provision--on His pouring out His blessings, His love, the experiences of life that provides that growth. But along with God's side is my side. My pursuit of Him--my abiding in Him and letting His words abide in me--my willingness to pray and study and fellowship and share Him and do other spiritual disciplines that would aid my growth in holiness and righteousness and the Holy Spirit.
So what do I often do? I settle for less than God offers. I settle for "as much as I want" but don't strive toward all of God's purpose and plan for me (see Philippians 3 for Paul's striving for finding God's purpose). I have as much as I want but not as much as I wish for. And therefore, I settle for less than I could have spiritually, in righteousness and holiness. And less of the Holy Spirit, Himself, than I could have. (Actually I have all of the Holy Spirit; but I do not let Him have all of me. I keep control instead of being in His control. I will receive no more of the Holy Spirit by allowing Him more control. I will just have more of life focused on Him and His purpose.)
I have all that I want--all that I am willing to pursue--to seek--to strive or work toward--all that I allow God to control. But there is so much more that I "wish" I had; so much more that is available to me, as I make myself more available to God and His Holy Spirit.
What about you, my friend? Do you have all that you want? Are you settling for much less than you could have? Much less than you often wish?
If you have not started the journey, then begin it. If you have lost your way or gotten sidetracked on this pursuit of God and His purpose, then get back to the path and pursuit. If you are seeking, then how could you seek more than you are seeking right now?
In the words of Neil Diamond song, "The road is long, with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows where." But the road is worth the effort--worth the pursuit--worth the challenges and the time. And there is more and more and more available.
Join me as a lover of the chase--lover of wisdom--lover of God. And see how you and I could make up some of the difference between "as much as we want" and "as much as we wish."
Join me.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
NOTHING ADDED
I could add nothing to these:
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green, (Psalm 92:12-14, NIV)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV)
{Thanks to biblegateway.com}
"... yields its fruit in season ... leaf does not wither ...still bear fruit in old age ... will stay fresh and green ... leaves are always green ... never fails to bear fruit."
I like that. I would like that to be true of me.
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green, (Psalm 92:12-14, NIV)
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8, NIV)
{Thanks to biblegateway.com}
"... yields its fruit in season ... leaf does not wither ...still bear fruit in old age ... will stay fresh and green ... leaves are always green ... never fails to bear fruit."
I like that. I would like that to be true of me.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Except Ye Abide
I read this devotional thought today from Andrew Murray's, "The True Vine." It is free to read or copy from ccel.org. Normally I make my own posts, and only make one per day, but this was too good not to share. So here it is:
EXCEPT YE ABIDE
As the Branch Cannot Bear Fruit of Itself, Except It Abide In the Vine; No More Can Ye, Except
Ye Abide in Me—John 15.4
As the Branch Cannot Bear Fruit of Itself, Except It Abide In the Vine; No More Can Ye, Except
Ye Abide in Me—John 15.4
We know the meaning of the word except. It expresses some indispensable condition,
some inevitable law. “The branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine. No
more can ye, except ye abide in me.” There is but one way for the branch to bear fruit, there
is no other possibility, it must abide in unbroken communion with the vine. Not of itself,
but only of the vine, does the fruit come. Christ had already said: “Abide in me”; in nature
the branch teaches us the lesson so clearly; it is such a wonderful privilege to be called and
allowed to abide in the heavenly Vine; one might have thought it needless to add these words
of warning. But no—Christ knows so well what a renunciation of self is implied in this:
“Abide in me”; how strong and universal the tendency would be to seek to bear fruit by our
own efforts; how difficult it would be to get us to believe that actual, continuous abiding in
Him is an absolute necessity! He insists upon the truth: Not of itself can the branch bear
fruit; except it abide, it cannot bear fruit. “No more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
But must this be taken literally? Must I, as exclusively, and manifestly, and unceasingly,
and absolutely, as the branch abides in the vine, be equally given up to find my whole life
in Christ alone? I must indeed. The except ye abide is as universal as the except it abide. The
no more can ye admits of no exception or modification. If I am to be a true branch, if I am
to bear fruit, if I am to be what Christ as Vine wants me to be, my whole existence must be
as exclusively devoted to abiding in Him, as that of the natural branch is to abiding in its
vine.
Let me learn the lesson. Abiding is to be an act of the will and the whole heart. Just as
there are degrees in seeking and serving God, “not with a perfect heart,” or “with the whole
heart,” so there may be degrees in abiding. In regeneration the divine life enters us, but does
not all at once master and fill our whole being. This comes as matter of command and
obedience. There is unspeakable danger of our not giving ourselves with our whole heart
to abide. There is unspeakable danger of our giving ourselves to work for God, and to bear
fruit, with but little of the true abiding, the wholehearted losing of ourselves in Christ and
His life. There is unspeakable danger of much work with but little fruit, for lack of this one
thing needful. We must allow the words, “not of itself,” “except it abide,” to do their work
of searching and exposing, of pruning and cleansing, all that there is of self-will and selfconfidence in our life; this will deliver us from this great evil, and so prepare us for His
teaching, giving the full meaning of the word in us: “Abide in me, and I in you.”
Our blessed Lord desires to call us away from ourselves and our own strength, to Himself
and His strength. Let us accept the warning, and turn with great fear and self-distrust to
Him to do His work. “Our life is hid with Christ in God!” That life is a heavenly mystery,
hid from the wise even among Christians, and revealed unto babes. The childlike spirit
learns that life is given from Heaven every day and every moment to the soul that accepts
the teaching: “not of itself,” “except it abide,” and seeks its all in the Vine. Abiding in the
Vine then comes to be nothing more nor less than the restful surrender of the soul to let
Christ have all and work all, as completely as in nature the branch knows and seeks nothing
but the vine.
Abide in Me. I have heard, my Lord, that with every command, Thou also givest the
power to obey. With Thy “rise and walk,” the lame man leaped, I accept Thy word, “Abide
in me,” as a word of power, that gives power, and even now I say, Yea, Lord, I will, I do
abide in Thee.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)