In order to discern the will of God for their lives believers cannot just depend on their conscience. Conscience is indeed very important, but it must constantly be sent back to the school of Scripture to receive instruction from the Holy Spirit. It is in this manner that believers become and remain aware of God’s will. Which will? Decretive (secret) or Preceptive (revealed)? The latter, of course… In this way the will of God will become an increasingly well-established or proven component of the consciousness and lives of God’s children. The more they live in accordance with that will and approve of it, the more also, through this experience, will they learn to know that will, and rejoice in that knowledge. They will exclaim, “Thy will is our delight.”
William Hendriksen

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#1 · May 25, 2007, 6:12 pm

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(I just found out that the last few devotionals did not make it to the website.  I apologize for bombarding you all at once.) 

 

 

These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.  But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.   Matthew 7:24-27 The Message

 

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.  Ecclesiastes 11:1 (NIV)

 

 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a builder?  Every day that you draw breath, you are in the process of building your life.  How you build today will determine in large part the life that you live tomorrow.  Weave negative words into your life today and the consequences of those words will return to you in the days ahead.  Adorn your lips with grace and see the beauty that blossoms around you.  Reinforce your walls with pride and you'll find that only the precious things of life are kept at bay.  Seek the best for others and that same kindness will return to bless you.

 

Notice that both houses Jesus mentioned encountered storms.  Matthew 5:45 reminds us that the sun shines on both the evil and the good, and the rains fall on both the just and the unjust.  Living for Jesus doesn't guarantee a trouble-free life.  So why was the outcome of the first house so radically different than that of the second?  The foundations were complete opposites.  Chase after the illusions of this world, giving only superficial lip service to Jesus' teachings and finding no time for Him in your daily life, and your house will be as unstable as the sands of time it is built upon.  Focus your affections on Jesus – finding Him, knowing Him, loving Him, hearing and obeying Him – and your life will become as unshakable as the Foundation Stone that supports it.  The choice is yours; which house are you building?

 

Heavenly Father, how sad it would be to spend a lifetime trying to build a life on what is uncertain and can so easily be washed away.  I want to build a life established on Your word, lived in obedience to You, bringing glory to Your name – a life that is firmly fixed to the Rock, Christ Jesus.  Lord, show me Your ways that I may walk with You.  In Jesus' name, amen.

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