LIMITED VISION [DEVOTION] - 26 September 2008

#1 · September 26, 2008, 8:26 am

Quote from Forum Archives on September 26, 2008, 8:26 am
Posted by: feedtheflock_dev <feedtheflock_dev@...>
Limited Vision

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21.

When I was in Junior High and High School, I would sometimes think about whom I might marry. There were a couple of girls that I had hopes for but neither of them was really interested in me in that way. I have often wondered what would have happened if I had asked God who He wanted me to marry. Would He have told me? Possibly.

I had limited vision when I was a teenager and I still have limited vision. My physical and mental vision does not allow me to see very far. Now, I can reasonably plan for today, tomorrow, the next few weeks and even months. But that does not mean that I know for certain that my plan will actually be workable. Because I cannot see into the future with a certainty. We make our plans, and we should - but only God knows what tomorrow holds.

When I was a teenager, I did not know Jesus as my personal Savior. I was spiritually lost. What a difference it would have made in my life at that point if I had known Christ as my Savior. I could have talked to Him during the difficult times and He could have led me in the right way through so many times that I know now I made bad decisions. My vision was very limited but His was and is infinite.

God says to you and me, “Call to me.” In other words, “Talk to me.” If we will simply ask God, talk to Him, He promises what? He promises to, “answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” We may not think that God can help us or reveal to us anything that we ourselves cannot do or see. However, the apostle Paul says about God that He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think….” God is able to go beyond our limited physical, human abilities. He can go beyond anything that we are capable of thinking, or dreaming, or conceiving in our minds. He is above us in His capabilities. His vision is not limited. He knows what will happen tomorrow with a certainty. He knows what will happen next year, and the year after with a certainty.

Do you have a vision problem? Do you have some other kind of problem? Why deny yourself the wisdom, vision, and help of God? He pleads with you to “Call to Me.” Perhaps now is a very good time to do exactly that.

Adapted from Ed Wrather at www.theburningbush.com

THE SOUL AND SPIRIT

What is the difference between the spirit and the soul? The word spirit refers only to the immaterial facet of man. Mankind has a spirit, but we are not a spirit. However, in Scripture only believers, those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, are said to be "spiritually alive" (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26). Unbelievers are "spiritually dead" (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). In Paul's writing the "spirit" was pivotal to the spiritual life of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; 15:45; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9; 3:16). The spirit is the element in man that gives him the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word spirit is used, it refers to the immaterial part of man including his soul.

The word soul refers to not only the immaterial part of man but also the material part. Unlike man having a "spirit," man is a soul. In its most basic sense, the word soul means "life." However, the Bible moves beyond "life" and into many areas. One of those areas is to man's eagerness to sin (Luke 12:26). Man is naturally evil, and his soul is tainted as a result. The life principle is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2). The "soul," as with the "spirit," is the centre of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word soul is used, it can refer to the whole person, alive or after death.

The "soul" and the "spirit" are similar in the manner in which they are used in the spiritual life of the believer. They are different in their reference. The "soul" is man's horizontal view with the world. The "spirit" is man's vertical view with God. It is important to understand that both refer to the immaterial part of man, but only the "spirit" refers to man's walk with God. The "soul" refers to man's walk in the world, both material and immaterial.

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Posted by: feedtheflock_dev <feedtheflock_dev@...>

Limited Vision

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20-21.

When I was in Junior High and High School, I would sometimes think about whom I might marry. There were a couple of girls that I had hopes for but neither of them was really interested in me in that way. I have often wondered what would have happened if I had asked God who He wanted me to marry. Would He have told me? Possibly.

I had limited vision when I was a teenager and I still have limited vision. My physical and mental vision does not allow me to see very far. Now, I can reasonably plan for today, tomorrow, the next few weeks and even months. But that does not mean that I know for certain that my plan will actually be workable. Because I cannot see into the future with a certainty. We make our plans, and we should - but only God knows what tomorrow holds.

When I was a teenager, I did not know Jesus as my personal Savior. I was spiritually lost. What a difference it would have made in my life at that point if I had known Christ as my Savior. I could have talked to Him during the difficult times and He could have led me in the right way through so many times that I know now I made bad decisions. My vision was very limited but His was and is infinite.

God says to you and me, “Call to me.” In other words, “Talk to me.” If we will simply ask God, talk to Him, He promises what? He promises to, “answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” We may not think that God can help us or reveal to us anything that we ourselves cannot do or see. However, the apostle Paul says about God that He is “able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think….” God is able to go beyond our limited physical, human abilities. He can go beyond anything that we are capable of thinking, or dreaming, or conceiving in our minds. He is above us in His capabilities. His vision is not limited. He knows what will happen tomorrow with a certainty. He knows what will happen next year, and the year after with a certainty.

Do you have a vision problem? Do you have some other kind of problem? Why deny yourself the wisdom, vision, and help of God? He pleads with you to “Call to Me.” Perhaps now is a very good time to do exactly that.

Adapted from Ed Wrather at http://www.theburningbush.com

THE SOUL AND SPIRIT

What is the difference between the spirit and the soul? The word spirit refers only to the immaterial facet of man. Mankind has a spirit, but we are not a spirit. However, in Scripture only believers, those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, are said to be "spiritually alive" (1 Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 4:12; James 2:26). Unbelievers are "spiritually dead" (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13). In Paul's writing the "spirit" was pivotal to the spiritual life of the believer (1 Corinthians 2:14; 3:1; 15:45; Ephesians 1:3; 5:19; Colossians 1:9; 3:16). The spirit is the element in man that gives him the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. Whenever the word spirit is used, it refers to the immaterial part of man including his soul.

The word soul refers to not only the immaterial part of man but also the material part. Unlike man having a "spirit," man is a soul. In its most basic sense, the word soul means "life." However, the Bible moves beyond "life" and into many areas. One of those areas is to man's eagerness to sin (Luke 12:26). Man is naturally evil, and his soul is tainted as a result. The life principle is removed at the time of physical death (Genesis 35:18; Jeremiah 15:2). The "soul," as with the "spirit," is the centre of many spiritual and emotional experiences (Job 30:25; Psalm 43:5; Jeremiah 13:17). Whenever the word soul is used, it can refer to the whole person, alive or after death.

The "soul" and the "spirit" are similar in the manner in which they are used in the spiritual life of the believer. They are different in their reference. The "soul" is man's horizontal view with the world. The "spirit" is man's vertical view with God. It is important to understand that both refer to the immaterial part of man, but only the "spirit" refers to man's walk with God. The "soul" refers to man's walk in the world, both material and immaterial.

From [email protected]

For more visit http://www.surrender.nl/scom and http://www.freewebs.com/scoministry

For comments or issues concerning your Christian Life. Email to: [email protected]

Help spread God’s word, please forward the devotion to as many friends and relatives as possible and encourage them to subscribe free of charge. If this was forwarded to you, you can subscribe by sending a blank email to the following address:

[email protected]

--------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]