Word for Today, Fri, 11, Jul 2003: That I May Know Him
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
I don't know about you, friends, but those few words from
Philippians 3.10 summarize the passion in my life. I've desired
other things, but anything other than Jesus Christ has left me
empty and drained. I've come to realize that no matter what I
do, large or small, if Christ is not in it, the activity lacks
meaning and purpose, and worse yet, it's probably downright
wrong, for to live without Jesus Christ in anything, I've found,
is a waste of time, bound to ultimately fail or come up somehow
lacking and empty.
Realizing that it really is for Christ that I live and not for
some other goal, whether it be seemingly good things or not, has
been the defining revelation in my life.
If you happen to be lacking meaning and purpose in anything that
you're doing right now, chances are it's because that activity,
whether massively huge or minutely small, does not include in it
a place for Jesus Christ.
Dear Lord,
YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL
Dennis Jernigan
(c) 1991 Shepherd's Heart Music (Administered by Word, Inc).
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your
Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again - I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down You pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all
Your Brother in Christ,
Brian
____________________________________________________________
July 11
The Spiritually Vigorous Saint
http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/utmost/
... that I may know Him ...
--Philippians 3:10
A saint is not to take the initiative toward self-realization,
but toward knowing Jesus Christ. A spiritually vigorous saint
never believes that his circumstances simply happen at random,
nor does he ever think of his life as being divided into the
secular and the sacred. He sees every situation in which he
finds himself as the means of obtaining a greater knowledge of
Jesus Christ, and he has an attitude of unrestrained abandon and
total surrender about him. The Holy Spirit is determined that we
will have the realization of Jesus Christ in every area of our
lives, and He will bring us back to the same point over and over
again until we do. Self-realization only leads to the
glorification of good works, whereas a saint of God glorifies
Jesus Christ through his good works. Whatever we may be
doing--even eating, drinking, or washing disciples' feet--we
have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus
Christ in it. Every phase of our life has its counterpart in the
life of Jesus. Our Lord realized His relationship to the Father
even in the most menial task. "Jesus, knowing ... that He had
come from God and was going to God, ... took a towel ... and
began to wash the disciples' feet ... ( John 13:3-5 ).
The aim of a spiritually vigorous saint is "that I may know Him
..." Do I know Him where I am today? If not, I am failing Him. I
am not here for self-realization, but to know Jesus Christ. In
Christian work our initiative and motivation are too often
simply the result of realizing that there is work to be done and
that we must do it. Yet that is never the attitude of a
spiritually vigorous saint. His aim is to achieve the
realization of Jesus Christ in every set of circumstances.
=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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