Word for Today, Fri, 4 Mar 2005: Vision?
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
If you have areas of your life that you know (deep down inside of
you) that need work, give them over to God.
Do you ever have a vision or a call from God, directing you to a
particular activity or ministry? Here is a message from the
Oswald Chambers' series "My Utmost For His Highest" that may give
many of us something to think about.
Dear Lord,
I pray that these words, which might even sting us to apply them
to ourselves, may yet heal us and draw us ever more closely and
personally to You. We cannot ever be Your equal - that is the
fatal mistake that Satan made. We can be Your precious and
treasured children. Be patient with us, forgive us in our
selfishness, and gracefully draw each of us to You, in Your time
and in Your way. I ask all of these things in the Precious Name
of Jesus and for His sake. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
=============
March 4
Is This True of Me?
None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to
myself... ---Acts 20:24
It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and
without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He
requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian
emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and
successful from the world's perspective, and will have more
leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once
you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what
God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His
will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of
common sense.
What do I count in my life as "dear to myself"? If I have not
been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to
Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own
ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as
"dear to myself." But Paul said he considered his life dear so
that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he
refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an
almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider
himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other
than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our
ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete
against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based
on the following argument which we say to ourselves, "Remember
how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in
that particular type of work." That attitude chooses our own
judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we
should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider
whether or not you are of use -- but always consider that "you
are not your own" ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ). You are His.
2003 RBC Ministries-Grand Rapids MI, 49555-0001
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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