Word for Today, Wed, 11 May 2005: Taking the Initiative
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Yesterday I wrote about some of the things that make the most
difference to me concerning matters of faith and some of the
scripture passages that I remember as I was influenced by the
Christian faith of my parents, which later genuinely became my
own faith, not just something I practiced out of habit.
Today, Oswald Chambers challenges us when to take the initiative
and when the initiative belongs to God. This is really important
stuff. Salvation comes from God, and Jesus Christ saves us. We
cannot save ourselves, we are the ones needing to be saved. From
what? From a life marred by our own self seeking, self serving
sinful way.
What then, can we do, and what is appropriate for us to do?
That's what Oswald makes really clear in today's message, which I
highly recommend that you read, then think and pray about it. Be
sure to read God's Word and decide for yourself whether what
Oswald says is true or not.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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/ MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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May 10, 2005
TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Add to your faith virtue...
-- Peter 1:5
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=2pe+1:5&sr=1
"Add" means there is something we have to do. We are in danger of
forgetting that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not
do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify
ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits,
He will not give us character, He will not make us walk
aright. We have to do all that ourselves, we have to work out the
salvation God has worked in. "Add" means to get into the habit of
doing things, and in the initial stages it is difficult. To take
the initiative is to make a beginning, to instruct yourself in
the way you have to go.
Beware of the tendency of asking the way when you know it
perfectly well. Take the initiative, stop hesitating, and take
the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith
immediately on what He says, and never revise your decisions. If
you hesitate when God tells you to do a thing, you endanger your
standing in grace. Take the initiative, take it yourself, take
the step with your will now, make it impossible to go back. Burn
your bridges behind you - "I will write that letter"; "I will pay
that debt." Make the thing inevitable.
We have to get into the habit of hearkening to God about
everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If
when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that
the habit has been formed. We have to take the initiative where
we are, not where we are not.
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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