Archive for the ‘The Word’ Category

The Discipleship of Disillusionment

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

Verse: “Jesus did not commit Himself unto them…for He knew what was in man.
 – John 2:24-25

Quote: “Many of the cruel things in life spring from the fact that we suffer from illusions. We are not true to one another as facts; we are true only to our ideas of one another.”

We often demand things from one another that no human being can provide; only Jesus Christ can satisfy the “last aching abyss of the human heart.” Jesus knew precisely what we were capable of, which is why He didn’t trust man. But He also knew what God’s perfect grace was capable of, which is why He never gave up on anyone.

We have to lose the illusions we have that this world exists apart from God, and instead put our trust in His nature and rest in His shadow.

What Do You See in Your Clouds?

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Verse: “Behold, He cometh with clouds.
– Revelation 1:7

Quote: “There is a connection between the strange providences of God and what we know of Him, and we have to learn to interpret the mysteries of life in the light of our knowledge of God. Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.”

I’m hanging out with my nephews right now and don’t really have time to expound, but I love that quote. I should be back on track tomorrow.

After Obedience–What?

Monday, July 28th, 2008

Verse: “And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side…
– Mark 6:45

Quote: “His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future.”

As Christians, we think of obedience as the first step towards God’s will for our lives. What Chambers is reminding us this morning is that obedience is God’s will for our lives. “What we call the process, God calls the end.”

God knows where He wants you 15 years from now, but it is immediate obedience that He is interested in. He gives you visions and dreams, but wants you to work them out now in your day to day life. Stop right now and ask God to speak to you; your only goal in view should be immediate obedience to His leading.

The Way to Know

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

Verse: “If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine…
– John 7:17

Quote: “The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience.”

If ever there is a time when you feel spiritually disconnected, or in the darkness, you can be sure there is something God has spoken which you do not intend to obey. Intellectually, we feel disconnected because of ignorance, but spiritually it is almost certainly a lack of obedience.  You may not have gone left when God said to go right, maybe you stayed still when God said “Go.” Obedience is heeding God’s direction immediately. You may hesitate before you obey, like the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21:28-32, but you will remain in the darkness until you do.

Am I Blessed Like This?

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Verse: “Blessed are…
– Matthew 5:3-10

Quote: “We have to decide whether we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words.”

The literal interpretation of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount can be easily understood, but the actual application requires the perfect strength of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the statements of Christ seem so obvious that we allow them to “sink unobserved into our unconscious minds.” Or maybe they sound nice and well on paper, but in real life they just don’t appear practical. When once you allow the Holy Sprit to work through you, you find that the words of Jesus have the power to “explode” in your circumstances, and you realize the depth to those simple words.

Disposition and Deeds

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

Verse: “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
– Matthew 5:20

Quote: “The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being.”

It is a difficult thing for many Christians to grasp that doing good is not enough; you must also be doing good for the right reason. I Chronicles 28:9 says to “serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” It has been said that God doesn’t want service, He wants obedience; that is to say, He wants us to want to do the right thing, not feel like we have to do it. It does God no good for us to just go through the motions hoping to earn a gold star at the end of the day. Our chief goal should be that we are so right in our living, motives, dreams, and recesses of our minds that “God Almighty can see nothing to censure” in us.

Impossible Grace

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2008

Verse: “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” – Hebrews 10:17

Quote: “O miracle of grace! God here doth that which in certain aspects is impossible to him.”

This miracle sets the stage for all other miracles of grace. God is purposefully limiting His omniscience by promising to eternally forget our trespasses against Him! Jesus’ sacrifice is permanent only because of this promise. We can now rest in the shadow of God’s grace as blameless children, through the cleansing blood of Christ, because God’s mercy “worketh miracles which far transcend all other miracles.”

Sanctification

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008

Verse: “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” – I Thessalonians 4:3

Quote: “[Sanctification] means being made one with Jesus.”

I don’t think it can be put more simply than that. Our goal as Christians is to become as closely resembling Jesus Christ as possible. He lived the perfect life and left the blueprint behind for us to follow. Not only that, He continues to personally help us follow that blueprint. The more our lives resemble the life of Christ, the more we resemble God, and the closer we are to His will.

The Gateway to the Kingdom

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Verse: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” – Matthew 5:3

Quote: “Jesus Christ did not come to teach only; He came to make me what He teaches I should be.”

That is such a great truth that can be easily missed. If Christ came only to teach, all He did was set a standard that could never be reached; but by showing us the course first-hand, and offering to help us every step of the way, He actually empowers us to do what is otherwise impossible. What better example to emulate than the One Who has perfected what you are trying to do? Jesus doesn’t just say “Do as I do,” but “Follow Me.”