God’s purpose for me is worth dying to myself and living for Him.
To partner with God (is that actually possible?) we need (Hebrews 10:36) wisdom, patient endurance and steadfastness. We read that (Thessalonians 5:24) faithful is He Who called you Who also will do it. Do what? Whatever He has called you to do. Just think of the glorious possibilities of partnering with God. We are labourers, co-workers (1 Corinthians 3:9) together with God. For this partnership we also need godly wisdom. Look at Paul’s prayer. Paul had never visited Colossae because he was in prison in Rome. He heard about the little house church in Philemon’s house from Epaphras, who was the pastor. Then he began to pray for them (Colossians 1:9-10) prayers which have much to teach us. (Dr. Jeremiah) “Wisdom is knowledge using its head to understand what it must do in order to please God and to bear the fruit which only (John 15:5,8) Jesus can produce. The better you know God the better you will know what pleases Him.”
In one of his books, Philip Yancey wrote about what a woman discovered in 25 long, lonely years as a widow. “Life by the yard is hard but life by the inch is a cinch because every day (Psalms 27:5) Jesus is our only security, our only light, our only strength, our only hope.” How utterly foolish any of us would be to trust in ourselves, our possessions or anything or anyone else, rather than only in the Lord Jesus Christ Who is our life.
It is required of us that we be found faithful so we can see (Hebrews 10:36) our need of steadfast patient endurance so that we can fully accomplish the will of God. Now see our co-operation (1 Corinthians 3:9) with God as we work together with Him. Jesus has all the power and know-how. We are the obedient instruments in His hand to carry out His purposes to completion. If we choose to disobey the Lord, we are actually stealing the gifts God has given us and using as tools to work in opposition against Him. We cannot separate ourselves from the filthy sin of this world unless (Ezra 6:21) we first separate ourselves unto the Lord. We cannot turn from our idols unless (1 Thessalonians 1:9) we first turn to the Living God. We cannot turn from until we first turn to and then the ONE we turn to, enables us to turn from.
Why is it impossible (Hebrews 11:6) to please God without faith? Because not believing what God says is equivalent to calling God a liar. If you have doubts, the problem is not God’s but yours. You do not know Him well enough to know the granite-like unchanging eternal truth and the beauty of His holy character. Seek the Lord, pursue and persist in knowing Him in deepening oneness and intimacy. Your doubts will melt away like snow in the brilliant hot sun of His holiness.
We can accept the inevitables of aging and/or even just living in this fallen world because we know that God will make even these things to be part of the ‘all things’ (Romans 8:28-29) He is using to conform us to the image of His beloved Son. We need to realize that God uses suffering (1 Peter 5:9-11) in our lives. (Dr. Stanley) “in order to make adjustments in our character, to make us rock-solid, real on the inside, to make us strong in the strength of Christ, to establish us so firmly on the ROCK that nothing can ever shake or move us. No suffering - - no strength.” Our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ should be total and complete. (Oswald Chambers) “and it is never realized more than in prayer.” Actually, prayer is oneness with God, such oneness (John 17:11) that the Lord can share His heart with us and we will be one in perfect agreement with God’s will, God’s way and God’s timing whether we understand it or not. We must grasp the reality that our limited understanding has no bearing in God’s magnificent plans and purposes in the marvellous way He answers prayer. We can only align our hearts with His and bow low in worship, wonder and gratitude.
A study revealed that there are 180 fears which plague humans. I am so glad that (1 Corinthians 6:19) I am not my own. It is a great relief to know that because I don’t own me (1 Corinthians 6:20) therefore I am not responsible for my care. I could never come up with all the protection, provision enabling power and wisdom I need to live in this world. BUT (Romans 8:32) GOD! We who are truly God’s children are continually kept safe, enveloped in God’s perfect love which (1 John 4:18) casts out all fear. I look back 50 years to a Keswick Bible Conference in Florida and borrow an example from Major Ian Thomas. I choose to be a willing glove on God’s hand, thankful to be included in whatever His hand wants to do, whenever and wherever. I am not a miracle glove and I would be just a useless empty shell without the indwelling life of my risen Lord.
I do not know how many days are left in my lifespan bank account but I do know there are enough for me to fulfill God’s purpose in creating me, the purpose for which Jesus suffered. Jesus knew that God’s purpose for me was worth Him dying for - - do I understand how greatly God’s purpose for me is worth dying to self and living for?
Early this morning the Lord spoke to me one tremendous sentence which left me with a lingering sense of awe. I want to share it with you because in all the world there is nothing more important. Regard these powerful words carefully because they have great personal significance for you.
One dozen words shaped all of past history, present time and endless future. The first 6 words are pregnant with the next 6 words which are yet to be spoken.
It is finished John 19:30
He has risen Matthew 28:6
Behold, I make Revelation 21:5
All things new