Learn To Obey
God has given us (2 Peter 1:4) exceedingly great and precious promises that He will provide everything we need for life and godliness, everything we need in order to obey Him. We demonstrate our L.T.O. not by words or sacrifice but by obedience. If we love Him, we will trust him and if we trust Him, we will obey Him. As long as our L.T.O is in good working order,
God’s will, plans and purposes are being carried out (Ephesians 1:14) to the praise of His glory. What about the times when things are going so hard for us? Will our L.T.O. still continue to operate in full high gear, along with meditation and growing insight? Will our thoughts and words be kind to God’s reputation? Or will we present a false picture of God and discourage other Christians? (Oswald Chambers) “How much kindness have I shown to God this past week?” Don’t pretend that you are trusting God if you question and complain about every unpleasant thing that happens. Are we simple enough to live in (Matthew 6:30) and trust the MUCH MORE of God? Do we have the simplicity of Jesus? (Oswald Chambers) “Birds and flowers simply obey the principle of the life that is within them and God feeds and clothes them. If we obey the life of God within us, He will take care of our feathers”.
You can sing the Lord’s song (Psalms 137:4) in a strange land if God sends you into the world to bring the Light and Truth of Salvation into this present darkness. But if you are a Christian and you are living and participating in the sinful carnality and temporary things of the world, do not talk about Jesus, your life will give the lie to everything you say. This is where and how Christians persecute Jesus, by living and doing their own way. (Oswald Chambers) “When we stand on our rights, we persecute Jesus”.
What are you looking at? The Lord says (Isaiah 45:22) Look onto me and be saved. If your focus is wrong you will not experience the saving power of God’s grace in all circumstances and over discouragement. Common sense frightens you with needs. Faith knows (Matthew 6:25) that every need is met in Christ. God has turned (Psalms 34:15, 1 Peter 3:12) His eyes toward the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers. The Lord guards and guides us with His eye always upon us and He gives His attention to the prayers of His obedient children. In marriage we vow to be faithful in sickness and in health. Why should we give any less to Jesus?
My sight and many other physical faculties recently have taken a drastic downturn which has brought increasing pain and weakness and affects everything in daily life. But - - the Lord Jesus has already given me (Matthew 11:28) a wonderful and exciting promise. Jesus said that if I truly love and obey Him, the Father will love me and Jesus will love me and make Himself more clearly seen by me.
I am filled with longing for a fuller revelation of Jesus and a growing intimacy with Him. This is the pinnacle of my God-given (Psalms 37:4) holy desires.
Do you ever wonder about (Hebrews 7:25) what Jesus prays for you? It is well-worth thinking about. Early this morning my thoughts formed this little poem.
If you want perfection in your life
I’ll tell you how to pray,
Make no conditions and always ask
For God’s timing, His will and His way;
Accept with thankfulness all that comes
And happens every day,
Ask no questions and make no complaints,
Just let God’s perfection hold sway
To pray in the spirit is to pray in such oneness and partnership with the Holy Spirit that not the slightest vestige of the flesh can intrude.
Our prayers, communion with God and every prayer request will be the completed accomplishment of God’s will on earth of what He willed in heaven, and always in His perfect time. The heartfelt continuous prayer of a righteous person (James 5:16) makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.
Could we ever comprehend our holy royal privilege and the mystery of Kingdom Authority? That we, redeemed earthlings could co-operate with Transcendent Almighty Sovereignty in the performance of His world-wide holy purposes. The grandeur of such a calling is beyond our ability to conceive but not beyond the reality we can experience in our everyday lives as we maintain our relationship with Him above all.
(Oswald Chambers) “The severest discipline of a Christian’s life, is to learn how (2 Corinthians 3:18) to keep beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and beholding, we ourselves become mirrors to reflect His glory to others.” This discipline is supremely profitable because by it we are constantly being transfigured into His own image in ever-increasing splendour, from one degree of glory to another. By the power of the Holy Spirit He guides us deeper into the riches of the recesses of the bottomless many-shafted gold mine of God’s Word so that He can reveal to us the glory of God on every page.