Oswald Chambers wrote this amazing devotion called My Utmost For His Highest. the devotion for July 28th I found most inspiring. enjoy.
Mark 6:45
"He made His desciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side..."
We tend to think that if Jesus Christ compels us to do something and we are obedient to should never have the thought that our dreams of success are God's purpose for us. In fact, his purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have the idea that God is leading us toward a particular end or a desired goal, but He is not. The question of whether or not we arrive at a particular goal is of little importance, and reaching it becomes merely an episode along the way. what we see as only the process of reaching a particular end, God sees as the goal itself.
What is my vision of God's purpose for me? Whatever it may be, His purpose is for me to depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay calm, faithful, and unconfused while in the middle of the turmoil of life, the goal of the purpose is the process itself. What He desires for me is that I see "Him walking on the sea" with no shore, no success, nor goal in sight, but simply having the absolute certainty that everything is all right because I see "Him walking on the sea" (6:49). It is the process, not the outcome, that is glorifying to God.
God's training is for now, not later. His purpose is for this very minute, not for sometime in the future. We have nothing to do with what will follow our obedience, and we are wrong to concern ourselves with it. What people call preparation, God sees as the goal itself.
God's purpose is to enable me to see that He can walk on the storms of my life right now. If we have a further goal in mind, we are not paying enough attention to the present time. However, if we realize that moment-by-moment obedience is the goal, then each moment as it comes is precious.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
"Pay it Forward"
Eph. 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
When reading these two verses, it appears that the bible is contradicting itself. When really they both agree that if faith is not accompanied with action it is a false faith. Paul talks about grace in Ephesians and that it is something to be given upon request. it is not a light gift though, it is very costly. so much so that one could never pay it back. therefore, when one accepts the gift the response is to try to repay the giver. When we try to do this God says, "No, show this love and grace to others. give to them. pay it forward."
In this way the two verses work together perfectly. In fact, this then becomes the reason why we are on earth. it becomes our purpose/ goal to show God's love to everyone that we encounter. every day is a gift that God made for us to live to the full and in anticipation for heaven. (Phil. 1:21 for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.)
James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
When reading these two verses, it appears that the bible is contradicting itself. When really they both agree that if faith is not accompanied with action it is a false faith. Paul talks about grace in Ephesians and that it is something to be given upon request. it is not a light gift though, it is very costly. so much so that one could never pay it back. therefore, when one accepts the gift the response is to try to repay the giver. When we try to do this God says, "No, show this love and grace to others. give to them. pay it forward."
In this way the two verses work together perfectly. In fact, this then becomes the reason why we are on earth. it becomes our purpose/ goal to show God's love to everyone that we encounter. every day is a gift that God made for us to live to the full and in anticipation for heaven. (Phil. 1:21 for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Be Disciplined For YOUR Declaration of Assurance
It is such a strange thing that fall in love with God only when He blesses us.
I just received my acceptance letter to a radiology program for the next fall and about jumped out of my skin! This is the perfect conclusion to what God has obviously been organizing. I have a great house, perfect school job, and now the cherry on top the program! I am so glad God knows the plans He has for me, because this all did not happen in the order that i thought it should happen. I mean who makes plans to be in a specific location the next year without truly knowing if in all certainty you will? God is definitely faithful! (John 10) In fact, He says in His word that He will guide, protect, strengthen, support and lead. God will make a victory for us. (read Psalms 18:28-34) All of these attributes are true promises- a declaration of assurance. These promises are not the same as the ones you made in middle school; they hold more weight then a pinkie promise trust me. Grab a hold of these promise and claim them for yourselves because God is your strength, your guide, your solid rock, and lover. But to understand fully the plans God, in even the smallest measure, we must be disciplined. Take time to truly read God's word and then stand firm on those promises form God- you will not be let down.
I just received my acceptance letter to a radiology program for the next fall and about jumped out of my skin! This is the perfect conclusion to what God has obviously been organizing. I have a great house, perfect school job, and now the cherry on top the program! I am so glad God knows the plans He has for me, because this all did not happen in the order that i thought it should happen. I mean who makes plans to be in a specific location the next year without truly knowing if in all certainty you will? God is definitely faithful! (John 10) In fact, He says in His word that He will guide, protect, strengthen, support and lead. God will make a victory for us. (read Psalms 18:28-34) All of these attributes are true promises- a declaration of assurance. These promises are not the same as the ones you made in middle school; they hold more weight then a pinkie promise trust me. Grab a hold of these promise and claim them for yourselves because God is your strength, your guide, your solid rock, and lover. But to understand fully the plans God, in even the smallest measure, we must be disciplined. Take time to truly read God's word and then stand firm on those promises form God- you will not be let down.
- be disciplined to pray
- be disciplined to know God
- be disciplined to show God to others
- be disciplined to follow Christ
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