Look Again and Think

The following is today's devotion from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. If you do not own this book, please go out and buy it (Classic Edition, not the Updated version). Whenever I read his writings I feel I am hearing directly from God. Chambers had a school for future missionaries in England and became a chaplain for British troops in Egypt during World War One, where he died around the age of 46. This man was wholly God's - PERIOD.

How often do I defame the Son of God by thinking "Will He REALLY help in this situation?" We know He CAN, but deep down we don't believe He WILL. Yet He is even so brazen as to say that we are not to focus on the needs or problems of the day. We are to concentrate on Him alone. Yes, we work and do the daily things, but relationship with Jesus is the primary impetus of our being, each and every minute of each and every day. He is the I AM-present with us and in us. "The cares of this world...choke the word" (see Mark 4:19). Jesus is the Word of God. Interesting-if we allow the burdens of life to weigh us down, we are choking the Lord Jesus out of us! Maybe the graphic image of us taking Jesus by the throat and choking Him would bring us up short every time we start to stew about our difficulties. Here's something MORE frightening to think about: Rev. 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable,...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Will we stay true to Jesus no matter what? Will our hearts and minds be so His that nothing satan throws our way will shake or disturb us? These are questions we must answer NOW-in the nitty gritty of life NOW, or we won't stand in the dark days ahead. Just like the five foolish virgins, our lamps will be empty and we will be turned away.

 

"Take no thought for your life."

MATTHEW 6:25

A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

"Take no thought for your life." "Be careful about one thing only," says our Lord, "your relationship to Me." Common sense shouts loud and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.

"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How much evil has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying—Now what are you going to do next month—this summer? "Be anxious for nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father.

God Orders the Trains

My intended subject today will be put on hold. I was ready to tell some humorous quips to lead in to what I originally was going to write, but then I received an email.

This woman has been a friend for several years, though we have never lived close together. Our communication has been by letter and email with a rare phone call. She had read yesterday's blog, and her response went something like this. "I am having such difficulties in my life right now that I can't even begin to think about the big tribulation ahead. I can barely keep a roof over my head or have the energy to go to work each day. My problems are overwhelming. I know God is there, but my prayers never seem to be answered. It is so hard to go on. I would like to participate in your blog, but have no inner strength to even attempt it."

 

One of our favorite expressions when things seem to be getting off track or going in an odd direction or not moving along like we think it should is that "God orders the trains". Even though the train appears to be run by some company with exact time tables and logistics, God is ultimately in control. Do we REALLY believe that? For myself, lip service is easier than true belief. What do you tell a woman who has struggled for years with health issues, abandonment by a spouse, raising children alone, poverty, etc? When as a Christian it appears that nothing changes in the day to day struggles. David Wilkerson has been addressing this very thing in his daily devotionals for many months now. The body of Christ is experiencing HUGE difficulties and attacks. Some have been brought about by poor decisions, wrong teaching by the churches ("grace will cover any sin without consequences"), and direct attacks by satan. We all have experienced the "blackness" at times. But God IS in control. He weeps when we weep, He sees the suffering. Do we defame His character by grumbling, by thinking in our deepest heart that He really doesn't care about "little" me and my problems? How can we grieve Him so? After Jesus was scourged to a bloody pulp and suffered with spikes in His hands and feet, hanging on a cross, to buy us back from satan and returned to the Father once again, how can we be so unbelieving? Every drop of Jesus' precious shed blood nullified the power of satan's kingdom over us. If we can't grasp this, then satan has won. We may be redeemed "legally", but we are walking like we are still under the sentence of death and hell. 

We may be struggling with generational curses or doors that we opened in our youth that let in unclean spirits. But if we have truly submitted every area of our lives to Christ's headship and dominion (which is what being a Christian truly means), then there is every weapon at our disposal to fight the good fight and see victory. I love the words of the Lord to the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia in Rev. 2 and 3. To Smyrna He says: "I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." And to Philadelphia: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie: behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." 

In both cases He told them that He knows their works. Part of these "works" is that they did not deny His name and they kept His word. They were patient in their trials. Jesus did not deny that there would be suffering, but it had a definite time period and NO FURTHER. And those who have used their tongues and actions to persecute us will see by these works that Jesus loves us and has never abandoned us.

Hold fast! That is our motto. Hold fast! We have forever and ever and ever before us. Let us be true, though everyone else be faithless. Let us never deny the Lord's goodness or mercy, no matter how severe our trials. Let us also love one another and have hearts and homes that welcome those in affliction, without condemnation. And let it begin with me. Amen.

Woo Hoo, I'm New!

Hello everyone!

This is a new venture for me-joining the world of online blogging. Not that I think my thoughts and ideas are earth shaking or new. But I would like to "meet" those who have a deep love for the Lord Jesus, and want to encourage each other as we see the days of darkness and tribulation approach.

A little background: In reading Scripture (and yes, I do believe the KJV is probably the most reliable, though I also read the NAS), it seems overwhelmingly clear that we will be here through all of what has been labeled the Great Tribulation. Sorry pre-tribbers. I used to believe in an early "Rapture", but can find no justification for it. I am not interested in getting into discussions about this, as it just leads to anger and hurt feelings. All I care about is that as Christians we are totally sold out to Jesus, with no idols or clinging to anything in this world. "Remember Lot's wife" should be the verse etched on our brains. I attend no organized church. (I just heard the sound of many "clicks" as people leave the blog NOW!) Not interested in lukewarm preaching with everyone getting "zapped" out before things get rough or more interested in prospering financially rather than spiritually. Corrie ten Boom herself warned that the pre-trib Rapture was an American doctrine that would lead to a lack of discipline in the Christian life, and she was certainly right. (If you don't know who Corrie was, please get her book "The Hiding Place"-the story of her family hiding Jews in their Dutch home during World War Two and her subsequent imprisonment.) It takes just a light perusing of today's headlines to see what trouble our world and nation are in. The Seals are beginning to be opened. But we are not to fear. If we are like the five "wise Virgins" whose lamps are full of oil (lives laid down, seeking God with all fervor, Spirit driven), then we will be welcomed by the Bridegroom and have the protection mentioned in Psalm 91. If we are living a slip-shod life, with more interest in the TV, fleshly pursuits, sports, work stress, etc. then we cannot be guaranteed any kind of supernatural help or protection. Goshen type "covering" will be available during the worst of times, but only to those who are seeking it with their whole hearts.

I want to communicate with believers who have a desire to see the return of Jesus with every fiber of their being! Who want to have the new name promised in Revelation. To be pillars in the Temple of God and to be in His presence for eternity on the New Earth! Don't you just almost burst with anticipation at the thought?! It is coming soon. Oh how wonderful. He who endures to the end will receive all the promises to the seven churches in Revelation. I want to be in that group-how about you?

In subsequent posts I'll give info on a variety of things, from little life events to what's being learned or pondered in Scripture and through favorite authors. I hope you will feel free to comment (politely please if we disagree), and in the process develop the bond of brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter where we may be.

Have a Christ-filled day!

Laura