Hello Family, The devotional messages (2) below are from "My Utmost for HIS Highest" , June 17th and August 19th and they tie in so well together Not only is the title of the book; "My Utmost for HIS Highest " it is the title of the message in his book for June 19th. Since it is two complete devotionals it will take time to read and pray about , but I know the questions presented within and that are stimulated in your heart in meditation and devotion will be challenging and meet each of you where the "rubber meets the road" in your walk with Jesus.
Seek to know HIM with all that is in you and the Lord will speak directly to you in the most important place; the place The Risen Savior resides: in your heart. This devotional/blog is one that is best taken in during a quite time, undisturbed, and focussed on Jesus. It is my belief that if you are not challenged in your relationship with Christ you cannot grow and bear fruit. The River of Living Water poured into you and not poured out; stagnates and dies, so do not be discouraged if The Lord shows you blemishes and dark spots in your heart. He loves you so much and desires that you blossom daily as the fruits of a healthy heart are grown ; for the blessing of others and The Glory of God, our Master, Savior, King! Talk about these things with The Father with an open heart. He is blessed wholly when you talk with Him and ask for guidance. Do not be afraid to discuss anything ;and I mean anything; for HE knows already.
I have had the blessing to share Jesus with you by internet over the past 4 years; it never ceases to amaze me and strengthen my faith as I read the devotional assembled by the wife of a truly annointed writer Oswald Chambers. The devotional "My Utmost for HIS Highest", more times than not, addresses almost exactly the need of the heart though speaking Truth. Chambers' writings speak to the heart; whether, a spiritual confrontation, personal introspection, edification of the body, encouragment, admonition or Christ's guiding hand leading us as we each walk toward the New Jerusalem; Chambers' writings provide loving challenges that help shape us and guide us for the Glory of God. I pray these devotional messages bless you with growing pains that are unavoidable if you wish to "go deeper" in your personal relationship with Jesus and am blessed when you share what The Lord has done, is doing, and His faithfulness to bring us to completion for our uocoming banquet with our loving Father in the heavenlies. Peace be with you. Brother Matt
*********************************************************************************
. "My Utmost for HIS Highest" by Oswald Chambers for June 19th
... do you love Me? . . . Tend My sheep —John 21:16
Jesus did not say to make converts to your way of thinking, but He said to look after His sheep, to see that they get nourished in the knowledge of Him. We consider what we do in the way of Christian work as service, yet Jesus Christ calls service to be what we are to Him, not what we do for Him. Discipleship is based solely on devotion to Jesus Christ, not on following after a particular belief or doctrine. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate . . . , he cannot be My disciple" ( Luke 14:26 ). In this verse, there is no argument and no pressure from Jesus to follow Him; He is simply saying, in effect, "If you want to be My disciple, you must be devoted solely to Me." A person touched by the Spirit of God suddenly says, "Now I see who Jesus is!"— that is the source of devotion.
Today we have substituted doctrinal belief for personal belief, and that is why so many people are devoted to causes and so few are devoted to Jesus Christ. People do not really want to be devoted to Jesus, but only to the cause He started. Jesus Christ is deeply offensive to the educated minds of today, to those who only want Him to be their Friend, and who are unwilling to accept Him in any other way. Our Lord’s primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people— the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father. If I am devoted solely to the cause of humanity, I will soon be exhausted and come to the point where my love will waver and stumble. But if I love Jesus Christ personally and passionately, I can serve humanity, even though people may treat me like a "doormat." The secret of a disciple’s life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness. Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls into the ground and dies"— it will spring up and change the entire landscape ( John 12:24 ). . "Are You Discouraged or Devoted? "by Oswald Chambers for August 17th
." . . Jesus . . . said to him, ’You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich "—Luke 18:22-23
Have you ever heard the Master say something very difficult to you? If you haven’t, I question whether you have ever heard Him say anything at all. Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear. And once we do hear Him, His words are harsh and unyielding.
Jesus did not show the least concern that this rich young ruler should do what He told him, nor did Jesus make any attempt to keep this man with Him. He simply said to him, "Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me." Our Lord never pleaded with him; He never tried to lure him— He simply spoke the strictest words that human ears have ever heard, and then left him alone.
Have I ever heard Jesus say something difficult and unyielding to me? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened— not something I can explain for the sake of others, but something I have heard Him say directly to me? This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged. He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discourage-ment. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life. I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.
|
|
Follow this blog
