Friday, May 8, 2020

Don't Get Ahead

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” John 5:20 

Jesus, realizing that His role was that of a servant, never sought to initiate activity for the Father (Matt. 20:28). The servant never sets the agenda—the master does. The servant must be so alert to what the master is doing that whenever the master begins to move in a direction, the servant quickly joins him. Even the Son of God did not assume He knew the best thing to do in a situation. Instead, He looked to see the Father's activity and then joined Him. Jesus knew His Father so well that He was keenly sensitive to divine activity around Him, immediately recognizing His Father at work. It is possible for us to be so busy trying to bring God into our activity that we don’t even notice Him at work around us. He seeks to redirect our attention so that we might join Him, but we tend to be self-centered, evaluating everything by how it affects us. We must learn to view events around us from God's perspective. Then we will see our world very differently. When God brings someone across our path, we will look to see if God is convicting that person of his need for salvation. Perhaps God is comforting someone in her sorrow. God might be encouraging your friend as she faces a challenge. We will then adjust our lives to join God as He works in that person's life. We ought to live each day with tremendous anticipation as we look to see where God is working around us. As our eyes are opened to His activity, we will marvel at His great works. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

I was not blessed with an idetic memory. I can't just recall things like some people do. Most of the time I have difficulty remembering what I just did or said 5 minutes ago.  Yet when it comes to certain lessons in life, God finds a way to remind me of them to help me not to repeat them. 

The Children of Israel weren't the only ones who went in circles for years to be taught a lesson or two.  It was decades for me on a few lessons. The hard part being I remember how the wrong path started.  I remember some of the times when I was admonished to reign in my excitement because I was on the verge of messing up.  There are also the moments when I wasn't paying enough attention on my own where there wasn't anyone to admonish me and my life went directions it shouldn't have gone. 

There's an old phrase about putting the cart before the horse. 

Sadly, there are a great many misguided people in this world thinking they have it all figured out on how to tell people how to live their lives.  Worst examples are single people giving parenting advice.  Or divorced people writing books on the joy of marriage.  But by far are people who claim they speak for God.  Read the Bible.  Hate to break it to you but demons attend Church as much as believers.  Scripture talks about evil men and impostors infecting the Church. Look at the real life examples in Scripture. 

People, let me share some of my lessons. 

First is, God knows what is best, you don't. 
Second, don't get ahead of the first. 

God, obviously to get the lesson taught, allowed me to see where He was going to take my life over 30 years ago. I then promptly messed it up. As Blackaby was eluding to, I got ahead of God.  I spent decades reaping what my mistakes brought about.  Decades.  

I am a fan of MercyMe. One particular song of theirs "Dear Younger Me".  A line it says "or do I go deep, and try to change the choices you'll make because they are the choices that made me..."

Oh I doubt that I am the first who would love to have a heart-to-heart with myself at a younger age. 

My dear reader, look at the lessons of the Disciples, even the lessons of the Apostles and Pastors.  Don't get ahead of God. Don't run ahead of the Holy Spirit.  You may think you know but oh my friend, you don't see it all.

I urge you today to take a moment and stop. Just stop thinking YOU have life figured out.  If you are a Christian, a Christ-follower, then remind yourself to do exactly that. Follow.  

We may indeed grow in great strides in Christ, but we will never achieve what we want in Christ or that He wants developed in us, until we stand before Him.  

Joining Jesus where He is working is indeed the example He and the Father gave us in front of the Disciples.  

Obedience to the one whom you serve is what Jesus showed the Disciples.  

Trusting in the Father's Plan is what Jesus did. 

You indeed may be in your own wilderness journey.  Look at what the Israelites were taught.  Look not upon your circumstances, look upon the Lord Jesus for your next step.  Where His feet go, you step there, right behind Him. 

The Jewish people had a saying "may you be covered in the dust of your Master". Follow so closely to Jesus that you are covered in the dust coming off of Him. 


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