by David Brenneman
"Because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise," says the Lord; I will set him in the safety for which he longs.?
Psalms 12:5
The human body is an amazing creation. For example, when a person runs for a long distance, blood flow to the lower extremities increases to supply the muscles. When an infection attacks a certain part of the body, antibodies scramble to the site of the contagion.
The principle that God teaches us through the body is that supply moves to the point of need- and there's a close parallel in the spiritual life. The Lord's help flows to those who admit their inadequacy. Self-reliant people, who may deny their need for divine intervention, are often blinded to their poverty of soul and spirit because of their self-sufficiency. But those who open their broken spirits and contrite hearts to the Lord are filled.
Your need, whatever it may be today, is the signal for God's great and all-encompassing provision. And it isn't just for the obvious place of lack but for all the emotion, energy, and woundedness associated with it, So stop denying it. You don't have to pretend to be strong and invincible. Open your heart to Jesus. Admit you need Him. And watch as He shows you that He is indeed God.
Jesus, thank You for answering my need and ministering to my heart. Amen.
-Trusting God with Today, Dr. Charles Stanley.
The subject line may be talking about no front or pretending necessary...but it also should include our not dismissing either.
We're living in a world of 'experts' and of frauds and of those choosing to be ignorant of situations and circumstances. People choosing to go on about their business because of the inconvenience of what stopping to do the right thing in God's eyes, according to God's plan, would mean for them.
People intentionally choosing to hang onto what they have rather than to submit to what God's wanting of them.
Abraham was commanded to take his one and only son to a certain place and sacrifice him to God.
This was to test Abraham.
Jesus told the following story:
"Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:30-37.
In Proverbs it says "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it." Proverbs 3:27.
"Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17.
We cannot afford to look at those around us in the same way that the world looks at those around them.
In the recent months of my unemployment we have seen God provide in ways we never would have guessed. Expected yes, guessed, no. But, my Dear Reader, those who listened to the Lord Jesus and came to our aid are the one's who will in turn be blessed by their generosity.
We cannot afford to either put up a front, a good acting job, in front of others and yet still pray for God to provide for our needs. You need to be real with those whom God's put in your life. Cast aside your initial embarrassment. Cast aside anything to do with your pride. There are lessons to be learned by what we go through and there's glory to be had for our Living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by what we encounter along the way in this life we have been graciously given to live.
Many also pretend that nothing's wrong when most everything has gone wrong. Just hoping that nobody will find out...and that God would provide anyway.
Then that third group...people who have indeed been amply blessed who keep it to themselves and or dictate how, when and where God's money, God's possessions (which is everything since it all belongs to God) should be utilized.
In that parable of the Good Samaritan we read of people with a caring heart and those who did not possess one.
We read of the right thing to do and those who completely did the wrong thing.
To steal a line from Star Trek, "Risk is our business". We must take risks with everyone we encounter in life. We don't know if they'll spiritually benefit from their encounter with us or not. That is the only real point of our interacting with others in our lives. We're to live lives in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. We're to go through various trials and tribulations, not being surprised by them, but to glorify God in them.
We're to point people to Jesus. We don't save anyone, only Jesus saves. We don't cleanse anyone's hearts, only Jesus cleanses the hearts of those who've come to Him for salvation.
We are supposed to, in all things, glorify our Father in Heaven. We are supposed to be INTENTIONAL about growing in Christ. We are NOT supposed to be intentional about fitting in with our world around us nor are we supposed to be consumed with creating our own slice of Heaven here on Earth at the expense of all else. We aren't still here to see our wants, desires, and dreams come true. God may yet allow them to come to fruition if they coincide with His plans for us but they are not on His list of priorities.
The only chief priority of a Christian is to see Jesus glorified, and to join Him in pointing people to Him for salvation and see the Church of Christ grow into completion..which is when Jesus will return for His bride the Church.
My Wife and I have learned that we can do better at living life that glorifies our Savior Jesus Christ during these last 10 months. We can get along with less and we can learn how to get things under control to where we can bless others as we too have been blessed.
You, my Dear Reader, must always put what you're being lead by the Spirit to do ahead of everything else. Even if nobody else understands it, obeying Jesus no matter when or how you're to do it...just do it.
Part of my work life, and unfortunately a friendship, ended in June of last year but in the ensuing months since God's shown me that things are going to be ok. That He has had this planned out for a long time and He's got every detail worked out for my good.
Some people in my life, our life, understood and supported us through these months, others stood at a distance.
Some had eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit was saying to do.
We choose who we will be in that story of the Good Samaritan.
We choose if we're living for self or living for others as Christ did.
We choose to honor Christ in our everything or we don't.
We ALL will give an account of our lives before Jesus one day.
Our excuses won't hold water when we indeed knew what we were being lead to do and didn't do it.
Our excuses won't hold water when our hearts weren't into obedience even at the risk of sacrifice.
Our excuses won't hold water when selfishness took hold rather than obedience.
That day is quickly approaching for when we will stand before Jesus if indeed we're saved.
Be true and honest in your walk with Jesus. When He speaks, listen and obey. When He directs, just follow and go. Be intentional about learning to be more like Him and see what He will do in and through you.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways (not some of them!) acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Obey and do even if it means probably sacrificing to do so. If God so blessed you once to grant you such a blessing, don't you believe He can do so again? Didn't He say as much in the book of Malachi? Test God in this?
Lastly, don't try to be wiser than God in what you have and how it should be used. As stated earlier...it all belongs to Him.
Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your soul, ALL your mind and ALL you spirit. Love yoru neighbor as yourself.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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