July 18, 2009
THE MYSTERY OF BELIEVING
And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? Acts 9:6
By the miracle of Redemption Saul of Tarsus was turned in one second from a strong-willed, intense Pharisee into a humble, devoted slave of the Lord Jesus.
There is nothing miraculous about the things we can explain. We command what we are able to explain, consequently it is natural to seek to explain. It is not natural to obey; nor is it necessarily sinful to disobey.
There is no moral virtue in obedience unless there is a recognition of a higher authority in the one who dictates. It is possibly an emancipation to the other person if he does not obey.
If one man says to another - 'You must,' and - 'You shall,' he breaks the human spirit and unfits it for God.
A man is a slave for obeying unless behind his obedience there is a recognition of a holy God.
Many a soul begins to come to God when he flings off being religious, because there is only one Master of the human heart, and that is not religion but Jesus Christ.
But woe be to me if when I see Him I say - I will not.
He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul. When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and say - I will not, He will never insist; but I am backing away from the recreating power of His Redemption. It is a matter of indifference to God's grace how abominable I am if I come to the light; but woe be to me if I refuse the light (see John 3:19-21).
Oswald Chambers
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At What Price I Obey?
Jesus never forced the issue with anyone. He left the choice up to the individual person. He was famous for saying "If".
If any man come after me...,
Today IF you hear his voice,
The big If is the question you ask, because God already knows and in knowing has designed the world around you so you learn there should be no if, but when.
When you come after Jesus you do so out of choice, and your life will be filled of choices. Filled each day by a God who loves to reveal to you how much he knows you better than you do.
Peter thought he knew Himself pretty well till Jesus revealed his true nature, and loved Him anyways.Peter denied Jesus three times and not one world of condemnation came for the Masters hand, but from that moment on, Peter was destined for greater things.
So too with you.
You are to choose. Choose to obey. Choose to do. Choose to follow. Choose no matter what the cost..... because if you want to be like Paul, you must experience like Paul.
If you want to be like Peter, the same.
If you dare to be like Abraham, settle it now, God may ask you to give up your child or your most loved possession, even your wife.
Settle it now that the "if" is gone and you will become a Man with God so real you will be as those who have come before you. You will know God intimately. He will expect that commitment to be real and tested.
Do you love me? God asked Abraham and that man answered the call.
Do you love me? Jesus asked Peter and Peter proved true.
Do you love Jesus? Do you love God? Are you sure?
Have you committed to obey only to turn away when God asked some impossible thing of you?
Turn Back o Man, and start again, never make that same mistake twice and whatever impossible thing God requires of you, Give.
If you do, you will hear God say,
Now I know you love me.
Jesus didn't go to his garden of Gethsemane alone, he went with those who said they loved him.
Jesus is asking you.
Do you love me?
Michael James Stone
July 18, 2009
