"In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15
Desire for haste bespeaks an emotional nature. Emotion is usually hasty. It is extremely hard for the hasty Christian to wait on the Lord, to know his will and knowing it, to walk a step at a time in that will. Indeed we who are his own are incapable of following the Spirit until our emotions are truly yielded to the cross. We need first to learn there the "patience of Jesus Christ," for let us remember that out of a hundred impatient actions, scarcely one is in the will of God.
Because he knows the impetuosity of our nature, God frequently uses our fellow workers, brethren, family, or environment to put the brake on us. For God never performs anything hurriedly; consequently, he will rarely entrust his power to the impatient.
Watchman Nee
Saturday, October 15, 2011
October 17
"I can of myself do nothing." John 5:30
At his creation Adam became a distinct self-conscious person, but he had no sin. There was not yet ruling in him what Paul in Romans 6:6 calls "our old man." He possessed free will, which made it possible for him to act on his own account; so that self, we may say, was already there - but not sin. But then the fall changed all that. Now there was the "old man" dominant in him, and certainly in all of us.
We must be cautious about drawing parallels between ourselves and the Lord Jesus in his incarnation, but we can say with assurance that he had no old man, because he was free from sin. Nevertheless, he had a self. He possessed natural strength; yet not once in the smallest degree did he abuse it. It is not that he lacked an individual personality - every man has that - but that he did not choose to live by himself. In our verse he makes clear his estimate of the worthlessness of natural human effort apart from God. We can understand, therefore, why he went on to say of our spiritual fruitfulness, "Apart from me ye can do nothing."
At his creation Adam became a distinct self-conscious person, but he had no sin. There was not yet ruling in him what Paul in Romans 6:6 calls "our old man." He possessed free will, which made it possible for him to act on his own account; so that self, we may say, was already there - but not sin. But then the fall changed all that. Now there was the "old man" dominant in him, and certainly in all of us.
We must be cautious about drawing parallels between ourselves and the Lord Jesus in his incarnation, but we can say with assurance that he had no old man, because he was free from sin. Nevertheless, he had a self. He possessed natural strength; yet not once in the smallest degree did he abuse it. It is not that he lacked an individual personality - every man has that - but that he did not choose to live by himself. In our verse he makes clear his estimate of the worthlessness of natural human effort apart from God. We can understand, therefore, why he went on to say of our spiritual fruitfulness, "Apart from me ye can do nothing."
Monday, October 10, 2011
October 16
"For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith." Acts 11:24
We see people who appear richly endowed with gifts by God, and we think how wealthy they are and how greatly he uses them. Yet what really brings help to those in need is not these impressive gifts and utterances; it is the life that rises triumphant over death in those who, like Paul, "die daily."
God sovereignly bestows gifts upon one here and on one there that they may serve as his mouthpieces, but what he really seeks are not spokesmen but vessels for the communication of that life by the Spirit. This resurrection life of Jesus flows out from those in whom "the dying of Jesus" is at work within (2 Corinthians 4:10). He who puts his trust in spiritual gifts is being foolish, for such gifts do not necessarily work that transformation in the inner man. It is out of brokenness that there can come forth life.
We see people who appear richly endowed with gifts by God, and we think how wealthy they are and how greatly he uses them. Yet what really brings help to those in need is not these impressive gifts and utterances; it is the life that rises triumphant over death in those who, like Paul, "die daily."
God sovereignly bestows gifts upon one here and on one there that they may serve as his mouthpieces, but what he really seeks are not spokesmen but vessels for the communication of that life by the Spirit. This resurrection life of Jesus flows out from those in whom "the dying of Jesus" is at work within (2 Corinthians 4:10). He who puts his trust in spiritual gifts is being foolish, for such gifts do not necessarily work that transformation in the inner man. It is out of brokenness that there can come forth life.
October 15
"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out." Hebrews 11:8
It is from God, the source and beginning of all things, that his new creation springs. We might fittingly borrow the words of the Lord Jesus who said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." This is a lesson we all have to learn: that we can originate nothing of divine value. God alone is the One who begins everything. Though this fact injures our pride, yet the day we really see it is a day of happiness for us. It seems we have recognized that where eternal values are concerned, all must be from God.
Abraham needed to make no new beginning of his own. God took the initiative with him. And Abraham never thought of Canaan as his goal. He went out ignorant of where he was bound. That was known to God, and he simply responded to a call of God. Blessed is the man who doesn't know! When we really understand that God is the beginning and the end of all that matters in life, we can be at rest.
It is from God, the source and beginning of all things, that his new creation springs. We might fittingly borrow the words of the Lord Jesus who said, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." This is a lesson we all have to learn: that we can originate nothing of divine value. God alone is the One who begins everything. Though this fact injures our pride, yet the day we really see it is a day of happiness for us. It seems we have recognized that where eternal values are concerned, all must be from God.
Abraham needed to make no new beginning of his own. God took the initiative with him. And Abraham never thought of Canaan as his goal. He went out ignorant of where he was bound. That was known to God, and he simply responded to a call of God. Blessed is the man who doesn't know! When we really understand that God is the beginning and the end of all that matters in life, we can be at rest.
October 14
"What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight." Luke 18:41
We must guard against belaboring God with words which are not real prayers. Satan delights, not only in depriving us of the time to pray, but also in making us waste the time we have in multiplying scattered, empty words. Many long, wearisome, routine prayers are merely time-wasting. If you do not even know what you want when you kneel to pray, how can you expect God to answer? You fall into the trap of thinking you have spent a useful time in prayer when in fact you have not prayed at all.
The Lord will ask you, as he asked blind Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Can you answer that question specifically and clearly? You should train yourself to do so. We are warned to watch in prayer. Do not drag out the time; do not offer God your many reasons; simply and in plain terms pour out your desire before him.
We must guard against belaboring God with words which are not real prayers. Satan delights, not only in depriving us of the time to pray, but also in making us waste the time we have in multiplying scattered, empty words. Many long, wearisome, routine prayers are merely time-wasting. If you do not even know what you want when you kneel to pray, how can you expect God to answer? You fall into the trap of thinking you have spent a useful time in prayer when in fact you have not prayed at all.
The Lord will ask you, as he asked blind Bartimaeus, "What do you want me to do for you?" Can you answer that question specifically and clearly? You should train yourself to do so. We are warned to watch in prayer. Do not drag out the time; do not offer God your many reasons; simply and in plain terms pour out your desire before him.
October 13
"But we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in prayer, and in the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4
All ministry, all service to mankind, which has lost its priestly emphasis has broken down. If I have not first of all gone into the presence of God, I cannot come forth to my fellows with any message or service of value to them.
If there is a prophet's ministry without at the same time a priestly ministry, then there will be no building the Church. If my right hand is injured and in pain, and my left hand wants to come to its aid, it does not act unbidden. Communication is by way of the head, and action is initiated there and controlled from there. An unattached left hand could be no help at all. And serving our brothers is like that. If we would avoid causing only trouble with other members, we should act under direction of the Head; we should come to them in service straight from the presence of God.
All ministry, all service to mankind, which has lost its priestly emphasis has broken down. If I have not first of all gone into the presence of God, I cannot come forth to my fellows with any message or service of value to them.
If there is a prophet's ministry without at the same time a priestly ministry, then there will be no building the Church. If my right hand is injured and in pain, and my left hand wants to come to its aid, it does not act unbidden. Communication is by way of the head, and action is initiated there and controlled from there. An unattached left hand could be no help at all. And serving our brothers is like that. If we would avoid causing only trouble with other members, we should act under direction of the Head; we should come to them in service straight from the presence of God.
October 12
"Thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23
Jesus had scarcely told his disciples of his approaching rendezvous with the cross than Peter burst in, out of his intense love for him, with the cry, "Lord, pity yourself." The Lord's answer could only be a stern rebuke. Self-pity, Jesus declared, was an idea that could have come only from Satan. He then countered Peter's protest by going further. "It is not I alone who must go to the cross," he told them, "but all of you who follow me and desire to be my disciples. Do not imagine that I am the only one who must do God's will. My way shall be your way too."
Deep down, Peter knew this, and if in saying "Pity yourself" he was expressing affection for the Lord, he was at the same time unconsciously revealing his attitude toward himself. He too would avoid the cross and thus preserve the selfish life of his own soul.
Jesus had scarcely told his disciples of his approaching rendezvous with the cross than Peter burst in, out of his intense love for him, with the cry, "Lord, pity yourself." The Lord's answer could only be a stern rebuke. Self-pity, Jesus declared, was an idea that could have come only from Satan. He then countered Peter's protest by going further. "It is not I alone who must go to the cross," he told them, "but all of you who follow me and desire to be my disciples. Do not imagine that I am the only one who must do God's will. My way shall be your way too."
Deep down, Peter knew this, and if in saying "Pity yourself" he was expressing affection for the Lord, he was at the same time unconsciously revealing his attitude toward himself. He too would avoid the cross and thus preserve the selfish life of his own soul.
October 11
"The king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will make mention of thy love more than of wine: rightly do they love thee." Song of Songs 1:4
A better rendering of the last clause would be, "In uprightness they love thee"; that is, "they love thee without mixture." Paul wrote to Timothy of "love out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned," and then concluded the passage with a reminder that the Lord Jesus is the eternal King (1 Timothy 1:5, 17) That is the point. The King has brought us into communion with himself, and from that fact there springs a new and satisfying love.
There is a sense in which we can only come to recognize Christ as the beloved Bridegroom of our souls if we first yield him homage as our King. The justified sinner rightly loves his gracious Savior. Later on, as he grows closer to him, he finds that what gives unmixed quality to his devotion and love is his complete dedication to the rule of Jesus as his sovereign Lord. He is learning to love "in uprightness."
A better rendering of the last clause would be, "In uprightness they love thee"; that is, "they love thee without mixture." Paul wrote to Timothy of "love out of a pure heart and good conscience and faith unfeigned," and then concluded the passage with a reminder that the Lord Jesus is the eternal King (1 Timothy 1:5, 17) That is the point. The King has brought us into communion with himself, and from that fact there springs a new and satisfying love.
There is a sense in which we can only come to recognize Christ as the beloved Bridegroom of our souls if we first yield him homage as our King. The justified sinner rightly loves his gracious Savior. Later on, as he grows closer to him, he finds that what gives unmixed quality to his devotion and love is his complete dedication to the rule of Jesus as his sovereign Lord. He is learning to love "in uprightness."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)