Letting God Work In and Through You

I have always enjoyed the wit, wisdom, and preaching and teaching of Dr. Adrian Rogers. I subscribe to the LWF daily devotion and on occasion share them here. One from this past week particularly spoke to me, as I think it will most Christians, and wanted to share it, too.

BIBLE MEDITATION:
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
One of the greatest secrets I have ever learned is this: God doesn’t want me to do anything for Him. He wants to do something through me.

People say, “Well, I just serve God in my poor, little, old weak way.” I feel like saying, “Well, quit it. He doesn’t want you to serve Him in your poor, little, old weak way. He wants you out of the way, so He can flow through you!”

We need to make ourselves available to God and say, “God, I’m tired of being inhibited. I want to be inhabited by You. I want You to live Your life through me.”

ACTION POINT:
Where have you been standing in the way of God instead of surrendering to God and letting Him live through you?

Garbage In…

I was thinking about a couple of projects I did last fall, compared to a couple I’ve done recently, and the results I obtained from them. Last fall I had s couple of small side tables to refinish. I used what I had on hand, as far as paint and things go, and put a fair amount of time into both of them. But the results were, well, less than stellar. This past week I refurbished a couple of old metal utility carts. For these projects I got new paint, a specific type and color for each one, and used new and different primer on them both. I also used a different technique and products for the preparation phase. And you know what? They results were a whole lot better, at least in my opinion, with these carts than I got from the tables. I think the difference was in the products I used: what I had on hand verses getting the specific item that I needed for the projects. I guess this would be kind of an example of “garbage in, garbage out”, as the old saying goes.

This principle is equally true with what we fill ourselves with: if we fill our mind with garbage our attitudes will reflect that. The Bible says

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

. If we feast upon godly things we will produce good fruit in all areas of our lives, fruit that is pleasing to God and useful to His purposes. But if we indulge in the worldly, godless things the product will be far from fruitful; it will be useless garbage.

Unsend?

Many of you probably have noticed that the Sunday night/Monday morning email/post is generally one from “The Pastor’s Corner”, but today is an odd exception. Thursday when I received the piece from Pastor Danny for Sunday/Monday I made a goof; I clicked “send” instead of “save draft”. It was probably a millisecond before I realized what I had done and thought immediately “Oh, if I could only unclick or unsend that!”‘. Well, obviously I couldn’t and most of you got the Pastor’s Corner well ahead of its rightly published time.

As I thought on what I’d done, it occurred to me that what comes out of our mouths, what we say, is often the same way; once it’s spoken it can’t be unsaid, or as a famous lawyer, I believe, once said, “that bell can’t be unrung”.

James 3:7, 8 says “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ” Words often seem to roll out of our mouths, through our lips without any thought or control. And I believe this is what God’s Word is teaching and warning us about: bells that can’t be unrung.

I know that the Word of God is the sharpest thing that has ever and ever will exist. But man’s words can cut pretty deeply, just not nearly as cleanly, precisely, or to any real good.

Counsel

I was very blessed to have a godly, kind, wise man for my grandfather. He was really more of a father figure to me than a grandfather; my dad died when I was nine years old and my Papaw and I were close any way due to the facts he had no sons and I was the first grandchild. He imparted some of the most valuable knowledge and wisdom that I could ever hope for.

In recent months I’ve also had the pleasure and blessing to be counseled by a couple of my Brothers. Regardless of if I agree with them or not, it seems that I glean at least some bit of knowledge and wisdom from each conversation. I’m very thankful for the opportunities that the Lord has given me to learn from the men I call both Brothers and friends.

The book of Proverbs is filled with exhortations for us to seek and apply wisdom and knowledge from godly folks in our lives. Proverbs 1:5 says “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels”. How many mistakes we could avoid and hurdles overcome if we would only do what God’s Word tells us: seek out and heed good, godly, biblical advice on the matters we face.

Look for opportunities to not only take “wise counsel” but also be willing to be one when you have the chance.

Trimmed Down

This past Sunday the kids in my class got a bit of a reward for their exemplary behavior: they each received a huge Hershey bar. One of the girls only ate a very small piece off of her’s and then decided to put it back into the package. She struggled at getting the chocolate bar back in and just wasn’t having any luck. So, our Sunday school superintendent offered to help, by “trimming” the candy bar down (i.e. eating some) for her.

Today society would have us to think we can do the same thing with God’s Word: just “trim” it down to fit our ideas and wants. The world rejects the very thought of things like moral absolutes, saying that disciples of Jesus Christ are “intolerant” because of our adherence to the teachings of Scripture. Well, you know what? They are right: all of God’s children are intolerant of sin, just as our Father is intolerant of it.

Extraordinary

C. S. Lewis once said “We meet no ordinary people in our lives.”. I must admit that I had never really thought about this before but it is true. Each and every person we encounter is someone that God created, unique and beautiful in at least some way. Each one of us also has some purpose in our life, some job, if you will, in the up building of His Kingdom. But before we can find our purpose we have to submit ourselves to Jesus. Everyone we meet is some one we can be a blessing to, a light for Christ in a dark. fallen world. To believers we can be an encouragement or a helper, among many things. And to those that are lost we can be a sign post pointing toward the Door to Heaven. Or we can be in such a hurry along our way that we aren’t any thing to any one.

Which will you be today?

Seamless

This evening I had the honor of speaking at one of our sister churches. It was an appointment that I’d prepared for all week, having a particular scripture in mind to preach on. However, the evening was chaotic leading up to time for church and by the time I was called my entire thought had left me. But the Lord gave me another entirely different one and I went with it. After I finished up the pastor remarked that it was like a continuation of the message he had preached that morning; several of the verses I used he had also and our thought line must have been parallel. One of the dear sisters then said “you know, I think that’s kind of how the Bible was written, too”. And I agree with her, though neither I nor the pastor would ever try to equate ourselves with the inspired writers of God’s Word.

If you read and really look at the Bible it is 66 books in one volume yet it is seamless cover to cover. The Word, though penned over some 3500 years and through around 40 human “quills” is all as if it written by one person in one session. The reason for that? Because the is only one actual Author, God Himself.

Scripture, from the first verse to that last, is all about God’s magnificent plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It never contradicts itself and it always reaffirms the one and only Truth. The Bible: it truly is all about Jesus.

All

Describing our relationship with Christ, C. S. Lewis once said “Give me all of you!!! I donít want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I donít want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self—in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.”

Some would say that Lewis was being a bit dramatic; I’d say he was being very precise. The Word of God is clear that we are bought with a price, the very life blood of Jesus. It is no less clear that there are two ways, the way of darkness (sin) and the way of Light (righteousness through and by Christ Jesus). To simplify it further, Scripture teaches we are adopted into the family of God. And there’s only two families you can be a part of: that of God or that of satan. It’s all or nothing, no middle ground, no grey areas.

Christ gave His all for us. Shouldn’t we desire to do the same for our Savior?

Reflecting

I have been doing a little reflecting today, thinking on past events and how truly blessed I am. You know, I have a little bit of a unique perspective on some things, given my age. Having been deemed medically retired, twice, at a time when I should have been in the prime years of my life physically has shown me things and taught me lessons that I wouldn’t have asked to see or learn.

In the weeks and months that followed the surgeries that put me into retirement I saw my life change drastically, and the lives of my family, too. The second time around I knew a little better what to expect, which actually made the transition more difficult. Slowly but surely I lost touch with folks, things that had been every day, routine tasks became hard or impossible, and my role as bread winner was changed instantly, again (this happened twice, remember).

At that time in my life I had gotten caught up in the things of this world. I wasn’t doing what Christ would want me to, though I’d probably debated that if asked then. So I was stricken physically and desolate spiritually. The former was beyond my control but the latter was my choosing.

I rehash all this to get to today: We are having some troubles in life that is beyond our control again. But this time is very different; today we (my wife and I) are where the Lord wants us, doing what He would have us to, and holding fast to His precious Word.

I know that God will see us through this, and any other, obstacle that we encounter on this path in this life; He promises us He will. And I’m so glad that the thing I have control over, my relationship with Jesus, is right and where it should be. It’s a much less tumultuous storm when the Captian of the Sea is at the helm of the boat of life, this I can attest to. And I praise Him for being the anchor of my soul.

A Wonderful Day

John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full.

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Easter; I did. I was privileged to attend both morning and evening services at my home church, with the honor and privilege of bringing the evening message, had a very nice dinner with my family and spent some quality time with my wife and grandson after dinner. But you know what really made the day for me? During the morning service a young man gave his life to Christ! What a more wonderful and appropriate way to celebrate Easter than to see one die out to sin and be raised to eternal life? There is none. Every child of God should be filled with joy from this news.

As this babe in Christ begins his walk of faith I’m sure his heart is filled with the joy of the Lord. Jesus said that He has given us His joy that we might be full. Oh, if only we would step out in faith and take hold on His Word, how filled with joy we could and should be. And it’s so easy to do: Just follow Him, pursue that which glorifies our Father, produce the good fruit, and then watch as our cups begin to run over!