| Author | Message | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 343 Registered: 8-2004  |
"Take now thy son..." Genesis 22:2 "God's command is - Take now, not presently. It is extraordinary how we debate! We know a thing is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it at once. To climb to the height God shows can never be done presently, it must be done now. The sacrifice is gone through in will before it is performed actually. "And Abraham rose up early in the morning...and went to the place of which God had told him" (v. 3). The wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke he did not confer with flesh and blood, i.e. your own sympathies, your own insight, anything that is not based on your personal relationship to God. These are the things that compete with and hinder obedience to God. "Abraham did not choose the sacrifice. Always guard against self chosen service for God; self-sacrifice may be a disease. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providencial order of God for you is a hard time of difficulty, go through with it, but never choose the scene of your martyrdom. God chose the crucible for Abraham, and Abraham made no demur; he went steadily through. If you are not living in touch with Him, it is easy to pass a crude verdict on God. You must go through the crucible before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because in the crucible you learn to know God better. God is working for His highest ends till His purpose and man's purpose become one." --Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" In reading this last night, I was struck again with the importance of letting ourselves be 'lost' in God Himself. He is faithful and in control. How often thru self-consciousness we lose the blessing of enjoying the good God sends! How often in suffering we go through it mourning and whining as though we are all alone, as if God is not right there to commune with! I also love that line, "Always guard against self-chosen service to God, self-sacrifice may be a disease." When we get our eyes off ourselves and what we can or can't, should or shouldn't, want or don't want to do, and focus whole heartedly and whole-souledly on our Maker and Redeemer, how much simpler life is! Not because it becomes any less complex, but because we learn with gratitude that ALL THINGS truely do 'work together for good' to them that are called according to His purpose! And because we learn what it means that 'in Him, we live and move and have our being. In my own life recently I have been comforted by the realization that I am God's child! I rejoice to see my own children living happily, meeting and figuring out challenges, showing that they love me, yes, but also just plain enjoying life and trusting that I will take care of them. I think God is like that as my parent - only much better of course! Sometimes when I'm particularly worried or frazzled, it's been a relief to realise my Father LIKES me! I'm so thankful to Him! There are times when I require that the children do tasks that they don't enjoy, and that they find difficult. But in the very asking, I take responsibility to see to it that they have what they need to complete the job. And God as my father takes responsibility for the jobs He gives me! My place is to take up NOW what He gives me to do and do it! Blessings, Mary | ||
| Lindylou Registered user Username: Lindylou Post Number: 101 Registered: 1-2005  |
"Self sacrifice may be a disease" Hmmmm???? An intriguing thought. This may be a stereotypical statement - but I would venture to guess that women have this disease more than men. Not that that is a noble thing. I have struggled with this idea - that I should be self-sacrificing - and yet finding it contradictory to self preservation at times - a preservation of my heart and soul. ( And resenting the fact that the man in my life wasn't self sacrificing enough!) To think that my high ideals of self sacrificing were really a sickness! Now that is a thought!! I have done my share of whining and wondering where God was in all of my "troubles". I finally realized that I was thinking of God as a kind of grandfather in the sky - OUT there somewhere with His hands full of the chaos of the world and little time for me. But then I was reminded that God is SPIRIT - not confined to the possibilities of personality. God can be thought of as IN us as well as with us! A simple, but profound idea. Great thoughts, Mary. Thanks for sharing. | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 746 Registered: 7-2004 |
My mother was such a woman, seeing herself as having no worth except for the work she could do for others, yet I sensed that she was resentful that this was required of her. I use the word "required" because I saw the same thing in so many other Adventist women, and yes, they were unhappy about being required to be so selfless. Is this sort of "selflessness" really selfless? I know that Christianity asks us to empty ourselves of self so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit, but I have come to know that we are of immesurable importance or the Savior would not have sacrificed Himself for us. All I know is that at one time I felt unworthy, now I feel so grateful for the love that has opened all of Heaven for me. Of course there is the tension of living from day-to-day now without any real promise of what may be coming my way, but I know where my ultimate destination is, and I know who guides my life now. Belva | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2003 Registered: 3-2004  |
The way I see this "selflessness" is that when I do something for someone, I do it because I want to do it and do not expect anything in return. In fact, I do not want anyone to know what I do to help others. I am happy to be able to help someone else, without any "returns" or thanks. That way only God knows what I have done and I am happy to do it and I do not want to be acknowledged by anyone. To me that is the way God wants us to be. I am not perfect at this, but God is helping me. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2911 Registered: 12-2003  |
Mary, thank you for sharing not only Chambers but your own inisghts. I so love your emphasis on simply being IN CHRIST. I'm coming more and more to realize that the point of all life brings is for us to learn to surrender and to trust Him. Even when I realize I've failed or done something wrong, I have to trust Him to redeem it for all involved. I have to keep my heart resting in Him instead of fretting about "fixing" everything. I'm also becoming convinced that the concept of "self-sacrifice" that I learned growing up is not Biblical. I learned early that my "job" in life was to be sure everyone was happy and that I never offended anyone. (That was futile!) I'm learning that my self-sacrifice is not to other people. It's to Jesus. I have to be willing to surrender to Him whatever dream or desire or emotion is driving me and allow Him to fulfill it and satisfy me. If I surrender to Him, sometimes He asks me to "empty" myself for the sake of His being able to minister to someone through me. Sometimes that "ministering" involves setting boundaries that previously I would have felt guilty establishing. Self-sacrifice doesn't mean effacing myself in favor of someone else's desires. It means giving up my desires for the sake of following Jesus. He is faithful to reveal His will when we are willing to be truthful with Him. Then I become able to allow Him to love others through me. He alone knows what they need; He gives me the insight and the wisdom to know what to do in each situation I surrender to Him. I'm not excellent at this type of surrender, but I'm increasingly convinced it's what God asks of me. Colleen | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1006 Registered: 3-2005 |
Mary, Those Chambers devotionals always inspire. This one is no exception. Thanks for taking the time to post these. Stan | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 91 Registered: 6-2005 |
Mary, I have appreciated your quotes, I often return to them more than once. "God's command is - Take now, not presently. It is extraordinary how we debate! We know a thing is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it at once. To climb to the height God shows can never be done presently, it must be done now. The sacrifice is gone through in will before it is performed actually." I have felt called for some time to further develop a ministry that God has put in my heart. I have had plenty of excuses to delay....I need to get my business running more efficiently first, I need to get my house organized. (Ha) I need to focus on my family. And the biggies_ I NEED TO GET MY THEOLOGY STRAIGHT, understand all doctrinal issues, settle in the right church, and generally have my spiritual house in order before I can minister to others. Yes, I see the underlying theme of "I" in these statements. Oh the bonds of legalism and pride and that ugly snare! Gods response is in 1 Cor. 13. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. I spent the morning in prayer a few days ago regarding this ministy I spoke of. I was finally able to submit it wholly to God. I prayed earnestly for humility and submission. I realized that NOW was the time. I saw clearly the dangers of pride in waiting for my character to be perfected enought to be used of God. (Old life thinking again  ). I then read this quote again, and understood it! "The sacrifice is gone through in WILL before it is performed actually." I sent an email out to some friends regarding this ministry, to ask for prayer and mostly to put my ideas on paper and keep myself on track. One of the first responses was this: Psalms says, "Build up, build up and prepare the way for the Lord our God sits in a high and a holy place, but also in the hearts of those who are contrite and humble before him." I just love how God uses his word and his children to confirm what the Spirit is convicting me of! | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 139 Registered: 4-2005 |
Mary, Wonderful things happen when we no longer separate Rom 8:28 from the theme Paul is expressing from verses 26 through 30. This whole 8th chapter has been called the greatest chapter in the entire Bible. Paul continues - refering to those who are called according to His (God's) purpose, he says, "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, SO THAT He would be the firstborn among many breathren; and THESE whom He predestined, He also called, and THESE whom He called, He also justified; and THESE whom He justified, He also glorified." See how all these verses now flow together for the full expression of Paul? All things "work together for good...." because God foreordains that they should and will. He purposes that everything will work together (good days of blessings, and trials, afflictions, illness, disappointments, failures, persecution, financial struggles, painful relationships, etc. .... these ALL "work together" because Sovereign God designed, purposes that they shall. "God is doing His utmost for our hightest good." Jess | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 140 Registered: 4-2005 |
Colleen, It's an eye-opener for me, when I take that phrase "self-sacrifice" - - which, so often (based upon our past eronious education and mis-guided perception) - we religate to sacrificing things; sacrificing for Jesus we've been told. But when we look at those words: "self" and "sacrifice," think of the ultimate sacrifice we are called to make: the crucifixion of our old (false) self, our sinful-nature-self, the "Me, Myself and I" self that remains the enemy of God. This self is to die. Has to die. But after it dies and we rise in newness of life in Christ, that old "body of self/sin" does not disappear, does it? We all wish it would, but given (Me, Myself and I), and if it did, I would, without a doubt, be so very proud that "I got rid of Myself." Pride. Oops! No that old body of sin - the one Paul prayed to be delivered from (Rom 7:24) - never totally disappears (until glorification); but instead it begins to decay and rot away.....unfortunately all too slowly. The stench of our decaying old self, rises whenever we take our eyes consciously off Jesus (the Vine) and look instead in the direction of ourselves (the little puny branch); others smell it as "Me, Myself and I" whenever the little "i" takes over, in selfishness, anger, impatience, an unforgiving nature, lust, coveteousness, - - that whole bag of sins that is SO naturally us. So the ultimate "self-sacrifice" is the daily dying to that old self, daily crucifying it anew, as we aim and strive toward holiness, SO THAT we will take on more and more the attributes of Jesus, allow His glory to shine forth from within us, and thus we bring glory to God the Father. It's ALL about bringing glory to God. And let us never forget the "Good News" of Rom 8:31: "God is FOR US!" GOD Himself is for us! Not against us. He is FOR US! On our side in this struggle. He already knows (has predestined) that we will win; because He never fails and ALWAYS wins. One more reason to glorify Him. Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise FATHER, SON and HOLY GHOST. ~ ~ Amen ~ ~ Soli Deo Gloria Jess |
