We are hard pressed on
every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not
abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our
body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in
our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for
Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.
The Right Handle
Precious Brothers and Sisters who walk by faith
and not by sight,
God was again teaching
me to live in an attitude of heart, which accepts everything, as it comes,
everything as from His hand. Everything.
When we
learn this lesson well, we will live a crucified life and we will apply this truth
in daily surrender. Partial surrender is no surrender at all. Authentic
surrender is to learn to accept everything, as from Him whom we love, as it comes. The struggles and trials are
never what we expect, nor are they great things to write home about, but the
daily bumps and rubs of life. Often I trip over the small things, the senseless
little nothings, of which I am ashamed that they so easily best me. Yes, these
very things are what can flatten a man in minutes and leave him shamed and
stilted.
While cooking over an out door fire, I reached
out and took hold of the pot’s handle, forgetting it too, was very hot. I was
instantly reminded and let go with a yelp, but was left with a painful reminder
of my foolishness! It is a good life-lesson when we learn to take hold of
things by the right handle. Amy Carmichael states: It is a very good thing to learn to take
things by the right handle. An inward grouse is a devastating thing. I expect
you know this, we all do; but it is extraordinary how the devil tries to ‘get’
us on the ordinary road of life.”
On the ordinary road our ‘feelings’ are in conflict, engaging in a war with what we know is true. Our feelings can easily overwhelm
us and open the door to discouragement. Run to Jesus and be reminded you are
‘in Christ’, your strength and position are eternal. All is well. Go deep in
Him who is your joy and song. Deep in the Lover of your soul, obeying His word.
Go deep in Him who is your Mighty Warrior; for nothing less can keep you to the
end.
We want to be saved from our
misery, but not from our sin. We want to sin without misery, just as the
prodigal son wanted inheritance without the father. The foremost spiritual law
of the physical universe is that this hope can never be realized. Sin always
accompanies misery. There is no victimless crime, and all creation is subject
to decay because of humanity’s rebellion from God.”
― R.C. Sproul, Choosing My Religion
― R.C. Sproul, Choosing My Religion
Jesus alone is the right handle in time of
trouble; especially when one thing after another is going wrong and you seem to
be losing ground. By faith take hold of the right handle, for this is when the
enemy of your soul whispers his lie Especially about what ‘should be’ or ‘might
have been’? What do we do? We go on steadfastly in faith, choosing obedience,
one step at a time doing what we know is right. The love of Christ compels us.
II Corinthians 5:14 NLT
Either
way, Christ’s love controls (compels) us. Since we believe that Christ died for
all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
Compel: to force or oblige (someone) to do something
• to bring about (something) by the use of force
or pressure
• poetic/literary drive forcibly
for we
walk by faith, not by sight— II Corinthians 5:7
Oh that we would walk in
a conscious awareness of His sweet Presence! Yet, it is not a
requirement if we are no longer babes in Christ. It is joy to have such
feelings; but as you mature, you will progress to the point that feelings are
not required. You know He is near you and in you. The eternal thing, the great
thing is not my feelings, but
His facts. So even as we struggle on this earthly journey, it is always a
faith-test and we can honor and glorify His name by
trusting Him in faith, no
matter how we are feeling. I find pleasing Him is far more important than
pleasing myself.
Therefore we do not
lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are
being renewed day by day. For
our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far
outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18
Mighty Warrior, You who hear every beat of my
heart and love me beyond understanding, hear my prayer for my sisters and
brothers who struggle with life and ‘feelings’ and obeying You and loving You.
Transform each us into the likeness of Your Son, the Sacrifice Lamb. Give us
understanding to walk by faith and believe You keep us and love us, faithful
Father. Lord work in our hearts to love you and desire to please You more than
ourselves. Life can knock us down and then dance in death on our backs, while we
cry out helpless to deliver ourselves. Keep us faithful in all we do not
understand and give us faith to believe You, our Deliverer, are greater than
all the enemy can heave at us. You love us immeasurably and I bow in awe and
praise of You. In Your Son’s name, amen
Praying for you all this week,
az
