Brothers and Sisters you are loved by the King of kings,
Until we come to the end of
‘self’ and plumbed the depths of our own sinfulness, we are not ready to be
used by God to share the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
How do we know Him as
merciful? Is it not, as He opens our eyes day by day, to see the depths of our
utter sinfulness? Yes! As long as we have a pretty good opinion of own strength
and capabilities, we will not be cast on Christ or trusted to carry Truth to a
lost world. Yea, we must see Him, as the God who is rich in mercy and ourselves
as without goodness, but for the goodness of Him indwelling in and through us. We
must grow toward Christ-esteem, not self-esteem! Self esteem is most often
caught up in living by feelings vs faith.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the
surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
II Corinthians 4:7.
God
is trusting sinful man with the preaching of the Gospel. But before they can be
used, it is necessary to know the wickedness of their own heart and be
astounded at the sin they themselves are capable of committing.
The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah
17:9
Oh the unlimited heights of God’s
glory and grace and mercy toward us.
There is nothing but goodness in our God. He demonstrates His grace in
His patient suffering.
The flesh may not appear in
an ugly measure for it can be very nice and accepting. The flesh will often fit
comfortably in church and serving God. Some preachers know only the power of
the flesh operating in them. Remember the flesh belongs to another race and is
not the life of the Lord Jesus. We are His treasure, not because we are good,
but because He is!
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite
of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite
of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting
each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Galatians
5:17
“The
more useful anyone is, the more he requires to be brought to an end of himself,
and to find, that his all is in the Lord Jesus. We find some of His servants
deeply chastened at first, in order to prepare them for a useful course; and
some after a useful period are brought low and afflicted in order that they
might learn how truly and fully our Father is sovereign. JBS
Run to the Cross! We are to
put off the old sin nature and put on the new nature. We are in Christ and that changes
everything.
Positionally, in the
finished work of the Cross and resurrection, we have been cut off from the old
man through death, and have been born into the new Man by the new birth. “Ye have put off the old man...and have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him”
(Col.
3:9, 10). MJS
The Holy Spirit stands with His great
weapon the Cross and renders the flesh inoperative! Experientially, day by day,
our part is to choose against the old (“put
off”) in favor of the new (“put on”), thus
allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to apply the finished work of the Cross (Rom.
6:11). “I have been crucified with Christ; and it
is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20,
To read further: Romans
6-8.Eph 4:22-24, II Cor 4.
This is the life God planned for us. It
is here we experience rest unshakable, joy unspeakable, hope that lives and a
future that is the untouchable promise of the living God. Even better is as He
allows us to ‘know’ Him more and more. There is an intimacy He gives that is
sweeter and more fulfilling than anything the world offers. We can know a satisfaction
available only as we leave all in God’s hands, moment by moment. We are safe
with Him.
Gracious One, You who
feels our pain and put our tears in a bottle, You who are the compassionate
Creator, our Savior. Your plan is good. Give us understanding and reveal to us
the daily bread of Your will as You enable us to release all into your care
each moment. Denying ourselves we choose to take up our Cross and follow where
You lead. You are all we need and You are enough. My eyes are turned from man
to You, for You set my heart to dancing and fill my mouth with praise and I am so
very thankful.
Blessed be Your Holy name,
az
http://www.gramzkidz.com a slug? A snail? Slimy? Actually an amazing creation of God! Go
to Gramz Kidz (website for 8-12 yr olds) and click on ‘By Design’ and be amazed!
Dove’s Eye email
devotional: http://az-doveseye.blogspot.com/
