Here is an excerpt from Thomas a Kempis that is very direct and challenging. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully and let it's message direct you into the reality of our call as believers.
HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE'S SELF by Thomas a Kempis
Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God? Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than the proud astronomer who knows how to chart the heavens' stars but lacks all knowledge of himself.
If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant and would not find joy in hearing others praise me. If I knew everything in the world and were still without love, what advantage would I have in the eyes of God who is to judge me according to my deeds?
Curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.
Whoever sets his mind on anything other than what serves his salvation is a senseless fool. A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God.
The more things you know and the better you know them, the more severe will your judgment be, unless you have also lived a holier life. Do not boast about the learning and skills that are yours; rather, be cautious since you do possess such knowledge.
If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance. Why should you prefer yourself to another, when there are many who are more learned and better trained in God's law than you are? If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.
This is the most important and salutary lesson: to know and to despise ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to consider ourselves as nothing and always to judge well and highly of others. If you should see someone commit a sin or some grievous wrong, do not think of yourself as someone better, for you know not how long you will remain in your good state.
We are all frail; but think of yourself as one who is more frail than others.
Showing posts with label disciple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disciple. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, November 20, 2009
How to Wait
This is today's Streams in the Desert devotional. May it be of encouragement to you!
How To Wait
"Blessed is he that waiteth" (Dan. 12:12).
It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.
There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?
No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.
Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.
Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower." --Morning by Morning
Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,
Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Saviour's breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest,
Peacefully rest! --Mercy A. Gladwin
-Streams in the Desert
How To Wait
"Blessed is he that waiteth" (Dan. 12:12).
It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still.
There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take. Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption?
No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God and spread the case before Him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead His promise of aid.
Wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him. Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come, and shall not tarry.
Wait in quiet patience. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses. Accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but Thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities; but I will wait until Thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if Thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon Thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for Thee in full conviction that Thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower." --Morning by Morning
Wait patiently wait,
God never is late;
Thy budding plans are in Thy Father's holding,
And only wait His grand divine unfolding.
Then wait, wait,
Patiently wait.
Trust, hopefully trust,
That God will adjust
Thy tangled life; and from its dark concealings,
Will bring His will, in all its bright revealings.
Then trust, trust,
Hopefully trust.
Rest, peacefully rest
On thy Saviour's breast;
Breathe in His ear thy sacred high ambition,
And He will bring it forth in blest fruition.
Then rest, rest,
Peacefully rest! --Mercy A. Gladwin
-Streams in the Desert
Monday, November 2, 2009
Number 3
Practically, how do you still "yield fruit" in a difficult season of life?
Number 3
3. Continue to be sowing God's Word by watering and planting
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
Press on in the Word. Be in the Word and share the Word. God's Word is supernatural. It's as simple as that! By simply meditating on it and sharing with others what God is showing you, a work of God will take place in people's hearts and minds. God's Word is a healing agent. Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
"Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." We are not to stop teaching or sharing God's Word because things get hard! There are different seasons of life but that does not change what we are called by God to do. 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
Press on in the Word! If you have found yourself without a hunger for God's Word lately set aside some serious time to get drenched in it again. A hunger for God's Word is something to be maintained. When you stop getting into it, you will stop being hungry for it...and you will stop being fruitful!
Number 3
3. Continue to be sowing God's Word by watering and planting
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 "I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
Press on in the Word. Be in the Word and share the Word. God's Word is supernatural. It's as simple as that! By simply meditating on it and sharing with others what God is showing you, a work of God will take place in people's hearts and minds. God's Word is a healing agent. Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
"Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." We are not to stop teaching or sharing God's Word because things get hard! There are different seasons of life but that does not change what we are called by God to do. 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction."
Press on in the Word! If you have found yourself without a hunger for God's Word lately set aside some serious time to get drenched in it again. A hunger for God's Word is something to be maintained. When you stop getting into it, you will stop being hungry for it...and you will stop being fruitful!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
WHY DO YOU FOLLOW GOD?
Why do you follow God? Really. Ask yourself. Challenge yourself. Ask God to search out your heart and show you. We live in a VERY self-centered culture. Have you brought that mindset into your relationship with God? I am convinced, that when it all boils down, there are basically two "types" of believers.
The first "type" would be those who just simply live life. They make their own decisions, they choose their own direction and live life on their own path of "choice." They then pray and ask God to "bless" their decisions and choices and invite Him to be a part of their life. They try to do the Christian thing when it comes to making decisions. They are caught up in the "rights and wrongs" of everything. Does God love them? Absolutely. And not any more or less than the other "type" of believer we will describe. But let me ASSURE you. They are REALLY missing it and missing out. Their prayers are a list of wants and needs. "God I want this car, heal my body, may me children be good, etc." There is nothing wrong with this. God is our Father! He wants us to lay these things before Him. But if that's all there is...is there something wrong?
The second "type" of believer is a FULLY surrendered one. They simply live for God. They learn to hear Him and recognize His voice (John 10:4). Their life is not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19). They have "given up" on their dreams and goals...well, they have given them to Him. Their decisions and choices are based on OBEDIENCE to God. They follow the "path" that He shows them. They choose what He has chosen for them. These believers are partaking of the spiritual blessings that they have been freely given in Christ Jesus. There is intimacy with the Father. There is "true spirituality" if you will. Rather than asking God to be a part of their life, they ask to be a part of what God's doing in this world. They actually take the Bible for what it says. They actually read it and obey it. They seek to be purified and allow God into those "secret" places of their hearts and minds. No holding on to secret sins. God has complete access.
Can you be a "believer" and live as the first type? Can you be an unbeliever and live as the first type...but not really be a believer? Sure you can. I'm not saying they're not a believer...but I'm also not saying they are. People can be deceived into thinking they are living for God when, unfortunately, in reality they just want God to bless their life. They're not really interested in living for Him. Please do not think I TOTALLY live as the second "type" of believer. But that is my desire. Is it yours? Why do you follow God? Have you counted the cost of following Him? Enough of my opinion on this matter...let's just read what Jesus said. He says it much more boldly, bluntly and seriously that I think I ever could. I have too much "people pleasing" in me. Here's what He says about following Him...
Luke 14:26-28 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he CANNOT be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me CANNOT be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?" (emphasis mine)
Matthew 10:37-39 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it."
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world, nor the THINGS in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is NOT in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the WILL OF GOD abides forever." (emphasis mine)
WARNING: We tend to always give ourselves the benefit of the doubt and we justify ourselves and tell ourselves things like "well, I definitely don't love the world and I know life here is short and...." so on and so forth. Let me challenge you to, rather than make yourself sound good in your head, to say "Lord, there is so much of me that loves this world...I am so focused on myself...I live life my own way...HELP ME LORD!" Don't puff yourself up before the Lord. Humble yourself before Him. That is the way of the true disciple. Remember the Pharisee puffed himself up before the Lord in prayer, the tax collector repented and was broken over his sin. Which are you? Jesus is coming back and your days are much fewer than you think. Sense the urgency. Live for eternity. You will be standing before Him before you know it.
I love you so much. I am praying for you. Pray for me too.
Your sis,
Rach
The first "type" would be those who just simply live life. They make their own decisions, they choose their own direction and live life on their own path of "choice." They then pray and ask God to "bless" their decisions and choices and invite Him to be a part of their life. They try to do the Christian thing when it comes to making decisions. They are caught up in the "rights and wrongs" of everything. Does God love them? Absolutely. And not any more or less than the other "type" of believer we will describe. But let me ASSURE you. They are REALLY missing it and missing out. Their prayers are a list of wants and needs. "God I want this car, heal my body, may me children be good, etc." There is nothing wrong with this. God is our Father! He wants us to lay these things before Him. But if that's all there is...is there something wrong?
The second "type" of believer is a FULLY surrendered one. They simply live for God. They learn to hear Him and recognize His voice (John 10:4). Their life is not their own (1 Corinthians 6:19). They have "given up" on their dreams and goals...well, they have given them to Him. Their decisions and choices are based on OBEDIENCE to God. They follow the "path" that He shows them. They choose what He has chosen for them. These believers are partaking of the spiritual blessings that they have been freely given in Christ Jesus. There is intimacy with the Father. There is "true spirituality" if you will. Rather than asking God to be a part of their life, they ask to be a part of what God's doing in this world. They actually take the Bible for what it says. They actually read it and obey it. They seek to be purified and allow God into those "secret" places of their hearts and minds. No holding on to secret sins. God has complete access.
Can you be a "believer" and live as the first type? Can you be an unbeliever and live as the first type...but not really be a believer? Sure you can. I'm not saying they're not a believer...but I'm also not saying they are. People can be deceived into thinking they are living for God when, unfortunately, in reality they just want God to bless their life. They're not really interested in living for Him. Please do not think I TOTALLY live as the second "type" of believer. But that is my desire. Is it yours? Why do you follow God? Have you counted the cost of following Him? Enough of my opinion on this matter...let's just read what Jesus said. He says it much more boldly, bluntly and seriously that I think I ever could. I have too much "people pleasing" in me. Here's what He says about following Him...
Luke 14:26-28 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and children and brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he CANNOT be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me CANNOT be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?" (emphasis mine)
Matthew 10:37-39 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it."
1 Corinthians 6:19 "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have from God, and that you are not your own?"
1 John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world, nor the THINGS in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is NOT in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the WILL OF GOD abides forever." (emphasis mine)
WARNING: We tend to always give ourselves the benefit of the doubt and we justify ourselves and tell ourselves things like "well, I definitely don't love the world and I know life here is short and...." so on and so forth. Let me challenge you to, rather than make yourself sound good in your head, to say "Lord, there is so much of me that loves this world...I am so focused on myself...I live life my own way...HELP ME LORD!" Don't puff yourself up before the Lord. Humble yourself before Him. That is the way of the true disciple. Remember the Pharisee puffed himself up before the Lord in prayer, the tax collector repented and was broken over his sin. Which are you? Jesus is coming back and your days are much fewer than you think. Sense the urgency. Live for eternity. You will be standing before Him before you know it.
I love you so much. I am praying for you. Pray for me too.
Your sis,
Rach
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