cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him" (1 Timothy 1:16).
In any judgement we make, everything depends on our standard of measure. Many believers become content with the levels of ordinary Christianity. (Google image, Pure Devotions to God)
Although they may acknowledge that their own devotion is defective, there will be no deep conviction of sin or of the need and the possibility of any higher attainment.
But when we begin to see the standard of the New Testament and its universal obligation, we realize how far we have come short of it. We become convicted of the great sin of unbelief in the power of Jesus to keep us from sin and to enable us to walk pleasing to
God.
However impossible the standard is with men, it is not impossible with God because He works in us by the power of His holy Spirit.
To discover the New Testament standard of devotion is not an easy matter. Our preconceived opinions blind us, and our environment exercises a powerfully deluding influence.
Unless there is a sincere desire to know the whole will of God along with a prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit's teaching, we may search in vain.
But everyone who is truly willing to live entirely for God and desires in everything to please Him should be of good courage. God wants us to know His will and has promised by the Spirit to reveal it to us.
Paul—Our Example
Paul tells us that Christ made him a pattern for all believers, and he frequently admonishes the Churches to follow his example. In studying true New Testament devotion, Paul makes an excellent pattern.
Why should we imitate Paul when God gave His Son as our perfect pattern? Many look upon Christ in His sinless perfection as utterly beyond what we can attain. Thus, His example loses much of its impact.
But Paul, the chief of sinners, is a man like us. Christ proved what He could do for a sinner in saving Paul and keeping him from sin. What Christ has done for Paul, He can and will do for us, too.
If Christians made a careful study of the life of devotion Christ enabled Paul to live, we would be one step nearer to the absolute devotion to God set before us in Scripture. We would know the true devotion that is essential to a true Christian life.
Is there really a great difference between the standard of devotion in our churches and that of the New Testament? Our creeds honor God's Word, and we acknowledge Scripture as our only guide. A little reflection will suggest the answer.
Not long after the first generations of Christians had passed away, terrible corruptions entered into the Church. In course of time, the Church sank into the darkness of the Middle Ages.
With the Reformation and the preaching of the doctrine of justification by faith, there was a great revival of Christian truth. But it lacked the corresponding revival of Christian life and practice.
While we bless God for the Reformation, we must remember that it was not Pentecost. The spirit and power of Pentecost was infinitely greater.
Church history tells us that it sometimes took half a century and more before some of the great doctrines of our faith were fully understood and formulated. It was not given to one generation to develop more than one truth at a time.
All the strength of the Reformers was required to free the great doctrine of justification by faith from the errors under which it had been buried.
The full exposition of the doctrine of sanctification, of the power and work of the Holy Spirit, of the calling of the Church to preach the gospel to the heathen—these truths were left to later ages.
Even now in studying the true standard of spiritual devotion to God, we must beware of looking to the Reformation or to later ages for our answer.
Our only safety is in careful study guided by the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Scripture. God gave Paul as an example and a pledge of what He could do for us.
Therefore, we may be sure that his example of devotion, self-sacrifice, joy, and victory will help us find the path in which we can live pleasing to God.
(Chapter 2, pp. 10-13)
Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984
Copyright © 1984
by Whitaker House
Use by permission
Let's pray-
Father, help us become discontented with the level of ordinary
Christianity we see all around us. May we acknowledge that our own devotion is defective. We need a deep conviction of sin and the need of higher attainment.
Christianity we see all around us. May we acknowledge that our own devotion is defective. We need a deep conviction of sin and the need of higher attainment.
We ask to have You help us realize how far we have come short of Your will and way for us. May we become convicted of the sin of unbelief in Christ's power to keep us from sin, and to enable us to walk pleasing to You.
We find it impossible to attain Your standard by ourselves, but we can when You help us with the power of Your Spirit within us.
Our preconceived opinions blind us, and our environment gives powerful deluding influences. We ask for help to have a sincere desire to know Your will, along with a prayerful dependence on Your Spirit's teaching. We ask this in Jesus' name, and for His glory. Amen
10 more things our
God Is
Our Redeemer Is. 48:17
Our Teacher Mat. 28:18
Our Healer Is 53:5
Our Deliverer Rom 11:20
Our Resurrection John 11:25
Our Justification Rom. 3:26
Our Strength Phil. 4:13
Our Righteousness 1 Cor. 1:30
Our Peace Eph. 2:14
Our Advocate 1 John 2:1
Today's Bible verses-
and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens
the door, I will come in to him and dine with him,
and he with Me."
2 Peter 1:1-4 (NKJV) "Simon Peter, a servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained
like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our
God and Savior Jesus Christ:
(v 2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
(v 3) as His divine power has given to us all things
that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge
of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
(v 4) by which have been given to us exceedingly great
and precious promises, that through these you may be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust."
Today's quotes-
~ Cally Logan - The Bible says this on when to pray, “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is communication with God, and it is truly the most important aspect of life. From the Garden of Eden, it has always been God’s heart to have relationship with His creation, and prayer is the vehicle of communication in which that can work.
The Father knows your heart; in fact, "the Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). We can rest assured that it need not be the most stunning words ever spoken to Him; He knows what we are trying to communicate. Romans 8:26 shares He can even understand our groans into prayers. The Father desires interaction with His children, and prayer opens the door to just that.
~ Oswald Chambers- The New Testament teaching about regeneration is that when a person is hit by his own sense of need, God will put the Holy Spirit into his spirit, and his personal spirit will be energized by the Spirit of the Son of God— “…until Christ is formed in you” (Galatians 4:19). The moral miracle of redemption is that God can put a new nature into me through which I can live a totally new life. When I finally reach the edge of my need and know my own limitations, then Jesus says, “Blessed are you…” (Matthew 5:11). But I must get to that point. God cannot put into me, the responsible moral person that I am, the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless I am aware of my need for it.
From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition
Words of wisdom-
~ We're to stay alert to recognizing the battle that's being waged against our minds. Staying in continual communication with the Lord, we'll walk safely through the wastelands of this world, looking forward to eternity with Him.
~ As God didn't design us to figure out our future, let's entrust everything into His care, so we can have peace in continued communication with Him.
Where is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is within believers, according to Luke 17:21. When we're filled with the Spirit of the Jesus, and walk in obedience to Him, no power on earth can stop us from doing God's will for us.
We're given the Beatitudes (see Matt. 5:3-10) to guide us through each day's activities and challenges. It's Jesus' directions for a godly life. His wisdom is taught through them, and we can see His living them out in His earthly walk on earth. With His help, we can too.
Jesus gives us power to love those who are unlovely and hateful towards us, and the times we're persecuted for His name's sake. He teaches us to welcome His Spirit to help us forgive, be merciful, and to be His agents of the kingdom.
We're the ones who need redemptive-changing lives, to live positive lives for the King of kings. Through the Beatitudes Jesus gave, we can see how that can be accomplished.
Today's sermon spotlight-
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
Upcoming posts-
#4 Stepping Into Spiritual Life
10th- Thursday's post by Andrew Murray
True Christianity
12th- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes
#5 Finished and Unfinished Work
15th- Tuesday's post by Andrew Murray
#6 Temples of the Spirit
17th- Thursday's post by Andrew Murray
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| A glorious scene with evening hue |
Jean, thanks for working so hard on your posts
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure, as I take this to be a ministry, to help folks find information that helps them become stronger children of faith in Christ Jesus.
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