Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it— to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16 — “I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call— the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.

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March 5, 2014

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, I am not sure about the notion that there is a specific purpose for which I was created, and all that I must do is “discover” the purpose You have laid out for me. I know we spend a lot of time contemplating and searching for the “niche” in life we have been taught is laid out by You. I used to have the idea that all I needed to be fulfilled was to learn my calling and then pursue it.  However, lately I have wondered. I cannot imagine that You would be anything less that crystal clear in communicating Your direction and calling for my life. I cannot imagine that I must go looking for my calling. If it is truly my calling I suspect there will be no doubt and You will, like always, be crystal clear.

And God says…”There is no search required, just surrender. You cannot “figure out” or “discern” the mind of God. And your logic has no place in discovering or understanding My plans. You cannot fit Me into your ideas of what is or is not “My way”. Simply trust Me with all your heart, and let go off your own notions of service. When you are surrendered and connected to me I can live and serve through you. When you seek Jesus first, you are transformed and certain about your next steps… the next few steps. I light your way like a lamp, a step or two at a time. And as you continue to live connected to Me, and believe I will meet all your needs, I roll out your vision and your path (s) for service one hour, one day, at a time. And when I bring you to it, you can rest assured that I will bring you through it. Trust in Me with all our heart and do not rely on your own understanding or abilities, and I will make your paths straight.”

It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.What do I count in my life as “dear to myself”? If I have not been seized by Jesus Christ and have not surrendered myself to Him, I will consider the time I decide to give God and my own ideas of service as dear. I will also consider my own life as “dear to myself.” But Paul said he considered his life dear so that he might fulfill the ministry he had received, and he refused to use his energy on anything else. This verse shows an almost noble annoyance by Paul at being asked to consider himself. He was absolutely indifferent to any consideration other than that of fulfilling the ministry he had received. Our ordinary and reasonable service to God may actually compete against our total surrender to Him. Our reasonable work is based on the following argument which we say to ourselves, “Remember how useful you are here, and think how much value you would be in that particular type of work.” That attitude chooses our own judgment, instead of Jesus Christ, to be our guide as to where we should go and where we could be used the most. Never consider whether or not you are of use— but always consider that “you are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19). You are His.

 

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March 4, 2014

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, thank You for reminding me with the devotional and music, that we can do anything when we are connected to You. However, every time I face a major trial or threatening circumstance, I freeze up a bit. It is not that I believe You cannot quiet the storm or rescue me from the “edge” of disaster. I believe You are God and can do anything. But I wonder and question my worthiness. Why would You want to lift me up, and save me from disaster or provide for me given my tendency to stray?  I know you can do anything God. But I question your willingness to do anything for me.

And God says…”The enemy wants you to believe that you are not worthy, and of course, on your own you are not worthy. However, Jesus is worthy and as a result of His sacrifice, you become worthy. You are worthy because of Jesus, not because of anything you have done; or will do.

When I look at you, I see Jesus, and His perfection, and I will meet all your needs. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will meet every need you have. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. You are not required to do anything except believe in Jesus. And when you surrender your attempts at “being a better person or better Christian” and simply let Jesus live through you, you discover a victorious and abundant life.”

This is love in the making. The love of God is not created— it is His nature. When we receive the life of Christ through the Holy Spirit, He unites us with God so that His love is demonstrated in us. The goal of the indwelling Holy Spirit is not just to unite us with God, but to do it in such a way that we will be one with the Father in exactly the same way Jesus was. And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).Peter now realizes that he does love Him, due to the revelation that came with the Lord’s piercing question. The Lord’s next point is— “Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ’Feed My sheep.’ ” Jesus has some extraordinarily peculiar sheep: some that are unkempt and dirty, some that are awkward or pushy, and some that have gone astray! But it is impossible to exhaust God’s love, and it is impossible to exhaust my love if it flows from the Spirit of God within me. The love of God pays no attention to my prejudices caused by my natural individuality. If I love my Lord, I have no business being guided by natural emotions— I have to feed His sheep. We will not be delivered or released from His commission to us. Beware of counterfeiting the love of God by following your own natural human emotions, sympathies, or understandings. That will only serve to revile and abuse the true love of God.

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March 3, 2014

Journal for Today-JDV

Father God, thank you for the reminder that the love, power, and grace to feed Your sheep comes from Jesus. In my best natural condition, I am neither able nor qualified to represent You to others. And even if I do say the right things, and reference the proper scriptures, in my best natural condition, I am not able to “feed Your sheep”. Thank You for reminding me that I am only able to “feed Your sheep” when I am connected to You and Jesus is living through me. Jesus, please live through me this day.

And God says…” You are a vessel through which I can  reach and serve others. I can reach others any way that I choose; and often reach them through the natural wonders and heavenly bodies of the universe. However, when you and I are connected and Jesus is living though you; you can touch others and we are all blessed. Often, when we are connected you will not even be aware that you are feeding My sheep, it simply occurs as a matter of course in your day to day, and hour by hour living. The lesson is the same once again; be connected to Jesus and everything else, including feeding my sheep can and will flow out of our connection. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus,  and everything else you need, including the blessing of feeding My sheep will be provided.”