Lord, I will follow You, but . . . —Luke 9:61
Suppose God tells you to do something that is an enormous test of your common sense, totally going against it. What will you do? Will you hold back? If you get into the habit of doing something physically, you will do it every time you are tested until you break the habit through sheer determination. And the same is true spiritually. Again and again you will come right up to what Jesus wants, but every time you will turn back at the true point of testing, until you are determined to abandon yourself to God in total surrender. Yet we tend to say, “Yes, but— suppose I do obey God in this matter, what about . . . ?” Or we say, “Yes, I will obey God if what He asks of me doesn’t go against my common sense, but don’t ask me to take a step in the dark.”Jesus Christ demands the same unrestrained, adventurous spirit in those who have placed their trust in Him that the natural man exhibits. If a person is ever going to do anything worthwhile, there will be times when he must risk everything by his leap in the dark. In the spiritual realm, Jesus Christ demands that you risk everything you hold on to or believe through common sense, and leap by faith into what He says. Once you obey, you will immediately find that what He says is as solidly consistent as common sense.By the test of common sense, Jesus Christ’s statements may seem mad, but when you test them by the trial of faith, your findings will fill your spirit with the awesome fact that they are the very words of God. Trust completely in God, and when He brings you to a new opportunity of adventure, offering it to you, see that you take it. We act like pagans in a crisis— only one out of an entire crowd is daring enough to invest his faith in the character of God.__________________________________________________________________
May 30, 2014
Journal Entry for Today-JDV
Lord, this devotional is a good one to follow on to our lessons about letting go of our need for rational knowledge of the ways You work. When I say Yes, …But, I am really saying I don’t understand how You are going to provide for me. I do not understand how You can make it all work out for my good. (Romans 8:28) I have abandoned faith in favor of my rational understanding and worldly comprehension. Lord, please help me to live in You with abandon, to surrender to You all things, not just the ideas, commitments and tasks that seem rational. Please help me to trust You with all aspects of my life. Help me to remain curious about how You will work in my life, not IF You will work in my life. I believe, please help me in my unbelief.
And God says…”My ways are not your ways. (Isaiah 55:8-11) And because you do not understand My ways, it is essential that you simply place your faith in Me. Trust in Me in all your ways, listen for My voice and follow Me even when it does not make “rational sense”. You have heard people say…”He is so heavenly minded, he is no earthly good?” Live that way. (Mark 10:15) So that you follow Me because of your faith, not because it makes sense to you or others. Believe that I will repair and restore your relationships, give you the income, job, house, car or whatever else you require. (Philippians 4:19)Sometimes you may think you require “X” only to find that you require something else entirely different. Just trust me to meet all your needs (Matthew 6:33) , surrender your life and your idea of your requirements and rational ideas to Me and I will make all your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus and everything you need, will provided, even though and sometimes especially when you do not and cannot understand. Just follow Me.”