If you become a necessity to someone else’s life, you are out of God’s will. As a servant, your primary responsibility is to be a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29). When you see a person who is close to grasping the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been used in the right direction. And when you begin to see that person in the middle of a difficult and painful struggle, don’t try to prevent it, but pray that his difficulty will grow even ten times stronger, until no power on earth or in hell could hold him away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we try to be amateur providences in someone’s life. We are indeed amateurs, coming in and actually preventing God’s will and saying, “This person should not have to experience this difficulty.” Instead of being friends of the Bridegroom, our sympathy gets in the way. One day that person will say to us, “You are a thief; you stole my desire to follow Jesus, and because of you I lost sight of Him.”Beware of rejoicing with someone over the wrong thing, but always look to rejoice over the right thing. “. . . the friend of the bridegroom . . . rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:29-30). This was spoken with joy, not with sadness-at last they were to see the Bridegroom! And John said this was his joy. It represents a stepping aside, an absolute removal of the servant, never to be thought of again.Listen intently with your entire being until you hear the Bridegroom’s voice in the life of another person. And never give any thought to what devastation, difficulties, or sickness it will bring. Just rejoice with godly excitement that His voice has been heard. You may often have to watch Jesus Christ wreck a life before He saves it (see Matthew 10:34). 

_____________________________________________________________

 

March 24, 2014

Journal Entry for Today-

Lord, when I first read this devotional; the part about NOT helping someone in need because it might be the trial or circumstance that is moving them to you, I wondered. How could I know, if it was a time to help or not help? Jesus only gave us two commandments, love you with all that we are, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Clearly if we know or see someone in difficulties, Your commandment will guide us to reach out and help.  How will we know when to reach out and when to hold back?

And God says…”Not everyone that needs help, needs your help. You will know when you are well connected to Me. When you have decreased to the point where I am living through you, you can relax and let Me reach out to others through you.  On your own, in your own power, you can do nothing. And the very best you can do will still miss the mark. But when you are connected to Me, you can and will do wonderful things. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is Jesus, and everything else you need, including the discernment to know when to act and when to wait, will be provided.”