If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16).We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, “Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?”

___________________________________________________

 

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

November 27 2014

Lord, thank you for the devotional and song that reinforces these recent lessons: that being connected to You is more than just being close to You, it is allowing You to not only transform my heart and mind but to also transform my circumstances and to keep me focused on Your issues. And Lord I ask You to help me understand the difference between my issues, the world’s issues, church issues and Your issues. Help me to be connected and engaged in Your issues.

And God says…”Acknowledge Me in all your ways and do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. I came to give you abundant life, and when you are connected to Me, focused on My will and directions for your life is when you will feel the most happiness, the most fulfilled and complete. Be thankful for your connection to Jesus and the spirit of God that directs you and provides the capacity and opportunity to walk in My will this day.  And remember to take up My cross daily, seek your manna daily. You cannot store up this connection; I meet you at the point of your need and happiness every day. Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.”