Deserter or Disciple?

December 29th, 2014 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. —John 6:66


When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must “walk in the light” of that vision (1 John 1:7). Even though your mind and soul may be thrilled by it, if you don’t “walk in the light” of it you will sink to a level of bondage never envisioned by our Lord. Mentally disobeying the “heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19) will make you a slave to ideas and views that are completely foreign to Jesus Christ. Don’t look at someone else and say, “Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?” You have to “walk in the light” of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them.
When you find that one of your favorite and strongly held views clashes with the “heavenly vision,” do not begin to debate it. If you do, a sense of property and personal right will emerge in you— things on which Jesus placed no value. He was against these things as being the root of everything foreign to Himself— “…for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching.Our tendency is to lie back and bask in the memory of the wonderful experience we had when God revealed His will to us. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth. You can never be the same after the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.
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December 29 2014

Journal Entry form Today-JDV

Lord, sometimes I think Oswald Chambers was simply a spiritual “drill instructor”, focused on guiding his students to a preparedness that would help them sustain their energy and hope in a difficult struggle. However, I often read his devotionals and think, “How could that have come from the Spirit?”  Now he is writing about how we regress if we do not follow the vision; that we “back slide” unless we demonstrate more focus and discipline. That sounds way too much like, “God’s done His part now I must do my part”.   But You have been teaching us that there is only one part; Your part.   Jesus has already done it all, we are simply to surrender and trust You. The discipline and focus may follow immediately, or not, but You are the answer to all of our questions. We have but to surrender to You and allow You to bring about our transformation and the discipline and focus that follow.

You have been teaching us about how we regress if we rely on our own strength and discipline.  How do I reconcile Your teaching on surrender and Chambers’ focus on personal discipline and focus?

And God says…”Since time memoriam humans have taken My desire for a relationship and turned it into something else entirely. In the garden, Adam and Eve had their own ideas about our relationship. Abraham could not wait for the vision to materialize, and the wandering Israelites wanted rules. Peter wanted to build tents for Elijah, Moses and Jesus in the garden. It seems that “Good Christians” always want to “do something”. And a great many spiritual leaders cannot wait for the transformation and actions of the Spirit to take place and as humans you continue to try and create caveats, rules, and quid pro quo circumstances. Recall that Jesus only gave you two commandments; love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

“Chambers just like many, many other “spiritual leaders” wants to help accelerate spiritual growth and discipline. However, when you first trust in the Lord and do not rely on your own understandings….and ways and means, including self-discipline and focus, I make your paths straight.  Your discipline and focus will come not as the result of your efforts but as a result of your surrender to Me.  And make no mistake, discipline and focus are key elements of your growth; however they must, and will, come from the Spirit as a result of your daily, hourly and minute by minute relationship and surrender to Jesus.”

 

 

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