The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit….” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.

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August 21, 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord, and thank You for this day and this opportunity to be led by Your Spirit through this devotional. This line from today’s devotional jumped out at me; He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. This sounds a great deal like the lessons we have been learning about surrender being the first step in our intimate relationship with You. Is surrender such an important element? What about commitment, understanding and devotion to You? Are those elements not important as well?

And God says…”Of course commitment, understanding and devotion to Me are important. However, humans make commitments and cannot keep them. Humans want to understand instead of trust, and I can only accept 100% devotion…or complete devotion, 100% of the time. And you are unable to meet these standards, without the Holy Spirit living in and through you. Surrender (or yield as Chambers says here) is essential for our relationship. When you surrender (yield) yourself: your own ways and means, then the connection can be established between us through the Spirit of God living inside of you. Trust in Me with all your heart and do not rely on your own commitments, understanding or devotion to Me, and I will make your paths straight. When you fail to surrender or yield, I will cover you with My grace until you do. And recall that all things work for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.”