You are…a royal priesthood… —1 Peter 2:9
By what right have we become “a royal priesthood”? It is by the right of the atonement by the Cross of Christ that this has been accomplished. Are we prepared to purposely disregard ourselves and to launch out into the priestly work of prayer? The continual inner-searching we do in an effort to see if we are what we ought to be generates a self-centered, sickly type of Christianity, not the vigorous and simple life of a child of God. Until we get into this right and proper relationship with God, it is simply a case of our “hanging on by the skin of our teeth,” although we say, “What a wonderful victory I have!” Yet there is nothing at all in that which indicates the miracle of redemption. Launch out in reckless, unrestrained belief that the redemption is complete. Then don’t worry anymore about yourself, but begin to do as Jesus Christ has said, in essence, “Pray for the friend who comes to you at midnight, pray for the saints of God, and pray for all men.” Pray with the realization that you are perfect only in Christ Jesus, not on the basis of this argument: “Oh, Lord, I have done my best; please hear me now.”
How long is it going to take God to free us from the unhealthy habit of thinking only about ourselves? We must get to the point of being sick to death of ourselves, until there is no longer any surprise at anything God might tell us about ourselves. We cannot reach and understand the depths of our own meagerness. There is only one place where we are right with God, and that is in Christ Jesus. Once we are there, we have to pour out our lives for all we are worth in this ministry of the inner life.
__________________________________________________
Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
I like what Chambers said about jumping in and going for it… “Launch out in reckless, unrestrained belief that the redemption is complete.” He then goes on to say, pray for the friend at midnight, pray for all things. We’ve learned that nothing works without connection and to seek that first. It almost sounds like he’s suggesting, just get started with will power and let the connection happen as it happens. Which seems like a recipe for disaster… What if we get started with our will power and then continue and the connection and Holy Spirit Nudge never shows up? Is it like another preacher said, “We start in the flesh and finish in the Spirit?”
One thing that will keep you from getting started is demanding of yourself to have all this stuff perfect before you begin. You will never get it perfect, so just begin. You’ve used the analogy before that it is easier to steer a moving car than one that is parked in the parking lot. Look also at Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water. It was totally in his human power to hike his leg up over the edge of the boat, no divine empowerment needed up to that point. I am not saying to just start off on your own idea and then ask me to come along and bless what you are doing. At least try to establish a connection each day and maintain it and live from it throughout the day. You won’t get this perfect. But you will get better. This is one place where your good intentions and efforts are noted and they do count. As you daily strive to live from our connection, you will get better (living more from my leading and less from your “Big 4 human motivations..Look good, Feel good, Be right and Be in control) and I will ensure that you get better at it. It’s better for both of us. So keep on starting off your days like this. And I’ll show you other “techniques” that will be helpful. Like visualizing. Like taking things to the cross and leaving them there.
Click Image for John White's Original Vision For CO2's
