The Opposition of the Natural

December 9th, 2016 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. —Galatians 5:24 


The natural life itself is not sinful. But we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way whatsoever. Sin belongs to hell and to the devil. I, as a child of God, belong to heaven and to God. It is not a question of giving up sin, but of giving up my right to myself, my natural independence, and my self-will. This is where the battle has to be fought. The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best. Once we come to understand that natural moral excellence opposes or counteracts surrender to God, we bring our soul into the center of its greatest battle. Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good.

It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh….” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24). That is, he must deny his right to himself, and he must realize who Jesus Christ is before he will bring himself to do it. Beware of refusing to go to the funeral of your own independence.

The natural life is not spiritual, and it can be made spiritual only through sacrifice. If we do not purposely sacrifice the natural, the supernatural can never become natural to us. There is no high or easy road. Each of us has the means to accomplish it entirely in his own hands. It is not a question of praying, but of sacrificing, and thereby performing His will.

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December 9, 2016

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good Morning Lord and thank you for bringing me to this devotional today. These words from Chambers’ message today rang loud and true for me…”It is the good that opposes the best. The higher up the scale of moral excellence a person goes, the more intense the opposition to Jesus Christ. “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh….” The cost to your natural life is not just one or two things, but everything. Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…” (Matthew 16:24).

This is exactly what You have been teaching us, Lord; the good we can and will do is the enemy of Your best. Not that we do not do good things, perform good service and help others, but that we are called to do these things out of our surrender of ourselves. We must deny ourselves; our own ideas, doctrines, service, and good works and replace them with your ideas, doctrines, service and good works that come from You living through our surrendered lives. Is this right? If so how do we do this? How can we be certain that we are living the best and not the good?

And God says; trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own ways, means and understanding and He will make your paths straight. Seek first the Kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and I will meet all your day to day needs. If you want to save your life, you must lose it. Quit taking a stand to support your views, beliefs and feelings. Lose the human big four; to look good, feel good, be right and be in control and live out of the big four I have been teaching you; surrender, connection, curiosity and obedience. And you do this by seeking Jesus at every opportunity during your day, hour and minutes.

It can become part of who and what you are as you learn to face every action and concern, or opportunity with Jesus. As you have been learning, you can surrender all your thoughts, concerns, and opportunities by taking them to the cross. Imagine and visualize yourself boxing up all your daily concerns and opportunities and carrying them to the foot of the cross. Continue this process every day, hour and minute as I lead you into greater truths and understanding.

 

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