The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.

We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.

It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College— its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

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October 19, 2011

Journal Entry for Today

Lord, the thought crossed my mind this morning that I can choose to live in Your kingdom or this world, daily, hourly and even minute by minute. I can choose to allow you to live through me, or I can choose to live my own live in my own ways….calling on You when I find I cannot deal with my circumstances. I can live a more robust, adventuresome life, curious about how you will manifest yourself in my circumstances. Or I can seek my own ways; running back and forth to you as I find myself overcome by the trials and circumstances of this life.

Lord, I am not really certain how it is accomplished, but I want You to live through me.

And God said…”Seek first the kingdom of God. All you are to do is to seek Me and My kingdom. Trust in Me regardless of your circumstances, stay curious and connected to Me. Bring your petitions and requests to Me and trust Me to know how to respond so that the very best outcomes are yours. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and do not revert to your old ways of doing things, and I will make all your paths straight.”