Getting There (2)

June 12th, 2012 by JDVaughn Leave a reply »

They said to Him, ’Rabbi . . . where are You staying?’ He said to them, ’Come and see’ —John 1:38-39

 

Where our self-interest sleeps and the real interest is awakened.

“They . . . remained with Him that day . . . .” That is about all some of us ever do. We stay with Him a short time, only to wake up to our own realities of life. Our self-interest rises up and our abiding with Him is past. Yet there is no circumstance of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.

 

“You are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42). God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him— self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Pride is the sin of making “self” our god. And some of us today do this, not like the Pharisee, but like the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14). For you to say, “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable by human standards of pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. You defy God to make you a saint, as if to say, “I am too weak and hopeless and outside the reach of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.” Why aren’t you a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe that God can make you into one. You say it would be all right if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is exactly what He will do! And not only do we make our home with Him, but Jesus said of His Father and Himself, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Put no conditions on your life— let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for eternity.

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June 12, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, this lesson and song remind me that You are here with me through and in everything. It reminds me that I cannot and should not feel distance between us, even when I know I have consciously made a wrong choice. That is what the enemy wants from me; to pull away from you, believing I am not worthy of Your grace, mercy, love and blessings. And standing by myself I am not worthy. But you remind me that You are here with me through everything and I am covered by the worthiness of Jesus from which to receive all you promise.

And God says…”The sacrifice of Jesus was and is sufficient. It requires nothing more. You cannot add your value to His worthiness. You cannot add value by good works, or “Christian service”. And you do not and cannot “qualify” for His grace, mercy, love and blessings by following a “right path”. You “qualify” by believing in Jesus and allowing Him to live through you…through everything, at all times in your life. If you want life and life more abundantly, simply stay connected to Jesus;  through everything. Even in the times when you make the wrong choices. Trust in  the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own understanding or ideas  and He will make your paths straight.”

 

 

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