Now we believe. . . .” But Jesus asks, “Do you . . . ? Indeed the hour is coming . . . that you . . . will leave Me alone” (John 16:31-32). Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with God by leaning on our own religious understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is not deliberate sin and there is no punishment attached to it. But once a person realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and caused uncertainties, sorrows, and difficulties for himself, it is with shame and remorse that he has to return.

We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own commonsense decisions and then asking Him to bless them. He cannot bless them; it is not in His realm to do so, and those decisions are severed from reality. If we do something simply out of a sense of duty, we are trying to live up to a standard that competes with Jesus Christ. We become a prideful, arrogant person, thinking we know what to do in every situation. We have put our sense of duty on the throne of our life, instead of enthroning the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to “walk in the light” of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to “walk in the light asHe is in the light. . .” (1 John 1:7). When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation-just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood.

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February 28, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I am standing still seeking you and waiting for vision, direction, courage and hope…and the faith that seems to be growing even as I wait. Funny, I thought that the faith I was praying for would arrive all at once in a blinding flash of RIGHT NOW! But no, it seems to be growing a bit at a time. Perhaps that is the way the vision and direction will come…a bit at a time as I wait on you.

And God says…”Strength will rise as you wait on the Lord.  And you will find all you need right when you need it as you look to Me. Instead of looking for your circumstances to change, delight yourself in Me and then look back and notice how I met all your needs as you were not even paying attention to them. I even supplied the faith. I will provide the vision as well a day at a time. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. As you wait you will grow up with wings of eagles, run and not be weary as you take hold of My promises.”