Faith: Me, the Living Sacrifice

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship." (Romans 12:1)

I received this note on faith a while back from a dear friend, who has always reminded me to sail by the stars, not the flotsam:

"It takes faith to lay things before God. It's not easy to leave them there. They're important and significant to us, and so to bring our grades, relationships, interview, applications, plans, Bible studies, responsibilities, concerns and other great matters (to us) before God is not easy nor natural. Thus the best testing of our faith is to go through trials that require us to cast all these things before Him. Will we trust Him? However, the test is not of God, whether or not He can handle them, but instead it is of us. It is a test of if we will trust Him with what is most important to us in such a way that we are willing to let Him do whatever He wants with them and that we will not try and grab them back. For we know that He works all things together for good. Once we make that painful decision to give Him our worries, the things we care so much about, then the power of God becomes known to us, and as we see the Creator wisely orchestrate all our cares so that all is taken care of, our faith is built and God has worked all things together for good."
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Commitment

"It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows." (Prov. 20:25)

I've been mulling over this verse a lot lately, considering different aspects. When I consecrate something as unto the LORD, it is my duty to follow through with that. Even if, to my dismay, it turns out much differently than expected, if I have made a vow to something, I must continue in it. I think this especially true with friendships, in that, they may go much differently than a heart wishes. But if already devoted to the Lord, if I promised a friend to never leave another, than who am I to reconsider this vow? Even if it would be easier to dissolve a friendship, the right thing to do is to stick with that which has been promised. (Of course, there are some exceptions, but in general) If I promised to always be an encourager, a sister in Christ, to another saint, that is what I must (yup, I said it, MUST) do!

I love the whole history of Saul and David...proud versus broken. I also love looking at Samuel's prayers and conversations during this time, and I have always been impressed with Samuel's attitude of prayer towards the people of Israel when Saul was first made king: 

"Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way." (I Samuel 12:23)

Samuel loved these people, despite their shortcomings, to pray for them. He was so serious about this that he considered NOT praying for them a sin. And so that's how I desire it to be in my friendships. I must have a Christ-centered love (that only comes from Him) towards those who it would be easier to never forgive.

After all, the true measure of love in the first place is how much one is willing to give for the other...am I willing to give up even the object itself? True love is saying, "My life for your life", esteeming the other better than oneself (Phil. 2:4). I'm not all that great...I don't have much to offer. But I can offer my prayers and support when everything else is rejected.

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:31-32)

Christ's Sufficiency > Myself

When it comes right down to it, we are all given that choice: to obey, or not to obey. But how many things are passively allowed into one's life that end up hindering one from fully following the Lord Jesus? When it comes right down to it, I'm finding that my own pride keeps me from obeying the truth...thinking I can add in my own "two cents" and earthly wisdom. This brings heartache, confusion, hindrances, and insecurity. But Christ brings healing, wisdom, freedom, and sufficiency.

Many a "thing" can keep a believer from fully obeying the Word of God. The apostle Paul refers to these sneaky, looked-over sins, as leaven. As only a little leaven is needed when baking bread to make it puffy and rise, only a little sin is needed for disastrous effects.

"You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is." (Galatians 5:7-10)

Put into context, Paul is exhorting those brothers and sisters who allowed the false doctrine of justification by works to creep into the church.

     vs. 7 - "...Who hindered you from obeying the truth?" May it never be that fellow believers are responsible for being a hindrance to another brother or sister obeying God. Where am I in this? (Hebrews 12:1)

     vs. 8-9 - I get the wrong idea by adding things to God's Word, trusting in the wisdom of man rather than God. Search out the truth, and God will correct...allowing bad doctrine in will blind me to the fact that I cannot justify myself. Lay before His altar the prideful thought that I can interpret Scripture completely by myself, and submit to Him the revealing of what He wants me to know in His perfect timing. God’s Word is not meant to be a mystery, but treating like a fun book to be interpreted however I want is wrong. Search the truth, and God will reveal it.

     vs. 10 - “I have confidence in you, in the Lord…”. Paul knew and had confidence in the believers because he was an apostle of God, not of men, and his words had the authority of God. He did not say, “I have confidence in you only”. He was fully aware that men will fail, but God cannot.

"And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, “Give it to the people, that they may eat.” But his servant said, “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?” He said again, “Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.’” So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord." (II Kings 4:38-44)

Soooo many lessons to be learned from this passage. A brother at our chapel spoke on this passage this morning, and it ties in so nicely with what I've been learning in Galatians!

     vs. 38 - Elisha as a type of Christ: whatever need the people had, they went to Elisha who was with them. "...returned to Gilgal" - Gilgal was the place that the people of Israel had originally been circumcised after coming out of the Wilderness (Joshua 4-5). We can see this as a picture of us being circumcised in a spiritual sense, that is, putting no confidence in the flesh. We must return to Gilgal, that place of putting no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:1-7) We must be reminded of this over and over again--not of ourselves. Man's wisdom fails. Be led by the Spirit. "...and there was a famine in the land." Is that where I am, in a spiritual famine? "Put on the large pot..." we must look to the Word of God, the food we need. Elisha gave them instructions of what to do, like God tells us what to do.

     vs. 39-40 - adding foreign objects is wrong! (Galatians 2:16-19; 5:1-9) Just a little leaven leavens the whole lump.

     vs. 41 - Once again, Elisha gave them instructions: go to that which you know (the flour speaking of bringing Christ back into the picture, the only perfect One, the only One Who can justify us). Reminds me of Jeremiah 6:16...stick to the old roads, that which is good.

     vs. 42-44 - this amount of food did not seem sufficient enough for the people, but it was made more than enough! Like when Christ fed the five thousand, He wants to show His perfection and sufficiency in weakness. He is more than able to provide all that we need. (II Corinthians 12:9-10)

Here's what I'm getting at...when I add extra things, I get bogged down. Christ is more than enough. He's where I need to put my confidence. How on earth do I do that? Well, for starters, I need to ask for help. Get in the Word. Get rid of the rubbish. Stop dumpster diving.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God." (II Corinthians 3:5)

Be ye warned...

P23

...ye pass this way but once!
I put that little sign post on my birthday cake recently, to give myself a reminder. (my family thought I had officially lost it...I've been coming close, but this is it! Ha!)
I pass this way but once. I pass by this age but once. I never dreamed that my 19th would be like this, but I musn't stop serving the Lord just because I wallow in disappointment.
I'm disappointed? God says, "I will NEVER disappoint you, never forsake you, never leave you." So I can only conclude that all of this is good, because it is showing me I was placing my trust and wishes into situations and people (both of which will disappoint!) rather than solid truth. The TRUTH is, this life is but a vapor, Jesus loves me always, and He will supply all of my needs.
Back to sailing!

Tears for Peace

TRADING TEARS FOR PEACE


With Christ in the vessel

We can smile in the storm (repeat 2x)

With Christ in the vessel

We can smile at the storm

As we go sailing home...

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Sailing, sailing home (repeat)

With Christ in the vessel

We can smile at the storm

As we go sailing home...

 

"...weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Ps. 30:5b)

 "Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]! Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. ...I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. ...And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it)." (Phil. 4:4-9,13,19-20)

Cry

"I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me." (Psalm 57:2)
"Let my cry come before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your word."(Psalm 119:169)
"I cry out to the Lord with my voice; With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble." (Psalm 142:1-2)
"In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry entered His ears." (2 Samuel 22:7)
"Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah." (Psalm 61:1-4)
"In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears." (Psalm 18:6)
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I have often thought of the word "cry" in the Scriptures to mean "lifting the voice", as in crying out, or yelling/shouting in a sense. But it has only recently occurred to me that when my voice is gone, and words in prayer are at a loss, the tears that flow are my sacrifice to God. He knows every motive and feeling behind each cry, and gives notice to my falling tears. May my tears be dedicated to Him Who hears.
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"You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me. In God (I will praise His word), In the Lord (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You, For You have delivered my soul from death. Have You not kept my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:8-13)

The Tiny Torrent

Reacting out of impulse. Nothing new in my day-to-day. But something I've noticed is that others may not think that someone who is naturally more "shy" can actually be very unwise with her tongue. Such is my case, I am realizing. Though I may hold my tongue (physically), that doesn't keep my heart from having a bad attitude about it, or venting to someone else, or writing something I shouldn't. So I did some studying on the harmful affects of an unbridled tongue (or pen, or "texting fingers", or even heart), and the blessings of one who uses it wisely.

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"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few." -Ecclesiastes 5:2

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." -James 1:19-20

"Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit." -Psalm 34:14

"The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. ...A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. ...The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so." -Proverbs 15:2,4,7

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." -Proverbs 18:21

"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless." -James 1:26

"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles." -Proverbs 21:23

"Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom." -James 3:4-13

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. ...She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness. ...Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." -Proverbs 31:10,26,30

"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands..." -1 Peter 3:1-5 (This is talking directly to wives, but I believe it can apply to all ladies, single or married, to take the servant's place, and view others first)

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There aren't an awful lot of things in the Scripture that God says are "very precious" to Him, but He counts inward beauty as very precious. So even on those days when I feel like I am the farthest thing from beautiful, the Lord will look at my heart. I want that heart to be made beautiful for Him.

Posterous theme by Cory Watilo