¨Woe to you, hypocrite scribes and Pharisees, because you go the rounds of the sea and the land to make one proselyte, and when you get him you make him more of a candidate for hell twice over than you are yourselves.¨ Matthew 23:15 (Byington)
The Christian is a marvelous creature. Once we think we are sufficiently converted and pointed off in the right direction, we are anxious to do something for the Lord. We imagine that the Lord has a task and a purpose for us to go out and spread the good news of Him. We are anxious to share what He has done in our lives. This is normal and good and should not have a downside at all except for the fact that as our souls are being renewed and we are becoming new creatures, the old nature probably isn´t done with us just yet.
It may be popular today to throw off obligation, responsibility and further concern for the state of our heart and try to stand out on a bold declaration of faith. Like a get-out-of-jail card in our hand, we would like to think that there is nothing further to be done and we are proving our faith by a loud and determined proclamation. As if by saying that we are saved, that will magically correct all the devious tricks of our fallen earthly nature and our worldly tendencies of heart.
Unfortunately though, we might be overlooking the fact that all things are not to be adjusted to us, but to our Father who is in Heaven. Our faith is not a once-done act but a walk and a journey. It goes FROM the worldly minded being we once were and TO a God seeking individual who lives and breathes for purposes outside of him or herself. This WALK is in a Way in which everything is directed towards and intended for One who is above. Even though what is happening to us affects us, it is not about us nor owed to us in any way but rather to honor the One who designed it all and is carrying out His purposes.
What this means is that we are fallen creatures which are rescued from a tragic state and a tragic destiny. These are positive results indeed as long as what they are directed towards stays pure. We are correctly saved from living to please ourselves and chase our own personal objectives, and now free to seek the will of One greater than us. We are free to live now to please Him, walk with Him and bow to worship Him. Our entire being is now changed to a vessel which is to be filled more and more every day and drawn closer and closer to the great heart of the Lord in heaven.
This God whom we serve is a superior being and is external to us. Therefore it is essential to be so enveloped and enraptured with Him that we see and hear clearly His voice and His movements amongst us in His creation. This comes not from us and is not something we do by our own effort. There is no merit in charging off on our own fancied mission.
Jesus can and will use each of His servants. But it is not for the servant to define his or her own work. His true messengers might not even be aware of their service to others because they are so wrapped up in getting closer to Jesus. We are right only when we are IN Him. We are only doing His will when we are with Him. We are only pleasing the Lord when what we are doing, feeling and living are 100% directed to Him.
Dear Lord, never let us charge off to win souls and take our attention from You to do it. Please help us to concern ourselves first and always unto You. If in Your wisdom and grace, others may be moved to approach You too, then glory and honor will be Yours. This is our prayer today.
Amen
Searching For Christ 
Leave a comment