10/24/2023
Do you lay awake at night and plot the course you will take tomorrow? Do you make battle plans against the forces of darkness, or arrange your spiritual strategy for holiness? If so, then woe to you, because the seas we sail, and the battles we fight, are not ours. We are just sailors aboard the vessel of God, and soldiers in the army of the King. We sail for him and do battle in His war. When we triumph it is in Jesus Christ alone... follow His lead.
“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?”
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 ESV
How often do we become so involved in the battle between good and evil that we begin to feel it is ours? How often do we take such great joy in the voyage of faith we are on that we begin to feel like captains? We are victors only in Jesus Christ, and sail the great ship of our salvation as seamen, and only by the grace He earned. Listen to these words of Oswald Chambers...
“It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. The Victory ought to have got us so completely that it is His victory all the time, and we are more than conquerors through Him.
“For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ.” We are enwheeled [encircled] with the odor of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.” - Oswald Chambers
We are “enwheeled with the odor” of Christ; how I love that language. To envision a swirl of sweet and pleasant mist and to see ourselves at its eye; the focus of Christ’s efforts, and God’s victory. A refreshment to God in His absolute and complete victory through Jesus His Son... how wonderful!
This is what we represent in our mission, it is why we receive our course each day, and are equipped with the armor and sword of God. This is the way we travel, and the battle we fight, in our mission for souls. We are the perishable that is now imperishable, the mortal that has donned immortality, we are those who go forth in God’s army surrounded by the aroma of Christ and guided by the strong hand of God.
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 57 ESV
So in our victorious day, we should remember who the victor truly is, and who has freed the captives of darkness. In our victory we should sing songs of praise to Him as David did...
“Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;”
Psalms 45:3-6 ESV
Yet we often fail. It is such a tempting, and easy, thing to latch onto command of our own lives and make our own determination as to how we will live them. It is equally tempting to assume control over our spiritual direction. How many times have we heard someone say “God told me to...” when you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that what was being done had nothing to do with God, but with personal desire instead? Or... how about someone saying “Why did God Let this happen?” when in fact they had neglected God’s Word, and things fell apart?
Just as we claim the Lord’s victory as our own, we are equally inclined to blame Him for the defeats or troubles in our life. When we are heartbroken following the breakup of a relationship that we have prayed repeatedly over, we say “it is God’s fault!!!” Never mind that we had not been conducting it as God willed, or that we had turned a deaf ear to His guidance in response to those very prayers. Or, maybe it was a business that failed... the one that we never really prayed over, or that we claimed as ours when things were profitable, and then turned Him away as He tried to direct us in running or salvaging it.
And, since this is missions month, how about the calling and the mission we embarked upon that was really our own desire and not God’s will? It is so tempting to grow weary during God’s silence and assume control of things... even when it comes to presupposing what He would have us do... even if that presupposition is what call or mission He would send us on in His service. Who did we blame when that didn’t go well? Did it drive a stake into the heart of our faith, or return us to our knees? Did we blame Him for abandoning us, or humbly ask for forgiveness and redirection?
As is human nature, we want the success and victory to be ours and the defeats and failures to be someone else’s... even if that someone else is God. Perhaps or especially if that someone else is God... He is so patient, and His shoulders are broad.
So take stock of your spiritual position today, and ask yourself who the captain is of your life, and whose ship you are signed onto as a sailor. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask... “Am I assuming God’s authority over my life? Am I claiming His victory, or blaming Him for my defeat?” If the answer to either of these questions is “Yes” then it is time to repent. It is time to sequester yourself in your quiet place of prayer and seek His forgiveness, and to return command of your life to Him. Are you brave enough to ask these questions? Do you have the courage it takes to hear the answer?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being the Lord over my life, and the victor in every battle I fight beneath your banner. I yield to you Father, and give you authority over everything I am. Holy Father, I pray that I never blame you for my shortcomings, or seek to steal your victory and claim it as my own. You are the Great King, and the Sole Victor; you are the Glorious One in all processions, and celebrations of victory. Yet, you call us by name and honor us with fine robes and treasure for being good and loyal soldiers in your army. You proclaim “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased” when we obey and serve your will. Let my ear forever be attentive to your voice, and my will enwheeled by yours. Let the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ waft round me now and evermore. Praised be your name Father, and may my song be pleasing to you as I sing with David about your great mercy, strength, and victory. Holy, Holy, Holy, art thou, and Great is your name Lord God Almighty!
Rich Forbes