06/01/2023
If left to our own devices, what would we be like? If God was withdrawn from the equation of our lives what would the solution then become? I don't know if I really want to contemplate this or not because something tells me I won't like what I find.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 ESV
As I read Oswald Chambers this morning he made some interesting observations. First he wrote:
"It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers with God and so many workers for Him. We would far rather work for God than believe in Him." - Oswald Chambers
I had an interesting conversation with a wonderful young man; he told me that he felt much more comfortable working on the periphery of things than in the limelight. I think that if we were honest with ourselves most of us would rather do our work without the responsibility of accountability. It isn't that we shun work, but that we don't want to be held accountable if things are not done on time or perfectly.
We have a tendency to deal with our faith in much the same manner. As Chambers said, there are many more people who want to work FOR God than those who work WITH Him. I served several years on an intercessory prayer team that met each Monday evening. If we were in prayer with someone whose electricity was about to be turned off, (and, if we had the means), it would have been much easier for us to simply pay their light bill for them than to trust in God to provide as His will dictated. Certainly, we would appear to be saints to the recipient of that "good work", but how would this bring Glory to God as the person received the gift that we had provided? Praying that God's will be shown to that person, and for a miraculous provision, or some other solution to be provided, places our trust solely in God, and we, as His workmates, should deliver the word(s) that He desires to be spoken. His spirit will then move on some benefactor, a job will be provided, or money will appear miraculously... and God will do these things and receive all the glory for His provision. In so doing, more than one person's belief and faith will be bolstered in the process.
“And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there.”
John 10:41-42 ESV
Each of us has a job to do as we work WITH God. Some of us will pray with those seeking Him and let them know that God hears their cry and is coming to their aid, while others will be moved upon to fill the needs of those suffering persons, or will help the needy to work through mental issues and the deep crisis of faith that are confronting them. Working WITH God requires us to trust in Him, and that we remove our own egos, personalities, and desires from the equation that is meant to glorify God alone.
The second thought that Chambers shared as I read my devotional this morning is the answer to my original question... "If God was withdrawn from our equation what would the solution of our life become?" He answered this question directly as he wrote:
"When God wants to show you what human nature is like apart from Himself, He has to show it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He only does it when His Spirit is at work), you know there is no criminal who is half so bad in actuality as you know yourself to be in possibility. My "grave" has been opened by God and "I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing." - Oswald Chambers
God does show us the human animal that is the true nature within us. I think He does this because just letting us see this animal in others leaves us wiggle room to escape the conviction of who we are personally! Sin is not the resident and nemesis of everyone else... it resides in each one of us with equal vengeance, and if not for the Spirit of God residing within us to displace it, we are at its mercy. Paul spoke of this in Romans...
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
Romans 7:18 ESV
Has the Lord shown you boldly who you have the propensity to be without Him? If He has it wasn't to abandon you, but to bring you to a point where you will desperately seek and embrace Him all the more. One of the greatest pleasures in having completed a journey is to look back on it, and see how far we have come. It is to see all of the obstacles that were overcome... it is not just about the wonders we passed along the way. Then as we are walking through those memories we will take even more satisfaction in our destination, and give God all the glory for the righteous place where we are. Let’s thank Him and Glorify Him today…
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your Holy Spirit and the fact that he dwells within us. We thank you for saving us from ourselves and the nature of sin that lurks within us all... waiting there for the opportunity to strangle us. We thank you for Jesus Christ who suffered, died, rose, and ascended into heaven as He worked WITH you to defeat sin and death within us. Holy Father, we thank you for reminding us of just how far we have come in our faith and love for you. As we remember who we once were, and see evidence of who we might be again, we shout your praises all the more, knowing we would most certainly be lost should we ever stray from you. Lord keep us always, and never let us return to those sins and that person who we once were. Keep us in your loving arms and allow us to dwell with you forever. Your grace abounds, and your presence within us leaves no room for sin nor evil to encroach... live in us always. Father, and let us be your vessel. Guide us through your Word, the Gospel of Jesus, and your Holy Spirit as we work WITH you in all things, and in these wonderful things we will give you all the glory, and praise forevermore.
Rich Forbes