07/01/2025
My devotional reading this morning was titled "Let Us Keep To The Point", and built on Pastor Oswald Chambers' personal challenge of giving "My Utmost for His Highest". It presses the argument that we should yield to God's will always, and in every instance... without question. The apostle Paul instructed the Philippians on how to live in the will of God as we live our lives. He spoke to them about living a life with Jesus and aligning ourselves with God's will... without fear of death.
“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Philippians 1:20-21 KJV
When Jesus instructs us in the way we should go, and yet we continue to worry about what others will think or the consequences they might pay in their lives if we make that commitment... then we are questioning God and placing our will ahead of His. If God asks us to do something but we hesitate because we are worried about the ramifications to our family, or perhaps our friends, then we are questioning God. Chambers put it this way:
"When we consider what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He does not know what our obedience will mean." - Oswald Chambers
It takes courage and absolute trust in God to place ourselves within His will without question. In our previous scripture reading, Paul was speaking of disappointing God and Jesus by not showing courage when he wrote of his desire to live in Christ, or to die if that became necessary.
Whether it be a lack of courage, a concern for others, or our questioning of God's reasoning... this causes a separation between ourselves and our Heavenly Father. In that rift there is room for doubt and an opportunity for Satan to interject himself.
I recall a time when I was playing in a football game and during one of the plays I was running towards a hole in the line that my linemen had opened up. Suddenly the opening collapsed but room for me to slip through another gap presented itself just down from where the original play called for me to run. I hesitated as I wondered if it were the right thing to do, and in that split second of indecision a large defensive player crushed me. Had I reacted instantly, as I had been trained to do, I would have advanced the ball, but my self-doubt caused the play to fail and me to feel the pain of that failure.
When we doubt God's wisdom or will, we are changing the flow of His plan for us and in that moment of uncertainty we are allowing Satan an opportunity to spiritually crush us through our own lack of faith. Chambers made this point too when he wrote these words:
"He asks us to be our utmost for Him, and we begin to debate; then He produces a providential crisis where we have to decide - for or against, and from that point the "Great Divide" begins." - Oswald Chambers
As we live our lives of faith we should react instantly if we are to remain within the perfect will of God... and by doing this we will avoid the crisis which Chambers spoke of, and move smoothly on in obedience to God's plan. Are we prone to obey, or to question? Do we act instantly and instinctively to His voice, or do we hear it and then weigh it carefully against our own will?
“I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.”
Psalm 119:60 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I pray that as I live my life I will instantly follow your will and avoid the negative consequences of doubting you, and the separation that such a lack of trust brings. I pray that by quickly following your desires I will avoid the negative impacts that my moments of weakness will have on me and our relationship. Lord, give me the courage it requires to step out in faith and give me the strength of character needed to adhere to your plan for me, even as Jesus followed your will in His life, death, and resurrection. Holy Father, I know that by instantly answering your call and desire for me I might suffer, but I will also avoid the many crisis of doubt in my life and remove the opportunity for the sin that my indecision or second guessing of you brings. Let me walk before you always, and, through pleasing you, avoid the shame that my indecision and hesitation brings. In every second of my life hear me as I pray that I will have the courage to trust in you completely and to place your will before mine always. This is my prayer now, and I pray it for not only myself but for all those who pray alongside me. Hallowed be your name Father, and mighty the name of your Son Jesus Christ in which I have been taught to pray… even now.
Amen.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14 ESV
“And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.””
Luke 22:41-42 ESV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
Rich Forbes