A couple of years ago I accidently kicked something and broke one of my toes. Up until then I really did not pay that particular toe very much attention; it was just a toe. But as I limped around for weeks afterwards, believe me I was very aware of that little insignificant part of my body! I realized that it was actually pretty important to my overall physical well-being.
In the world our natural tendency is to strive for the top; few children fantasize about being a floor sweeper or waiting tables or taking orders in a fast-food restaurant. Yet Jesus tells us that in His Kingdom the greatest ones are the servants of all; not only does He say that, He showed us through His own example in His time on earth (can you imagine the King of the Universe washing feet?)
Unfortunately, so few of us really seem to take this teaching to heart; for myself it has taken most of my Christian life to embrace the role to which the Lord has called me. Though I have long known that there was a calling on my life, over and over I missed Him in it because I kept imagining it as something big and glamorous! Only in recent years have I gotten a glimmer of my place in His Body, and that only because the pain of His discipline finally struck home for me.
My real name means "stone in the ford"; in other words, a stepping stone to get across a river. And interestingly, as I look back on my life I can see how many times He has used me to help someone get from one point to another in a particularly difficult time in their lives. So many incidents come to mind that I still cannot believe how long it took before the Lord finally got through to me: I am here to serve Him! And I best serve Him by serving His children in the manner in which He directs me. Through accepting - even embracing - this calling, there has resulted such a peace in my life, such a closeness with Him, that my only regret is that it has taken me so long to finally understand!
So, as you are climbing up His mountain and come upon a place that looks really difficult to get over, there I'll be: I am one of the steppings stone that He in His love has placed there for you; I am a guy stationed there to take your hand and - with a pat on the back and a word of encouragement - pull you up to the next level.
In this forum, if the messages He gives to me to pass on to you allows you even a small insight into your own spiritual development - your own growth in Christ - then I have done my job. And I receive a blessing from your growth in Him as a reward, for I deeply believe that as each member of the Body of Christ is lifted up, the whole Body is lifted up as well.
My prayer today is that God reveal to each of you His calling for your life; be it great or small, just always know that in His eyes, each member of His Body is highly valued - even the little insignificant toe!
One of our enemy's most viscious lies and greatest deceptions against the children of God is that the Father does not love us!
As the accuser of the brethren, he is the one whispering in your ear, "How could God love you, you ugly thing? Look at you! You are worthless! Look at all the bad things you have done!" He brings to mind your past: old sins, old fears, old disappointments. He brings feelings of depression and anguish and despair upon you. He does all of this just to convince you that God really does not love you.
And sadly, over and over we all fall for it. Time and again we believe that liar, rather than believe God's own Word: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.8:35)
And again, Jesus makes His love for you and for me crystal clear: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
Why do we all believe the lie rather than the greater truth? Honestly, isn't it because we each know that in us "lies no good thing". We are each painfully aware of how sinful we are in our old nasty selves. Left to our own devices we seem to always do the wrong thing. So, when the enemy starts in on us, he is not telling us anything we don't already know. In fact, all he is really doing is tricking us into focusing on ourselves, pointing out just how dirty we truly are inside and out.
So how is what he is saying a lie then? How is it deceptive of him to point out such an obvious fact?
Just this: The tremendous love God has for us is not because of who we are in ourselves! The Father God's unbelievable love for us is because of who we are in Christ! That is the greater truth that the enemy tries so desperately to make us forget. He is trying to deceive us into looking away from Christ Jesus back toward ourselves. And that is the lie in all that he says.
Truly, apart from Christ we are nothing but sinners and deserving of God's wrath. And if we are more sin conscious than Christ conscious, we will fall for the lies of the enemy every single time.
But if we will focus on Jesus, keeping our eyes - our full attention - upon Him, then we will find that in that wonderful Man - God's Living Word - we are being formed in His Likeness. We will find that as His Life grows in us, so does His Righteousness before God grow in us; and as His Righteousness grows in us, so does His Holiness grow in us; and as His Holiness grows in us, so His Love flows in us and through us to all of those around us.
And to know the truly tremendous Love of God is an experience that cannot be fully expressed in words; it is a feeling that is beyond feelings. But that Love is what God has for each and every one of His children in Christ; that wonderful Love is what God has for you, dear saint.
Romans 8:35,38,39 - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come; nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Keep your focus always on your Lord Jesus! Let nothing distract you, nothing pull the attention of your inner man away from Him, and as you concentrate all your energies into seeking Him you will find His Life growing more and more within you.
My prayer today for you, dear child of God, is that of Paul:
Ephesians 3:17-19 "...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God."
LeastOne </FONT>
Last edited by leastone; 6th November 2003 at 01:00 PM.
Leastone, I love your message here. I too have struggled in my walk, especially since I got saved so early in life(I believe I was 5 or 6) Your prose reminds me so much of Keith Green's. Have you read any of his books? How do you stay motivated to do your devotions. That is something I struggle with. Again, Thanks!
How do I stay motivated? Well, I wish I could say it is because I am "SuperChristian", but that isn't true.
At this point in my spiritual walk, I suppose my motivation comes from wanting above all to be pleasing to the Lord Jesus; I know all too well what it is to be without Him in my life and I really do not want to experience that any more. He knows me all too well - that I can get bored and complacent very easily - so He hid Himself from me for a long time until I truly cried out to Him in despair. And He has taken me through a lot of adversity to get me to the point where I finally realized that without Him, I am worth absolutely nothing to anybody else, including myself.
So truly, everything I have put in all my posts throughout this forum I have learned through painful experience - much "working out my salvation with fear and trembling" - and with a great many tears.
The points I listed at the beginning of this thread - and throughout this forum - I do my best to practice; and believe me, I did not learn those things overnight! And I am still learning them; it seems like the more I give over to Him, the more there is left to give. Many times I have thought that maybe if I live another 100 years or so I might actually finally get somewhere spiritually!
I guess I don't think about my time with Him as "doing my devotions"; for me it is more of a spending time with my best friend. I can honestly say that the more I get to know Jesus as a Man, the more I have fallen in love with Him as a Person. My attitude is that everything He has for me, I want; so anything He asks me to do, I will do. And so, I have had some amazing experiences with Him - although I don't seek them out; but He has asked me to give up a lot at various times too - although I don't consider those things as ever being equal with knowing Him.
There is an old saying, that "the worst sinners make the best saints", which is what Jesus is saying about the woman who washed His feet with tears, I believe. Something like, "Those who are forgiven much, love much". Sometimes I think those who have known Him the longest take Him for granted more easily. If you read my journal here, it took Him showing me the black pit of my own heart that really showed me just who I am in myself, and took away all my own illusions about how "good" I was.
So I guess what I am trying to say in this is I am really motivated by love: when I realize that this Man - Jesus - suffered the horrible things that He did, just so I wouldn't have to; that He voluntarily went through all of that just so I can be with Him in His Father's Presence; well, for me that has nothing to do with religion or obligation. That is plain out Love, and nothing less. The least I can do is show Him love in return.
Oh, I forgot your question about Keith Green...I have heard his music - if I am thinking about the same person - but I have never read any of his books. If that is the same guy, I didn't even know he had written any books. But still, I appreciate the compliment.
Hey Leastone man... awesome posts... i totally feel that humble Loving servant found in you through the Holy Spirit.. I was wondering if you dont mind to maybe tell me what you think about this email I sent out... it is how I feel currently... and am just seeking guidance... any help would greatly be appreciated.....
But if you do decide to maybe give me some advice here is the situation...
I feel as though God is calling me to the mission field... I don't really
care which field it is... I just have that passion to reach people that do
not have the Gospel... for people in the states seem to be blinded by this
materialistic veil... and while they have the option of choosing Christ as
their savior others in Asia, Central and South America, and Africa do not
have the luxury... Also their is a great need for missionaries in unreached
parts that also drives me.... The dilemma.... To finish my 4 year or not to
finish my 4 year... that is the question.... should I drop everything and
follow what my heart tells me to do or should I get my 4 year to have that
as a backup in case the mission field doesnt work... My dad (whom is a
Christian and who never ever has led me astray before) feels that , as well
as others, that I should finish my 4 year because it is a wise action, and
that I would be able to provide people in unreached parts with something (a
MATH DEGREE hahaha that sounds funny).... I really feel as though he wants
me to be able to provide for a family if that is part of God's plan... On
the other hand I, as well as others, feel as though I should follow my
heart... for God will provide... to tell you the truth I feel as though he
is speaking to my heart... I see no joy in going to a country I've never
been to other than the fact that I would be serving God and giving him all
the glory and also giving the people there the oppurtunity to have an
abundant and rich life in Christ... I have been reading about it from other
websites and it sounds like ALOT OF HARD WORK... I just want to serve him...
and I know there are other jobs.... but I feel as though with the lack of
missionaries and the fact that a majority of them are retiring soon it just
seems like He is saying "Go ... and I will always be with you"... also if I
get a 4 year , while that is a wise decision, I feel as though I'm not
giving it to him... I'm kind of like well Jesus I'm just getting this just
in case you don't really provide... My dad feels this is foolish for if I do
get a degree I can bring so much more to the table and also how do I not
know that Jesus is calling me in Lock Haven for here there is a great need
also... and he said he would pick up the tab so that I would be debt free
when I go into the field(but they have done so much for me, and to burden
them more is crazy).... so all money aside... it comes down to discerning
this call in my heart... is it just something that I have manifested in my
heart because of my passion for the Lord or is it him telling me to Go...
some people feel as though I should spend maybe another semester and
experience a mission trip (for I have never been on one =( though that
doesnt matter right =) ...first hand just in case I really don't like
it..... I know I would love doing any work that he has for me... I want to
get out of this boat... but yet I want to be wise about it and know that it
is from our Lord... like Peter said Matthew 14:28 "...Lord, if it be thou,
bid me come unto the upon the waters." I have been praying and fasting and
finding myself coming closer to our Lord... if anything this decision is a
blessing because I am learning so much...
> So the decision is should I finish what I started ( I would have 2 1/2
more years) then go to Bible School then Missions.... or should I just drop
everything and go into Bible School next semester.... or in the fall and
maybe go on a mission trip in the spring... I look back and say well it is
only 2 1/2 more years why not just wait.... but I do not want to disobey
God... I really truely don't.. if he wants me in LHU... I will stay and then
move on... I'm just so confused...
> Well I'm sorry that took so long... you are probably man that was alot of
reading... you do not have to respond if you don't want to, it's ok I
understand =)....but any advice would greatly be appreciated especially from
2 missionaries... I mean like Craig I do think about supporting a family...
and I have never really put anything into God's hands that big... but I
would have faith that he would provide... I just know he would if I was
doing his will... his intention for my life... for Paul says "To live is
Christ, and to die is gain."... I am so ready... maybe not maturity wise...
but I KNOW HE IS THERE... and I will just continue to pray and fast.... but
again any advice would be great... take care and God Bless =)...I will keep
you guys in my prayers =)...
You're right, that is a lot of reading! But I believe you answer your own question with the statement you made toward the end: "I'm just so confused". Doesn't the Scripture tell us that God is not the author of confusion? The absence of His Peace is a sure sign that something is not right. I have learned that that is when I need to tread cautiously.
Honestly, I have no doubt that you are called of God, quite possibly to be a missionary. But I will tell you something I - and probably many, many others - have had to learn the hard way:
When I first began really hearing from Him, He would occasionally ask me to do something for Him, like go pray for someone. I was so eager to finally be doing what I just knew He had called me to do, that I would immediately run off and go "try" to do whatever He asked. I could tell you some funny stories about some of the stupid situations I would get myself into by doing that; but basically those situations were what He used to get my attention enough to where I would ask Him, "Lord, you send me off to do this, then when I get there, You're not there! What's up with that?"
He said, "Son, I have lots of children that make that same mistake. From now on, this is what I want you to do: When I ask you to do something, I want you to sit down beside me and allow me to prepare you, so that when I say 'Go', you and My Spirit will go together and that thing will get accomplished. Do you understand now?"
All I could say was, "Yes, Sir". But it is a lesson I have never forgotten. In fact, later in my life He revealed that my real ministry would not be until the last few years of my life here on earth! He has used me as a "pinch hitter" at various times - to get one person saved and delivered He gave me a gift of Knowledge once; to get another healed, He gave me a gift of Healing once, etc. So, while I have known all my life that I was called to do something, He has been preparing me my entire life for just a very short ministry!
So, my advice would be to finish your schooling and keep seeking Him diligently. Living completely by faith sounds great, but it is not as easy as it sounds, believe me. We are all far too full of the world and our own selves, and need a lot of cleaning out before He can trust us and we have enough spiritual strength and wisdom to walk before Him with integrity.
As He has said to me many, many times: "You cannot teach what you do not know; you cannot give what you do not have."
These have become words that I live by.
Trust Him. For truly, apart from Him none of us can do anything for Him, because it is His ministry.
When He is with you, there is no confusion, for in His Presence there is only Peace.
4) Don't try to believe for more than you have faith to believe. Faith is like a muscle; it must be exercised in order to grow.
Wow, that's a great thought. As a new Christian, sometimes I feel that I need to really push my faith, when I do I start doubting. When I ease back and let him take control, I seem to get exactly what I need and my faith seems to grow.
__________________ Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
Absouetly awsome leastone, how often have I done just exactly what you speak of you advice is timeless, we all make the same mistakes in our eagerness to do God's will, we take off without Him Amen........Molly
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