July 28: After Obedience - What?
Before reading from "My Utmost," I always go to the Scripture text in the Bible and read above and below it to get an idea of the context from which Chambers is speaking. More importantly, this also gives the Holy Spirit an opportunity to teach me the specific lesson that I need in my life on this day.
When I was reading from Mark 6 today, a vivid scene played in my mind. Picturing myself as one of the disciples who had just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed five thousand people from five small loaves of bread and two fish, I could feel myself swell with self-importance. "Oh yeah, look at me! I am one of the inner circle. [Smug look.] Bet you wish you could be important like me."
Then I felt the pin burst the balloon...Jesus sent the disciples away!!! I imagine I would have been standing there with my jaw dropped to my chest as I watched Jesus turn His back and leave. Indignantly, I would have turned to the others and exclaimed, "EXCUUUUUSE ME? We should be going with him! This is big! He needs us to gets the word out." [Translation: I would have needed to be with Him so I could be famous.]
Why is it that our human nature can't believe we are in God's will unless we have achieved the spotlight? Why do I somehow feel I have let Him down unless I can show Him a long list of things I have accomplished in His name? Even after serving Him for all these years, I still felt a sense of disbelief when I read "His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God."
Jesus, help us stay focused on Your "purpose for this minute." Help us not to crave "the afterwards of obedience." Please remove the propaganda of our society which demands beauty, strength, fame and riches and implant deep into our souls the knowledge that "if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious."
When I was reading from Mark 6 today, a vivid scene played in my mind. Picturing myself as one of the disciples who had just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed five thousand people from five small loaves of bread and two fish, I could feel myself swell with self-importance. "Oh yeah, look at me! I am one of the inner circle. [Smug look.] Bet you wish you could be important like me."
Then I felt the pin burst the balloon...Jesus sent the disciples away!!! I imagine I would have been standing there with my jaw dropped to my chest as I watched Jesus turn His back and leave. Indignantly, I would have turned to the others and exclaimed, "EXCUUUUUSE ME? We should be going with him! This is big! He needs us to gets the word out." [Translation: I would have needed to be with Him so I could be famous.]
Why is it that our human nature can't believe we are in God's will unless we have achieved the spotlight? Why do I somehow feel I have let Him down unless I can show Him a long list of things I have accomplished in His name? Even after serving Him for all these years, I still felt a sense of disbelief when I read "His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God."
Jesus, help us stay focused on Your "purpose for this minute." Help us not to crave "the afterwards of obedience." Please remove the propaganda of our society which demands beauty, strength, fame and riches and implant deep into our souls the knowledge that "if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious."
posted by Jane at 7:10 AM
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