August 18: Have You Ever Been Expressionless with Sorrow
Yes, I know. If this is the first time you have ever read this particular devotion, you are confused and feeling ill at ease. What in the world is Chambers implying?
You know the slogan "The few, the proud...the Marines." The idea is that only a few are exceptional enough to be willing to aim for the high standards of the Marine corp. This is the same message that Chambers is sending to all Christians who read today's comments.
Are you willing to not only listen, but really hear, what Jesus is asking of you? Are you wanting more than "fire insurance" out of your relationship with God? Are you willing to submit to the rigorous training and discipline that it takes to become a powerful soldier of the cross? The benefits - the power, the wisdom, the peace - are incredible, but they are attained at a high cost, the emptying of yourself. Paul spoke of this in Philippians 2:17 and II Timothy 4:6 when he said "I am being poured out like a drink offering."
About twenty years ago I became hungry to have all that Jesus could give me and promised Him that I would give every kingdom of my life to Him. I didn't know just how unsettling that process would be. At one point, I cried out to Him, "Lord, I feel like you are peeling off layers of my personality like layers of an onion. Now I'm down to that little skinny core of the onion in the middle, and if You don't hurry and redress me, there will soon be nothing left!!"
But He did redress me! And I'm so much happier with the new me than I was with the old. You are all such special people. I know that you have what it takes to be one of the elite. I pray that you will be brave enough to "be poured out" to become the spiritual giant I know you can be!!
You know the slogan "The few, the proud...the Marines." The idea is that only a few are exceptional enough to be willing to aim for the high standards of the Marine corp. This is the same message that Chambers is sending to all Christians who read today's comments.
Are you willing to not only listen, but really hear, what Jesus is asking of you? Are you wanting more than "fire insurance" out of your relationship with God? Are you willing to submit to the rigorous training and discipline that it takes to become a powerful soldier of the cross? The benefits - the power, the wisdom, the peace - are incredible, but they are attained at a high cost, the emptying of yourself. Paul spoke of this in Philippians 2:17 and II Timothy 4:6 when he said "I am being poured out like a drink offering."
About twenty years ago I became hungry to have all that Jesus could give me and promised Him that I would give every kingdom of my life to Him. I didn't know just how unsettling that process would be. At one point, I cried out to Him, "Lord, I feel like you are peeling off layers of my personality like layers of an onion. Now I'm down to that little skinny core of the onion in the middle, and if You don't hurry and redress me, there will soon be nothing left!!"
But He did redress me! And I'm so much happier with the new me than I was with the old. You are all such special people. I know that you have what it takes to be one of the elite. I pray that you will be brave enough to "be poured out" to become the spiritual giant I know you can be!!
posted by Jane at 4:52 AM
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