Morning Meditation

[anna274]

from My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)

for June 11

Come to Me ... Matthew 11:28

Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts.  Do I really want to get there?  I can right now.  The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words - "Come to Me." Our Lord's words are not, 'Do this, or don't do that,' but -- "Come to Me." If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires.  I will actually cease from sin, and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.

Have you ever come to Jesus?  Look at the stubbornness of your heart.  You rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing -- "Come to Me."

If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness.  Look how He used the word come.  At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord -- "Come to Me." and you are immediately drawn to Him.  Personal contact with Jesus changes everything.  Be 'foolish' enough to come and commit yourself to what He says.  The attitude necessary for you to come is one where you have made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.

"... and I will give you rest" -- that is, "I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm."  He is not saying, ' I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.'  But, in essence, He is saying, 'I will get you out of bed -- out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive.  I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.'  Yet we become so weak and pitiful and talk about 'suffering' the will of the Lord!  Where is the majestic vitality and the power of the Son of God in that?

[anna274]

from Daily Overcoming Devotional  (Ray Prinzing)

for June 12

TAKE OFF THY SHOES

...

Having our shoes on typifies a number of things, not all bad, by any means, but there is a time and place for all things.  As Israel was about to depart from Egypt, they were to eat the Passover with "your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand." Ex. 12:11  This bespoke a readiness, a preparedness  to move out at the proper time.  But, this followed the experience of Moses who had already removed his shoes and spent time in communion with God, to receive God's direction, and make sure that His presence would go with them.  Then when we do go out to do His bidding, it won't be with our old shoes, but "shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace."  Eph 6:15

Shoes are  made of many things.  Leather, representing the animal nature, or flesh.  Even though sacrificed to get the leather, God says, "Bring no more vain oblation."  He does not want our flesh, even that offered up in good works, but He desires a broken and contrite spirit.

Felt - which is wool and hair pressed together.  But we must cast off the many pressures of the world about us, if we would feel and be sensitive to His presence, Hear His voice, be led by Him throughout the day.

Plastic - definitely a man-made synthetic material.  Greek, "plastos" and meaning "shaped, formed" and the root for our English word plastic, is used in
2 Peter 2:3, "with feigned words make merchandise..." Plastic words, not true words, but words formed and shaped into trite phrases and empty platitudes, making just the right appeal, alluring and captivating, as they build their kingdoms.  Certainly a shoe to be put off, that we WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

Furthermore, as we remove all these hindrances to our sensitive walk with the Spirit, we shall discover that the very ground on which we stand is holy, because He is there with us.  Praise God!

[marie glen]

from My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)

for June 11

Come to Me ... Matthew 11:28 ....

..a resounding amen!!

I love how Jesus would "take time apart".. "rise before daybreak" to do so. If HE felt it needful... Oh my! How much more so for us.. Resting in Him.. quietly soaking up His Spirit.. It's our Only hope! Our only transformation. Nothing else works (surely?) and we deceive our selves when we stay away seeking it otherwise..

I believe that's why Hebrews says to "obey the gospel" and it was sort of a terrible thing not to!! But at the base? I think it's mistrust..? Why 'we' try to hang on to other ways to "righteousness"..
               :Chinscratch: :dontknow:


And the shoes! ..made me think of the boots of readiness..
Very nice posts, Anna, thank-you!

[anna274]

Marie, I'm so delighted that you are "meditating" along with me via the devotionals of Ray Prinzing and Oswald Chambers...  These two brothers along with TASparks continue to bless me ...  always, no matter how many times I have already read, meditated -- their writings always point to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, Savior of all mankind --- and always lead me to praise, thanksgiving, worship

from My Utmost for His Highest (Oswald Chambers)

for June 11

Come to Me ... Matthew 11:28 ....

..a resounding amen!!

I love how Jesus would "take time apart".. "rise before daybreak" to do so. If HE felt it needful... Oh my! How much more so for us.. Resting in Him.. quietly soaking up His Spirit.. It's our Only hope! Our only transformation. Nothing else works (surely?) and we deceive our selves when we stay away seeking it otherwise..

I believe that's why Hebrews says to "obey the gospel" and it was sort of a terrible thing not to!! But at the base? I think it's mistrust..? Why 'we' try to hang on to other ways to "righteousness"..
               :Chinscratch: :dontknow:


And the shoes! ..made me think of the boots of readiness..
Very nice posts, Anna, thank-you!

[anna274]

from Daily Overcoming Devotional (Ray Prinzing)

for June 13

WHAT OF THE NIGHT?

He called to me out Seir, Watchman, what of the night?  Watchman, what of the night?  The watchman said, THE MORNING COMETH, and also the night.
Is 21:11-12

There is a thrill to the words, "the morning cometh".  How we yearn for the dawn of the new day, HIS DAY, and the establishment of His kingdom in righteousness upon the earth.  But why this addition, "and also the night?"

Dispensationally, the morning came with Jesus, "the True Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." John 1:9   He was "a light to lighten the nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel." Luke 2:32 It was a glorious morning!  A gospel for the poor, healing, sight, liberty, the acceptable year of the Lord.  We would walk in that light.

However, "the night cometh when no man can work."  John 9:4 is also being fulfilled dispensationally, and earth is facing the darkest of nights as this present evil age comes to its close.  Thus the cycles continue, and after the night, praise God, we look for the dawning of THAT DAY.

Individually, we find these cycles also running their course.  When He lights our candle and the joy of salvation surges within, it is a new day, dawning bright and glorious.  Out of the dark night of sin and shame the word came to us "the morning comes," and He was that Morning bringing us a new day.  However long this shines, is according to God's processing for the individual, but in due time, "and also the night," followed.  Plunged into the dark night, the Cross looms on the horizon, and begins to embrace us.  There is an inner work to be accomplished before we come into that glorious realm where there is no night, but light abides eternally.

Do not fear your night experiences, learn to recognize that they are actually the entrance of a new dimension in God "The darkness hideth not from Thee; for the night shineth as the day:  the darkness and the light are both alike unto Thee."  Ps 139:12 He walks with through our night seasons, and we learn to walk in the light of the indwelling Christ, but the way is leading us into that more perfect day.

[marie glen]

"Plunged into the dark night, the Cross looms on the horizon"

shiver me timbers! I felt that down to my tippy toes!! ...life is a terrible thing..! I can't explain exactly what I mean..

    :smile:

[anna274]

re: ...life is a terrible thing...

Quotable quote from marie glen

"I love how Jesus would 'take time apart' ... 'rise before daybreak'... Resting in Him... quietly soaking up His Spirit... IT'S OUR ONLY HOPE.

[anna274]

in song

JESUS, MY ONLY HOPE  Crosby, 1886

Jesus, my only Hope, Friend ever dear,
Bend to my earnest prayer Thy gracious ear;
Come from Thy throne above, and my dross remove,
Fill me with perfect love, Savior, to Thee.

Jesus, my only Hope, grant me Thy grace,
Teach me in joy and pain Thy hand to trace;
Keep Thou my heart in peace, Bid ev'ry murmur cease.
Come and my faith increase, Savior, in Thee.

Jesus, my only Hope, Jesus, my King,
Help me with heart and voice Thy praise to sing;
Now let Thy beams divine bright o'er my pathway shine,
Draw me, O Savior mine, closer to Thee.

Jesus, my only Hope, be Thou my Guest;
Under Thy mighty wings, O let me rest,
Rest till the angel band home to the promised land
Bears me at Thy command, Savior, to Thee.


in devotional

from Daily Overcoming Devotional Ray Prinzing for July 4

LIBERTY THROUGH FULFILLMENT

And I will walk at liberty; for I seek Thy precepts.  Ps 119:45

Liberty - how overwhelming is the word, full of meaning unexplored.
Beyond trite phrases we have heard, into the depth of Christ our Lord.

James writes of the perfect law of liberty James 1:25, which Godspeed renders, "the faultless law that makes men free."  In all natural laws of "thou shalt" or "thou shalt not" we find restraints.  What kind of a law is this that makes one free, exempt from slavery thereto?  It is "the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus that makes me free from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8:2.

That the righteousness of the law might b e fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  Rom 8:4

It is a perfect law of liberty.  The word "perfect" meaning to fulfill, complete.  All the standards and laws of creed and doctrine, sundry concepts of men, will bind, they will not fulfill nor bring freedom.  The only freedom there is in any law is when it is kept, fulfilled, then you feel no restraint upon your actions, because there is no fencing in by the law.  SO THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus, working in us, fulfills all the righteousness of the law, fully meets its standard, and it is in this complete fulfillment that we find our liberty.  His life, lived through us, is liberty.  The indwelling anointing gives no occasion for the flesh.  "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain."  Under His inward rule we learn to live totally righteous.

With joy we proclaim that "they shall ALL be taught of God."  John 6:45   But it is "every man in his own order.  Right now God is working this out in His firstfruits company, bringing a release from the old nature of self, into the new nature of Himself, that we might walk in liberty.  We need not apologize for being in the will of God, nor subject ourselves to the bondage of men -  for IN CHRIST we are gloriously free.