February 7, 2009
"We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened" —Luke 24:21
Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer.
What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get hold of God (grow to understand His heart more and grow in intimacy in our relationship with Him), not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
~Oswald Chambers~
My thoughts:
Oswald Chambers certainly doesn't waste time beating around the bush or sugar coating his words. The truth may hurt but will set you free. That may have been his motto in life.
This particular entry really spoke directly to my heart. Why? Because this is exactly what I do daily. I burden God with a barrage of questions and accusations. I demand answers and justifications all the time. What I'm wanting is an answer I will accept. I'm not really listening for the truth. I'm not really waiting to just know Him. I'm wanting Him to prove Himself all the time. To show me why His decisions and ways are the best. God knows I'm not approaching Him with the right frame of mind. He knows I'm not ready to learn, to grasp the big picture, to just trust. Lisa Shay pointed me to the verse about how our minds are at peace when they are fixed on God. This is where I am lacking. And probably many of us are too.
Good wake up call isn't it? We think lust is only to do with sexual immorality, but really it is the wanting of something to satisfy our sinful desires, our lack of faith and patience and understanding. We tend to go for the temporary. The worldly pleasures. And sometimes we don't even realise it because we compare ourselves with others and think, "Nah, I'm not worldly. I don't crave for exorbitantly priced fast cars or the high life of the rich and famous, I live frugally and simply..." We have many justifications but where do they really stand against the truth, against the standards of perfection given to us by God?
"We were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened" —Luke 24:21
Every fact that the disciples stated was right, but the conclusions they drew from those facts were wrong. Anything that has even a hint of dejection spiritually is always wrong. If I am depressed or burdened, I am to blame, not God or anyone else. Dejection stems from one of two sources— I have either satisfied a lust or I have not had it satisfied. In either case, dejection is the result. Lust means "I must have it at once." Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer.
What have I been hoping or trusting God would do? Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God? Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track. The purpose of prayer is that we get hold of God (grow to understand His heart more and grow in intimacy in our relationship with Him), not of the answer. It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this. Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him. One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.
~Oswald Chambers~
My thoughts:
Oswald Chambers certainly doesn't waste time beating around the bush or sugar coating his words. The truth may hurt but will set you free. That may have been his motto in life.
This particular entry really spoke directly to my heart. Why? Because this is exactly what I do daily. I burden God with a barrage of questions and accusations. I demand answers and justifications all the time. What I'm wanting is an answer I will accept. I'm not really listening for the truth. I'm not really waiting to just know Him. I'm wanting Him to prove Himself all the time. To show me why His decisions and ways are the best. God knows I'm not approaching Him with the right frame of mind. He knows I'm not ready to learn, to grasp the big picture, to just trust. Lisa Shay pointed me to the verse about how our minds are at peace when they are fixed on God. This is where I am lacking. And probably many of us are too.
Good wake up call isn't it? We think lust is only to do with sexual immorality, but really it is the wanting of something to satisfy our sinful desires, our lack of faith and patience and understanding. We tend to go for the temporary. The worldly pleasures. And sometimes we don't even realise it because we compare ourselves with others and think, "Nah, I'm not worldly. I don't crave for exorbitantly priced fast cars or the high life of the rich and famous, I live frugally and simply..." We have many justifications but where do they really stand against the truth, against the standards of perfection given to us by God?
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