GOD’S WORD FOR MAY 28

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES;

      JESUS, YOU…. STRENGTHEN ME WITH ALL MIGHT –Col. 1:11

       JESUS, YOU….GIVE ME PATIENCE AND LONGSUFFERING – Col. 1:11   

     JESUS, YOU….GIVE ME JOY —Col. 1:11

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We’re continuing in Andrew Murray’s “Abiding in Christ”–  The beloved classic.   The chapter is “forsaking all for Him.”

THE WORD FOR TODAY

Romans 7:18

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”

Next to parting with unrighteousness is the giving up of self-righteousness.  Though we contend most earnestly against our own works or merits, it is often long before we come to understand what it is to refuse self the least place or right in the service of God.  Unconsciously, we allow the acting of our own mind, heart, and will free scope in God’s presence.

 In prayer and worship, in Bible reading and working for God, instead of absolute dependence on the Holy Spirit’s leading, self is expected to do a work it never can do.  We are slow to learn this lesson:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.”  Romans 7:18

As it is learned, and we see how corruption extends to everything that is of nature, we see that there can be no entire abiding in Christ without the giving up of all that is of self in religion – without giving it up to the death and waiting for the breathings of the Holy Spirit as alone able to work in us what is acceptable in God’s sight.

Then, again, there is our whole natural life, with all the powers and endowments bestowed upon us by the Creator, with all the occupations and interests with which Providence has surrounded us.  It is not enough that, once you are truly converted, you have the earnest desire to have all these devoted to the service of the Lord.  The desire is good but can neither teach the way nor give the strength to do it acceptably. 

Incalculable harm has been done to the deeper spirituality of the church by the idea that, once we are God’s children, the using of our gifts in His service follows as a matter of course.  No; for this a very special grace is indeed needed.  The way in which the grace comes is again that of sacrifice and surrender.

I must see how all my gifts and powers are, even though I am a child of God, still defiled by sin and under the power of the flesh.  I must feel that I cannot at once proceed to use them for God’s glory.  I must first lay them at Christ’s feet, to be accepted and cleansed by Him.

I must feel myself utterly powerless to use them correctly.  I must see that they are most dangerous to me because through them the flesh, the old nature, will so easily exert its power.

In this conviction, I must part with then, giving them entirely up to the Lord.  When He has accepted them and set His stamp upon them, I receive them back, to hold them as His property, to wait on Him for the grace to use them correctly day by day, and to have them act only under His influence.

 So experience proves it true here too, that the path of entire consecration is the path of full salvation.  Not only is what is thus given up received back again to become doubly our own, but the forsaking all is followed by the receiving all.  We abide in Christ more fully as we forsake all and follow Him. 

As I count all things loss for His sake, I am found in Him!

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