God First

From “My Utmost for His Highest,” by Oswald Chambers

“Jesus did not commit Himself unto them…for He knew what was in man.” John 2:24-25

Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God.

Put God’s Will First. “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God” (Hebrews 10:9).

A person’s obedience is to what he sees to be a need— our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father. The rallying cry today is, “We must get to work! The heathen are dying without God. We must go and tell them about Him.” But we must first make sure that God’s “needs” and His will in us personally are being met. Jesus said, “…tarry…until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. Once God’s “needs” in us have been met, He will open the way for us to accomplish His will, meeting His “needs” elsewhere.

Put God’s Son First. “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me” (Matthew 18:5).

God came as a baby, giving and entrusting Himself to me. He expects my personal life to be a “Bethlehem.” Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.

More advice for my son.

Do not enter an agreement that you cannot keep.  Laziness and wisdom are diametrically opposed.  We should not need external motivation to work hard.  If we are overzealous for relaxation the consequences will be disastrous. 

Do not lust after an evil woman.  Stay away from her flattering tongue.  Remember the word of God – He who commits adultery lacks understanding and destroys his own soul.  Stay away from the wicked man who has a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord amongst the brethren.  Remember this every day of your life:

For the Commandment is a lamp, the law is a light and reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Proverbs 6:23)

Advice for my son.

The immoral woman should be avoided at all costs.  She is an idolater who is fixated on the false idols of materialism and worldly recognition.  Her value is based on worldly wealth and esteem.  Her heart only craves more and more and her satisfaction is never met. 

She has walked away from God and turned to worship the false gods of this world that mankind can only produce.  She bows down to the ways and ideas of the gods of celebrity and politics.  She lives to learn from them.  She longs to walk in their ways. She has a life that heaps honor on her false gods.  A life that is lived to exalt their name and speak words and carry attitudes that is pleasing to her false gods.

The immoral woman is unfaithful to her husband, family, friends, employer, acquaintances and unfaithful to the one and true living God. She only knows how to break covenants.  She only knows self.  She only lives lies.

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.  Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house. (Proverbs 5:3, 4, 8)

Keep Christ at home in your heart.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth does speak.  We need then to diligently guard our heart.  This is the inner person.  This is what constitutes our intellect, emotion and will. 

We guard our heart by making sure Christ is at home there.  Our heart is not a time share or a co-op.  It needs to be the dwelling place of Christ and Christ alone.  Christ needs to be our King, our Savior, the complete and total authority over our life.

If He is not the only authority in our life we will inevitably end up with a heart that cannot produce the right kind of speech (words, sentiment and emotion) that brings honor and glory to our Father in Heaven.

If our heart is pure righteous and holy, our words will reflect that.  If our heart lacks purity, righteousness and holiness our words will definitely reflect that also.

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Strenghten me O Lord, I pray.

Jesus Christ is the wisdom that I seek.  My Mouth is only to speak the word of God or a word in line with God to illuminate, illustrate and bring application of God’s word.

I can only speak truth if I speak God’s word.  I can only speak righteousness if I speak of the life of Christ.  I can only find saving knowledge and wisdom in the bible.  I can only find understanding by yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Strengthen me O Lord that I may seek you more diligently.  Please O Lord reveal to me your enduring richness and righteousness.  Heavenly Father I pray that I hear it and live it; the great wealth of your wisdom. 

Please take this life, heart and being as your possession.  Please bless me with an opportunity to continuously serve you.  Please provide for me the tools of your wisdom, knowledge and understanding.  Please keep your Holy Spirit upon me.  Please keep Christ occupying my heart as the only tenant.

I seek you in all my actions, deeds and words, in all of my heart and soul and in every ounce of my essence and being forever and ever.  In Jesus’s name, Amen!

For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;  (Proverbs 8:35)

Do you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal savior?

What can you learn if you first do not have belief in the teacher?  How far will you make it if you do not have any trust in the pilot?  How will you be cured of your ailment if you do not have the ability to count on the physician?

Do you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal savior?  Do you have complete assurance (no doubt) in your heart that the one that created you out of nothing and brought you into being is the one and true living God?

It is simply a question of faith.  True faith is required in all of life’s significant endeavors.  So, do you believe, do you have confidence, do you trust?  Do you have faith in Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

Your heart only knows, your actions deeds and words only bear witness to your heart.

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:34)

Do not despise the chastening of the LORD

We cannot be afraid of the Lord’s correction.  If we are a true child of God we will welcome it.

The intent of our Lord is to teach and train us to live a life of obedience.  A life that is pure, holy and righteous.  It is not about punishment for wrong doing but education to help us consistently and continuously do right.

He will punish us as a loving Father does a child but it is not without education on where/how/when we went wrong.

The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide, teach, train; shape us and convict us with only one purpose – to make us more Christ like.  This is how we will walk a life worthy of our calling.  This is how we walk in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior.  This is how we will stay on the narrow path of righteousness.

Do not be afraid of the Lord’s correction nor hesitant to go to the altar and admit that we were wrong when the Spirit convicts us.  If you are a true child of God you will respond to the conviction and turn back to God, you will change your ways and focus on Christ and not on self. 

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Cleave to the Lord

Cleave to the Lord, study His words, His commandments and His teachings.  Follow the example that He set and the path that He walked. It is only the Lord who gives us the skill that we need to prosper spiritually.  It is only the Lord that can gives us what we need to be triumphant in a time of spiritual warfare. It is only form the Lord that we receive perfect truth, knowledge and understanding.  It is only through His great providence that we receive His wisdom in our heart and His knowledge for our soul. 

When apply His way to our life it brings discretion and understanding which is provided by God to keep us from and deliver us from the evil ways of man and this world. 

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, and preserves the way of His saints. (Proverbs 2:7-8)

Peace about God's provision

Even if we have all the wealth in the world what do we have?  If we hoard, we can only hoard what we are able to store.  Why would seek after and settle for an abundance of what comes from this world.  We know from our own experience that it never will truly nor fully satisfy us.

If we are in Christ, we will learn how to give.  If we give we will have many things.  We have joy in sharing and in meeting the needs of others.  This joy is brought about because it brings honor to God our Father.  If we give we will gain peace about our own circumstance.  We will have enough peace about God’s provision in our life to be able to give to others. If we give, we do so out of love for others.  This love is from the same love that Christ had for us when He gave His life for ours.

We learn to be content with what God has blessed us with.  We have no need to crave more and more.  We only become satisfied with a right relationship with Christ our Lord and Savior.  Through this right relationship with Christ all of our needs will be met.  In Christ we have everything we need and can only be compelled to give.

There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches. (Proverbs 13:7)

Show me your God!

When I have been asked to “show me your God;” prove the existence of the one and true living God.  I often will respond with show me you.  Are you, yourself, capable of seeing and knowing God?  Do you have eyes to see?  Do you have ears to hear?

Some eyes and ears are so focused on worldly things and people that all they see and hear is filtered through a worldly point of view.  They are limited to only seeing and hearing themselves or what the world programmed them to see and hear.

They will not be able to see nor hear God until they are willing to sacrifice this attitude towards God.  It will take a major change in perspective before they are capable of acknowledging the one and true living God.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5)

We have a map for the path of life.

We cannot see another’s soul, but we can see the fruit that we each bear.  May it be the sweet fruit of the Spirit of God or the bitter fruit of the prince of this world. 

We cannot see the face of God but we see His hand at work in His great providence.  Likewise we may not see the adversary but we see his hand at work in the death, destruction and demolition of so many corrupted minds, hearts and lives. 

We can look to the sky and see a plane and although we cannot see the pilot we know that someone is in control of the plane.  Where the planes is headed and what motivates the pilot to set their course tells us a lot about the work they are doing.

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

Beware of the seductress.

The seductress who flatters with words comes in many forms.  A harlot is a harlot no matter the shape, size, color or form.  A harlot has a crafty heart, a harlot dresses the part.  What the harlot wants from you is screamed at you with subtleties.     

They are rebellious and allow nothing to contain them.  They wait and set their trap, they are diligent in their pursuit.  When they find you they bring you into a world that pleases all of your senses.  And when they have you right where they want you- running to join them with your sense and sensibility blinded by the flattery, the show and the production, then they gut you like a lamb at a slaughter.

You will not see this coming.  This relationship will cost you so much more than you ever would want to spend.  It could cost you your life.  Our defense to avoid a harlot is simple:

My child, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye.  (Proverbs 7:1-2)

Fear Not!

There are many who feel threatened by the world.  Yet, Jesus spoke the words fear not to his people.

Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. (Luke 8:50)

Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:7)

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. (Luke 2:10)

If you are in the world, you should be afraid.  The world will do everything it can to devour you.  If you are in Christ, what do you have to fear?  Think about it: your belief makes you whole; you are of great value to the omnipotent God who delights to give you access into His kingdom.  Believe the good news and live in the confidence of its reality.

What I have found to be a common theme with those who are threatened by the world is that the only thing greater than their fear of the world is their sense of superiority to the world.  They fear the world at the same time believing they are superior to it.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Before the downfall the heart is haughty but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 18:12)

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5b)

We need to humble ourselves.  This is according to God’s plan for our life.  A sense of superiority is sin in our life and will only and always lead to more sin in our life.  All sin is unacceptable to God.  Humble ourselves and do not surrender to the ways of the world in fear but surrender to God and His plan and purpose for our life in love.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

The Great Physician

We are born with a blindness of our soul and a hardness of our heart.  If we are willing we can be healed.  If we hand over our heart and life to the great physician we will be healed.  And what is the cost of such great healthcare?  It is free!

Ask and you shall receive the cure for your ailment.  Seek and you shall find the great physician.  Knock and the door to life changing, heart healing, soul saving, eternal transformation will be opened to you.

Our old life in the world will fade and go, our new life in Christ will blossom and grow.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  (Ezekiel 36:36)

Which do you choose to follow after?

Do we believe every word that flows from a worldly mouth?  Do we rage with strong emotion when anyone stands against the worldly lips that drip honey for our ego? Are we quick tempered and able to act foolishly in any circumstance?

Or are you prudent.  Do you watch your steps closely to makes sure that you are on the path of truth, the narrow path based on God’s word.  Do you fear the evil of man’s lying lips or do you embrace it?  Do you run from that which causes division, lacks love and has nothing do to with God or God’s plan for your life or do you run towards it in excited anticipation?

Do you keep your composure and trust in the Lord in every circumstance or do you rely upon your own wisdom and abilities or rely upon what the world provides to you as wisdom?  Foolishness is earthly, fleshly knowledge; Wisdom is spiritual knowledge.  Which do you consistently choose?

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. (Proverbs 14:18)

Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known. (Proverbs 14:33)

Where my joy comes from!

When our heart is full of joy our life will reflect this joy in our attitudes, words and demeanor.  When our heart is full of sorrow our spirit of joy will be broken. 

When our heart has understanding we will seek the truth and knowledge of God and His word.  We will be surrendered to Jesus in heart mind and soul as He is the way, the truth and the life.

The heart of a fool is attracted too, seeks out and focuses his mind and self on foolishness.  The fool invites sorrow and conflict into their heart.  They thrive on moments of drama.  The only joy they find is when they have an audience to hear their empty words.

You can look into the eyes of a fool and see the lack of joy.  When you look into the eyes of one who is humbly surrendered to Christ you can see where their joy comes from. 

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.  (Proverbs 15:13-14)

Good time managment reflects a fear of the Lord!

It is time that we walk away from the foolishness of this world.  Now is the time to live for Christ and Christ alone.  It is time to go in the way of understanding.

Let us not spend time correcting the arrogant.  Let us not harm ourselves by correcting the truly wicked.  If we correct the prideful, the prideful will only come to hate us. 

Rebuke the wise whose heart and life belong to Christ and they will only love you more.  Teach a disciple of Christ about God and they will only draw closer to God.  Give instruction in Christ to one who seeks Christ diligently with all of their being and they will only become more Christ like.

The ways of the foolish are to end.  The ways of the fleshly minded are over.  The ways of the self-serving, self-seeking, self-satisfying have no place in God’s kingdom.  Flee from those who admit their continuous indulgence in worldly unrighteousness and impure pleasures.  Give no harbor to evil ways. 

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Who is God?

Who is God?

He is indescribable, His greatness is beyond the comprehension of even the greatest of human minds.  His power can never be matched by anything that mankind can produce.  His knowledge and wisdom is superior to what can be found in all of the libraries this world has ever known.

His grace, mercy and love is unequaled.  His providence is beyond our greatest ideas of charity.  His sovereignty, although we try in vain to imitate it can never be matched.  His glory shines brighter than all of the stars in the heavens combined. 

And all of who God is, is revealed to us in Jesus the Messiah.  Do you know Jesus?

 “I and the Father are one."  Jesus   (John 10:30)

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:14)

An affluent tongue and elegant style may supply one with an excess of pleasure, praise and pride.  This is the delight of those lost in a miserable state of a corrupt mind.

A lover of truth pays no attention to ornamented discourse.  A lover of truth focuses on the substance and character of the speech.  What is its type, motive and source of inspiration and information is the concern of a lover of truth.

Many can attack with empty words, many can boast about their worldly ways, philosophies, ideologies and agendas which are manmade.  Many can exalt their idols and the work of man’s hand.

But not too many can fully surrender themselves to God!

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:14)

Do you bow down to His word or do you rise up against it?

Do you bow down to His word or do you rise up against it?

When the word of God speaks it is the final word.  If we give proper reverence to God, if He is the Lord (sovereign authority) in our life, we then accept that He, not us has the final word.  If we have proper reverence for our Lord we will take heed of His word and apply it to our lives always.

When we follow His instructions we develop a better understanding of Him.  This means a better understanding of our relationship with Him and a more accurate understanding of the world in which we live.

A right relationship with God, one of obedience to His word, will bring us to our purpose in this world we currently live in.  This will bring us to a right relationship with the world around us.  A relationship guided and directed by the word of God.

God is Holy, Pure and Righteous.  God is all powerful, all knowing and all present.  God is the creator and sustainer of the universe.  He is the only one qualified to judge both the living and the dead.  God is the way and the truth and the life.  God is way more qualified than we are to be the final word.  Let’s make sure He is the final word in all that we say and do!

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)