Fearless Humility

Timothy Keller notes that “Anxiety is a daily statement to God saying, ‘I don't think you have my best interest in mind.’”  Such anxiety needs to firmly stand in the Lord’s Word, that “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).  Keller’s statement reveals a quivering faith in our Redeemer.  To be “perfected in love,” is to fully experienced Christ’s absolute, unflawed love.  There must be complete trust in God if you are to be without fear.     

We are reminded by Andrew Murray that, “The life God bestows is imparted not once for all, but each moment continuously by unceasing operation of his mighty power.  Humility, the place of entire dependence on God, is, for the very nature of things, the first duty and the highest virtue of the” follower of Christ Jesus.  Only when your soul is perfected by God’s Spirit can you truly say it is God who gives provision for each and every circumstance of life—that is why humility can empower you to live without fear. 

A lack of humility gives Satan and his slaves the ability to feed anxiety into your very soul.  But, you can lift your head up, because “you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”  (Romans 8:15-16).

No looking over your shoulder,

Owen <><

The Big Picture

"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, ..."   

~ Revelation 7:9

 

A little conversation occurs between friends, as follows:

"I don't like big churches."

"Well, you're gonna hate Heaven."

That was an uncomfortable conversation.

I hope they are still friends.

Our church averages around 200 on Sunday and I love our church very much. I used to love another assembly that averaged 500.  Oh, and we liked an awesome church that averaged 1,000 before moving where we live now.  Did I mention the church I attended that averaged 3,000?

What have I learned? 
That Christ is central and where His people teach and worship and serve to give God the glory – well, that is the church I like.
What about you?

Not forsaking to gather …   

Owen <><   

Pray As God Leads

Henry and Norman Blackaby wrote about experiencing the presence and example of Jesus in prayer.  They bring to your attention that, “Prayer is not for the purpose of getting God to help us…but for getting us in line with what God is about to do.  Prayer is God’s invitation to enter His throne room so He can lay His agenda over our hearts.”  Wow, powerful.

How does God place his agenda in your heart?  He does so through prayer, as Jesus taught.  When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, pause to consider how Jesus’ answer to them had some very pointed statements.  Jesus answered, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done” (Matt 6:9-10). It begins with praising God and yearning for His Kingdom.  As He continues, the request for a disciple’s needs are for daily bread (which represents Christ, the Bread of life, as well as food) and deliverance from sin and the evil one—connecting in the center is “your will be done.”  

 

Jesus set the example at the end of His earthly ministry, facing the cross He prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matt. 26:42). 

In Christ: Father, “Your will be done,”

Owen <><