Today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers is one I particularly love because this WAS the message that the Lord Himself gave to me in a meeting where Ii was once again wondering WHEN I would begin to minister the way He was showing me that I would!
Why Cannot I Follow Thee Now?
Peter said unto Him, Lord, why
cannot I follow Thee now? — John 13:37
There are times when you cannot
understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank
space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in
order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after
sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God’s
guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there
is doubt — don’t.
In the beginning you may see
clearly what God’s will is — the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of
a business relationship, something you feel distinctly before God is His will
for you to do, never do it on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will
end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for
God’s time to bring it round and He will do it without any heartbreak or
disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for
God to move.
Peter did not wait on God, he
forecast in his mind where the test would come, and the test came where he did
not expect it. “I will lay down my life for Thy sake.” Peter’s declaration was
honest but ignorant. “Jesus answered him…The cock shall not crow, till thou
hast denied Me thrice.” This was said with a deeper knowledge of Peter than
Peter had of himself. He could not follow Jesus because he did not know
himself, of what he was capable. Natural devotion may be all very well to attract
us to Jesus, to make us feel His fascination, but it will never make us
disciples. Natural devotion will always deny Jesus somewhere or other.
Shalom in Him!
