I really like the message in today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers!
All Efforts of Worth and Excellence Are Difficult
Enter by the narrow gate….Because narrow is the gate and
difficult is the way which leads to life…. —Matthew 7:13-14
If we are going to live as disciples of Jesus, we have to
remember that all efforts of worth and excellence are difficult. The
Christian life is gloriously difficult, but its difficulty does not make us
faint and cave in— it stirs us up to overcome. Do we appreciate the
miraculous salvation of Jesus Christ enough to be our utmost for His highest—
our best for His glory?
God saves people by His sovereign grace through the
atonement of Jesus, and “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for
His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). But we have to “work out” that salvation
in our everyday, practical living (Philippians 2:12). If we will only start on
the basis of His redemption to do what He commands, then we will find that we
can do it. If we fail, it is because we have not yet put into practice what God
has placed within us. But a crisis will reveal whether or not we have been
putting it into practice. If we will obey the Spirit of God and practice in our
physical life what God has placed within us by His Spirit, then when a crisis
does come we will find that our own nature, as well as the grace of God, will
stand by us.
Thank God that He does give us difficult things to do! His
salvation is a joyous thing, but it is also something that requires bravery,
courage, and holiness. It tests us for all we are worth. Jesus is “bringing
many sons to glory” (Hebrews 2:10), and God will not shield us from the
requirements of sonship. God’s grace produces men and women with a strong
family likeness to Jesus Christ, not pampered, spoiled weaklings. It takes a
tremendous amount of discipline to live the worthy and excellent life of a
disciple of Jesus in the realities of life. And it is always necessary for us
to make an effort to live a life of worth and excellence.
Our "working out" our salvation is the witness of HIS indwelling presence and is what people see of what God has done inside, in our spirits! We RECEIVE our Salvation by FAITH in all that JESUS has accomplished for US through His death, burial and resurrection. We "work it out" by being DOERS of God's Word, allowing HIM to confirm what we say and do, bringing GLORY to HIS NAME! Stir yourself up to renew your mind of all that HE has done IN you and what He desires to do THROUGH you! THIS is what will draw others to Him! Be YOU, but be the BEST you! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I AM":
Shalom in Him!
