My Utmost, Nov 30

By The Grace Of God I Am What I Am

His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain. — 1 Corinthians 15:10 The way we continually talk about our own inability is an insult to the Creator. The deploring of our own incompetence is a slander against God for having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining in the sight of God the things that sound humble before men, and you will be amazed at how staggeringly impertinent they are. “Oh, I shouldn’t like to say I am sanctified; I’m not a saint.” Say that before God; and it means – “No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are chances I have not had; so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible.” That may sound wonderfully humble before men, but before God it is an attitude of defiance. Again, the things that sound humble before God may sound the opposite before men. To say – “Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified,” is in the sight of God the acme of humility, it means you have so completely abandoned yourself to God that you know He is true. Never bother your head as to whether what you say sounds humble before men or not, but always be humble before God, and let Him be all in all. There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfil His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

Each individual life, though. Yet not in such a way as esteems self, apart from His work in and through us.

He empowers. He molds. He shapes. He gives hearts to serve Him, out of love and desiring obedience. He conforms, transforms, and delivers. And allows the privilege of yet choosing His will.

I don't understand the symbiotic nature of this all. But it's definitely something of conjoined effort. Perhaps looking to the matters He's ordained as representative types of how this all works might give a clearer picture. Yet...we've so degraded ordained order.

John 14:2-3 records that He said:

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

That's something of Jewish marriage tradition, from what bits have been traipsed through over the past year. Was very intrigued by an entire sermon devoted to the custom of the day, much earlier in the year--so vastly different from our current traditions. There's departure from the betrothed, as the bridegroom goes to make an addition to his Father's house. She waits in anticipation of his return, not having any clue when it'll be. Preparing herself, nonetheless, while he goes and prepares the addition to his family's house, then to bring her to be with them. And there's a grand and elaborate celebration, at his return, before he takes her from her family's house to his own, thereafter to live.

How it accords with mention in Genesis is a slightly deeper consideration of relation rather than custom, perhaps. And yet our Bridegroom, Himself, has made it known He will bring us to be where He is. Returning for us.

He endured and paid a high price, to prepare us for eternal communion with Himself. And He will come back--He's promised.

So, yeah...it's definitely not good to undermine Him by verbally contradicting what He's said to be His work in us, unto us.