We read that (Psalms 33:9) God spoke and it was done, instant history. I want to make history. What I mean by that is that when God speaks to me I am listening and at once I do whatever He tells me to do and I make it done. Immediately I have made history, when I obey the Lord, which will go through the fire (2 Corinthians 5:10) at the Judgment Seat of Christ. How foolish to destroy future rewards and exchange them for pain and loss by disobedience. If my will is the love-servant of God, then I am free to be the servant of my dedicated will. Whatever I will, I can do because my will serves the Highest Authority. My heart is the altar and my will is (Psalms 118:27) the horns of the altar. Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. What I do must be in line with what my will has already determined for me to do. I think this aspect adds an exciting glow to obedience.
You can never have peace in your life without faith. Absolute trust in God is essential because faith is the highway to peace. There is no other road to the continual peace which is never disturbed by changing or unexpected circumstances. Where faith is strong in a person, it is the fertile soil for peace and peace will flourish in that person.
We must never forget the price that was paid to bring us into our glorious relationship with God and all our holy privileges. Come back with me to Calvary and ponder these details.
(Dr. Swindoll) “The Persian Authorities wanted a death penalty that would inflict the most pain and yet leave the prisoner alive as long as possible to endure the intense agony from the torturer until death claimed him
They experimented with stoning, strangulation, hanging, boiling hot oil and finally chose crucifixion as the death penalty. Later the Romans adopted that brutal death sentence for criminals. Paul said (1 Corinthians 2:8) if they had realized Who Jesus was, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. If they had not, where would we be now? Without salvation, without hope and without God in this world. God is so Sovereignly in control, He uses even sin to accomplish His fore-ordained purpose. Jesus suffered and endured the worst of deaths because we are the worst of sinners. If His Blood had not been shed, there would have been (Hebrews 9:22) no forgiveness for our sin. We cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6) without faith. Loving, trusting, obeying God is pleasing Him.
In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-19) Jesus did not tell us to make Christians, only God can do that. He told us to make disciples. Our lives should be so completely yielded to God that, like Paul, (1 Corinthians 11:1) we can make disciples after our own kind.
Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, Ephesians 5:23) means (Oswald Chambers) “an intense narrowing of our interest in things of earth and an immense broadening of our interest in God.” Sanctification means concentration on God’s point of view. What viewpoint other than God’s could possibly matter to us or have greater significance in our lives? Worthy is the Lamb of God Who makes all this possible for unworthy me by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within me. The mercies of God (Lamentation 3:22-23) are more than I can count every morning. Faith in the Lord brings me peace and peace makes me a mirror (Ecclesiastes 5:20) to reflect the tranquility of God within me. Feelings and emotion have their place but can never replace Reality. Who, like me, His praise should sing ! ? !