...that I, in ignorance, had allowed myself to be bound.
"And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go . . . and make disciples. . ." ( Matthew 28:19 ), not, "Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions."-Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest)
The Lord has really been doing some "light shining" in my heart and life...it has been painful. There have been some bitterness issues and ignorance issues that have opened the door to spiritual oppression....horrible feelings of anger that I had no idea where they came from..NOT FUN. I suddenly felt like I could relate in a way to Saul -one in need of a harpist to calm my soul. David's sweet music could only chase away the oppression for a time, Saul needed the only permanent remedy there is...a repentant heart and God as the Lord of his life. Well, in my suffering, I searched, He revealed, I repented, He is restoring and I am praising the Lord for His goodness and mercy.
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."Romans 1:21
"And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go . . . and make disciples. . ." ( Matthew 28:19 ), not, "Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions."-Oswald Chambers (My Utmost For His Highest)
The Lord has really been doing some "light shining" in my heart and life...it has been painful. There have been some bitterness issues and ignorance issues that have opened the door to spiritual oppression....horrible feelings of anger that I had no idea where they came from..NOT FUN. I suddenly felt like I could relate in a way to Saul -one in need of a harpist to calm my soul. David's sweet music could only chase away the oppression for a time, Saul needed the only permanent remedy there is...a repentant heart and God as the Lord of his life. Well, in my suffering, I searched, He revealed, I repented, He is restoring and I am praising the Lord for His goodness and mercy.
"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."Romans 1:21
Deut. 28:28,29 "The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee]."
Read what Matthew Henry said about the above verses - "That they should be infatuated in all their counsels, so as not to discern their own interest, nor bring any thing to pass for the public good: The Lord shall smite thee with madness and blindness, v. 28, 29. Note, God’s judgments can reach the minds of men to fill them with darkness and horror, as well as their bodies and estates; and those are the sorest of all judgments which make men a terror to themselves, and their own destroyers....Those that will not walk in God’s counsels are justly left to be ruined by their own; and those that are wilfully blind to their duty deserve to be made blind to their interest, and, seeing they loved darkness rather than light, let them grope at noon-day as in the dark."-okay, this rejuvenated a healthy fear of the Lord in my bones...we serve a JUST God, a righteous God...how often I choose not to ponder that... So often I hear Christians say.."Oh, well, the Lord knows my heart, He knows I'm not trying to offend Him"..I just heard that this past week from someone in defense of using a pet word that they in their heart KNOW is wrong. I am guilty as well with using "Oh, the Lord knows my heart" in a pat way to justify something that I don't want to go to the Bible and check out....*sigh*
Are you struggling with anger? Do you "FEEL" the spiritual "licks of fire" around you? Was there a "life storm" that you are holding onto bitterness over? Is there a false belief that you fell into because of the influence of others? Are you vengeful, unforgiving? Do you lack compassion for your fellow Christians? Do you suffer from the pride of life sin? Many of these sins are sneaky and we are hesitant to acknowledge them, but in all seriousness, they open a very real door to spiritual torment. Saul must have suffered exceedingly...Judas destroyed himself- the torment was so great. Dear suffering Saint, go to the Lord, to His Word-He wants to restore you. Much love to you!
6 comments:
A very good word, Heather. Thanks for this encouragement. I can honestly say that I struggle with the difference between bitterness and just plain hurt. I'm constantly singing to myself, "I must tell Jesus, all of my troubles..." because the hardest part of my baggage is having to keep it to myself. A person wants validation, don't we? Hence, the flood of dirty laundry that pervades our culture.
Blech.
But it's difficult because I so often try to do right in my own strength.
So again...a good word, Heather. Thanks.
Excellent post--the quote and scriptures--and your thoughts as well. Thank you for sharing what the Lord is doing in your heart and life right now. It truly is an encouragement to me.
Hugs!
:) I constantly have that song "He's still workin' on me...." running through my head...
Matthew Henry is some pretty heafty reading. It takes a serious reader to tackle his books. Good for you. I don't think I've read anything of his in a while.
Bitterness is a tough thing. I've spent quite a large amount of time talking Ashliegh and I's shared father in law about bitterness and hurt. Forgiveness is both a one time decision and a daily task. You may have to decide to do it many times before you begin to win the battle.
I've also read The heart of Anger by Lou Priolo a few times. It has many helpful trinket. Provebs is also very useful. I think Proverbs touches every issue under the sun.
Thanks for posting. It was a good reminder to me.
Girl, I struggle with this more than you know! It is a constant struggle with me, daily even. Thank you for this post! I so often don't even give this part of me to God, I choose to ignore it and hope He does too!
I'll probably be back to read this post a few more times just to really get it in me...I'm usually slow to 'get' stuff, sad to say. You've been a blessing to me today, thank you!!
:) Thank you for your kind comments...I don't read Matthew Henry in a "book" sort of way...I just read what he has to say about certain passages of scripture I am studying. Much of it is hard to "digest"...I stick to what I "get" :)
Post a Comment