We will chase the Light

“ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” – 1 Corinthians 1:30

We just had a team of young people from Ohio leave. They put on a four day bible club at our church here for the kids in the community. There were over one hundred children that came and were inplanted with the truth of God’s love. What a blessing it was to see not only my own children at the village singing praises to their Father and memorizing His love letter to them, but also the way their enthusiasm spread to other children. God is good and there is nothing good in me.

I have been studying the book of James. Let me to you, its insight is not an easy pill to swallow. It is one thing, for me, to be back in the comfort of the U.S. and have my friends and family, convenience of good medical care, and anything else I may need at the local store, to look at the verses about persevering under trial. I never looked deeper into James 1 because let’s be honest, my day to day trials went as far as, my blackberry dying. Here in Africa, God has taken me away from those comforts to work with children who have undergone horrendous trials and with others that struggle to live day to day. I do not get much time for social interaction because the need is so great here. But I am finding the blessing in this lesson from God because it draws me closer to Him. He is showing me that as He brings healing and refinement to my heart, all I have to do is continue to work out my salvation. His word is meant not just to penetrate my heart, but activate His holiness in me.  

The mystery of sanctification is that the perfections of Jesus Christ are imparted to me, not gradually, but instantly, when by faith I enter into the realization that Jesus Christ is made unto me sanctification. The one marvelous secret of a holy life lies not in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfections of Jesus manifest themselves in my mortal flesh. It is His patience, His love, His holiness, His faith, His purity, His godliness, that is manifested in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is an implantation not an imitation. Jesus Christ is the perfection of everything, and the mystery of sanctification is that all perfections of Jesus are at my disposal, and slowly and surely I begin to live a life of indescribable order and holiness. “Kept by the power of God.” 

“Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy; it is drawing from Jesus the holiness that we manifested in Him, and He manifests in me.” – Oswald Chambers

 

Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe

John 15:14 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

The past couple of weeks have been a holiday break here in South Africa. This means that all fourteen children are here all day. I am sure that other parents can sympathize with me in dealing with keeping them entertained, from fighting with one another, and staying on task with the jobs they still have to do at home. There is no structure, and it shows in their attitudes. Lately, like most children go through, some of our kids are going through a defiant stage. They want to do what they want to do and if they do not get it, well then, they are just going to sit there and do nothing. I can admit to behaving like that a time or two. I do not blame them for acting out in their change of schedule and structure, but what I am learning is that is not an excuse to disobey. It is in this time that they can best learn lessons of obedience, and not “when I want to do it” obedience, but “yes I will do it right now” obedience. And of course, God is teaching me my own lessons in obedience.

When God asks me to do something, He means right now. The fact is, that after He asks me to do something, He begins His work whether I am obedient or not. If at first I am not obedient, then painful and refining measures must be taken to catch up. God is determined to have His child as pure and clean and white as snow, and as long as there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will prevent none of the working of His Spirit. Our insistence in proving that we are right is nearly always an indication that there is disobedience. God’s laws are unalterable; there is no escape from them. The teaching of Jesus goes straight to the way we are made up.

I am thankful for His patience in me. The same patience I run out of with the children at times. Just as I was initially disobedient in agreeing to move to Africa for a year, I still find myself refusing to trust God and obey Him at times, even though, time and again, it proves to be for my betterment. Lord, great is Thy faithfulness unto me.