"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. . . ." Philippians 3:12
It is a snare to imagine that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do; God's purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements is apt to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you go off on this idea of personal holiness, the dead-set of your life will not be for God, but for what you call the manifestation of God in your life. "It can never be God's will that I should be sick." If it was God's will to bruise His own Son, why should He not bruise you? The thing that tells for God is not your relevant consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your real vital relation to Jesus Christ, and your abandonment to Him whether you are well or ill.
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship to God which shows itself amid the irrelevancies of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that strikes you is the irrelevancy of the things you have to do, and the next thing that strikes you is the fact that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives are apt to leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary, by human effort and devotion we can reach the standard God wants. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in perfect relation to God so that my life produces a longing after God in other lives, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God is not after perfecting me to be a specimen in His show-room; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He likes. ~ Oswald Chambers
If we could do it on our own through our obedience or determination, Jesus would never have had to live & die on our behalf....
About Me
- Trailady
- I'm just a lady on a journey. A passionate, creative, spiritually-minded soul of Scot-Irish descent. This mother of 4 often has more questions than answers. Friendly with a sense of humor. A moderate & independent thinker who believes in hope, healing & balance. I'm learning to live abundantly by loving ALL people. My blogs are active. Like to hear from people of all persuasions. Thanks for stopping by! :o)
6 comments:
YES! Amen!
Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection.
That is something we NEED to remember - it isn't just non-believers who need to hear it - it is the Christian who needs to hear that - over and over over again.
We can't twist God into our own image - we must remake ourselves into His.
Good thoughts, Andy! :o)
it hurts me to hear people talk about affliction as God's will, though.
Clearly, it is so important to accept the blessing of what any affliction hasn given but I KNOW it is the heart of God to restore and how will you ever experience God on that level if you "defend" affliction?
Oh it frustrates. People like Smith Wigglesworth who had whole limbs grow back in front of your face in his ministry had to be totally convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is God's pleasure to do this,
I can see clearly how I opened a door to Satan before I got into this horrible car wreck and damaged my foot. I can see clearly that was not God. yet, for me to receive radical, recreative healing takes time because it is hard to receive something so good.
Also...
you see how it says in Isaiah - He was wounded for our transgresssions, bruised for our iniquities. Upon Him was the chastisment THAT MADE US WHOLE AND BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED.
It's all turned around if you say it the other way - yes, we as Christlikeness must also "die" some way to ourselves - but it's not being bruised physically - that's a brute mentality.
The truth is, I can tell you because now I've had to walk there = an accident like mine can almost destroy your confidence before God - cause tremendous fear and religious striving because you feel so condemned by God for what has happened - exactly what Satan intended.
I can't imagine what Joni went through. But I know that what she has come up with as her conclusions reflects this same terrible shrinking back from a totally loving and gracius God who has healed an injury exactly like hers more than once. I have a video of a young man whose parents prayed and his severed spine was restored. I met a man in Minnesota who can show the scar running up the back of his neck from the same - God raised him up.
Is it really glorifying to God - this pathetic body of Christ - all toothless and quai-moto begging God fo mercy? I have to laugh at how pathetic we are - how pathetic our understanding of God.
also - we don't want to believe we could have sxuch an arch enemy such a nemesis that we could have such horrible things that arent' God's will - but we have to understand that God is partly displeased with our desire for comfortable - and he wants more of an adventure with heros - He wants us to see this terribly wicked pwer - and feel overwhelmed only to ahve father God come in and save the day when we finally "get it"
We better get a clue and take up arms against the powers of darkness.
Stop being a hobbit. We celtic types certainly know what that is.
Hi Gabrielle, Appreciated your thought, but wanted to clarify that the "affliction" Oswald Chambers is referring to is simply having to live in a mortal body, in a sinful world with all it's lusts & temptations. He was not speaking of illness or injury.
I believe it is the will of God that each of us be whole in spirit. Sometimes the body must be broken in order for the spirit to find Him. That was the case for Joni. She is SUCH an inspiration to me. I do believe in miraculous healings, but when they do not occur, it's not a sign that God doesn't care, rather it's a sign of how much He cares. He is risking us throwing a big temper tantrum like a child, in order to get our attention. He has had to do this to me a number of times...
Be well in spirit- you are loved!! :o
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