March 21 I Sunday

Joshua 7-9

Luke 1:21-38

“…that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  —Colossians 2:2-3

We love Jesus and want to please Him, so we search for ways in which we can serve Him. We search, we plan, we do, and where does that leave Jesus? Probably shaking His head, thinking, “These dear souls, if only they would wait for Me. My plan is far better, My resources unlimited and My timing perfect.”

       The key to a fruitful Christian life is dependence on the indwelling Spirit of Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” yet in our eagerness, we often proceed without Him. God is not looking for people with plans of which He can say, “Oh, that’s a good one! Why didn’t I think of that?” He is looking for people who will implement His plans.

       In his autobiography, Oswald Chambers writes of a low period in his life, “I was getting very desperate. I knew no one who had what I wanted… But I knew that if what I had was all the Christianity there was, the thing was a fraud.” He later writes about attending a meeting where a speaker talked about taking God at His Word and appropriating His indwelling presence. Oswald tells of the consequence of that meeting.

       “I felt nothing, but I knew emphatically my time had come… I had no vision of God, only a sheer dogged determination to take God at His word and to prove this thing for myself… I had no vision of heaven or of angels, I had nothing, I was as dry and empty as ever… Then I was asked to speak at a meeting, and forty souls came [to Christ].” Oswald said he went to a friend to tell him what happened, and his friend responded, “Don’t you remember claiming the Holy Spirit as a gift on the word of Jesus…?” And like a flash something happened inside Oswald, and he saw that he had been wanting power in his own hand, so to speak, that he might say—“Look what I have by putting my all on the altar.”

       The starting point of any work of God is Jesus Christ. He is the initiator and the means to accomplish it. What we really need to grasp and appropriate is dependence on Christ’s presence and working in our lives, allowing Him to do the leading. Oswald adds this of his own experience: “The last aching abyss of the human heart is filled to overflowing with the love of God… After He comes in, all you see is ‘Jesus only, Jesus ever.’” What better life is there than one that sees Jesus only, Jesus ever?

Prayer: Beautiful Lord, thank You for the inspiration of others and the examples they set. Take the lead in my life because Jesus only, Jesus ever is all my heart seeks.