“Guard your heart from any distraction that takes you to a place other than what I have planned for you. In these end times, there will be many sirens wooing you to follow them. They will attempt to draw your heart to good things and wonderful-sounding missions that have little to do with My design for your life. Do not follow them for their end is less than My plan for you. Anything that allows you to remain where you are at present is not My plan. Anything that does not bring you to more time with Me - more intimate, deeper moments and the quiet direction of My heart - is a plan to steal your crowns.
"I am calling My people to intimacy. I am calling My true believers to move in directions that are foreign to the carnal believer. I am soon going to ask you to break out of the typical spiritual box in which you are required to remain to be accepted by those who have shut out My voice. You will not be able to move with Me if your priority is not to be with Me. You will only be able to hear what your flesh feels, if Our time together does not break your fears and carnal thoughts. When I direct the steps of My intimate friends, logic and comfort are not My priority; safety is not My goal. I will place My warriors in situations to accomplish My will.
"To the one who has not spent enough time with Me to understand My heart, these movements and actions will appear foolish at times. Make sure that you ponder the things I call you to ponder. Make sure that you hear your directions from My mouth, not from the mouths of the many voices sent to distract you. Come to Me so that you are sure of your commands, then move with confidence that My presence is with you. I am waiting.”
Matt. 4:4 NIV
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Mark 4: 24 AMP
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
Gal. 5:16-17 AMP
16) But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
17) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
II Tim. 4:3-4 AMP
3) For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
4) And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
A bloody death on a cross made no sense to the highly-respected religious leaders of that time. Speaking in dialects foreign to their upbringing was foolishness to those who did not understand. Giving away all that they possessed, so that others would not have need, was scorned by many with greedy hearts. Acting in a way that meant a sure prison sentence was frowned upon by the logical mind of the leaders of Christian communities of that time. Continually writing letters of teaching, encouragement, correction, and rebuke - especially from a prison cell - seemed of little value when there were so many wonderful, well-established teachers right in the midst of your readers.
Only those who are unashamedly in love with Jesus see merit in some of the directives that God gives to those He can trust. Only those who have little fondness to be accepted by others will have the strength to move with God on missions that He alone understands. All others will flounder in the mire of tradition, logic, and status quo when radical love of the Father is required and unquestioned obedience is necessary.
Father God is training those who have ears to hear. He is communicating His plans to those who desire to spend time on His lap and move from there, only to hasten to return after being obedient to a command. It is the opposite of a works-oriented religion. It is the antithesis of the power-seeking, safety-conscious church mentality.
In a world where the line between right and wrong moves with the whims of those in power, where the difference between knowing truth and following a good-sounding lie is becoming almost impossible to discern, and where the normal footings of logic and reason are discarded, the Lord provides the only wisdom that can be trusted. His “foolish” directives smack in the face of modern “reason” the same as they have throughout the centuries.
Only those craving to know their true purpose in life – those who call upon the Lord and Him alone for wisdom, and wait in His presence until they hear His desires - will move above the clatter of the world. They may look out-of-step with everyone else, even the “wise” in the church; but they will be in perfect cadence with the One who is worth following.
Wanting only You to direct my steps, Lord,
Jim Corbett
