Category: From Our Fathers Heart

“Little is known about My plans for you after your time in your world is over. All anyone knows is what I have told them in My Word. I have planned it that way. I require that faith is put into practice, and simple trust is needed to follow My Word. That is so everyone has a chance to come to Me. Even children can qualify.

"The only ones that will never be with Me are those who think that they know better than the simplicity of My plan. In their false wisdom, they are too proud to submit to My spiritual ways. In their arrogance, they scheme a better, more logical way.

"You keep coming as a wide-eyed child. You humble yourself to My way and My plans. You come in faith; that pleases Me.”

Matthew 19:14 NIV

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Hebrews 11:1 AMP 

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Hebrews 11:6 NIV 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

 

So often I find myself thinking and reasoning myself into a spiritual corner, or even worse, into some form of unbelief. I sometimes forget that spiritual things are learned from the Holy Spirit to our spirits. As we wait on our Lord to reveal the truth of the Word, we begin to know truth. It is then that we must accept it by faith.

Let me learn from You as a little, wide-eyed child, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“It seems that I need to remind you that as you are in covenant with Me, you are also in covenant with each other. You are members of one family with Jesus as the head. You are joined with each other by His shed blood. That connection is stronger than your original birth.

"Why then do you not understand your commitment to each other? How can you claim that what you have is your own when you know of your brother’s or sister’s need? How can you not care for them as strongly as you care for yourself? Jesus gave His life for you. How can you war with each other when He lives in each of you? You exchanged your old selfish life for a new spiritual one. Now you are to become an advocate for Jesus as He is for you. You are also committed to become advocates for each other. You are breaking your word to Me when you don’t.

"Love others as I have loved you. It is one of My ways to show the world of My love. Repent of your ways and love each other with My kind of love.”

Matt. 5:3 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Heb. 12:2 NIV

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, *endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Definition of endure: To remain firm under anguish or misfortune, without yielding, with the hope of others being lifted up.

 

Jesus - who was intensely wealthy in the spiritual realm - was poor in spirit, and functioned as our Advocate, rating His own safety and comfort insignificant for our sake. He functioned with an advocate heart in two ways – toward His Father and toward us. We are to do the same.

Jesus had a passion to empty Himself and live a life devoted to others. He would never lift Himself up or hold Himself in higher esteem than anyone else – even the lowliest leper.  Even though He was God, He held everyone in His heart as more important than Himself; especially those who laughed at, tortured, and crucified Him. He could not be wounded by their sin; He could only see their desperate need…

In the true spirit of advocacy, Jesus also desires to see His Father put “first” and is constantly looking to have Him glorified. His delight is in having Father God as the object of esteem in the hearts of those He loves. All of His mortal life, and now all of His kingly life, undergird and point to the Father. There is no “one-sidedness,” however, as all of the Godhead - in unity of spirit, being one - point to each other’s wealth.

As the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus, who functions as our advocate, delights to see us accepted and perfected. He would gladly go to the cross again and again, if He had to, so that we could prosper and be complete in His Father’s love; and so that His Father would continually have the pleasure of our company. (Praise God that everything was finished once and for all at Calvary!)

With Jesus as our example, and with the Father’s love flowing through us, we are to walk as advocates for our Lord, each other as believers, and then on behalf of those who have need. Our adoption into the family of God, our sonship, gives each of us the heritage and ability to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Teach me to love others as You love me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“You delight My heart. I notice you as a father notices his beloved child. I love to invest in you. As you respond to My leadings, I straighten the paths for your journey. Your obedience thrills My heart. Don’t be concerned about how many mistakes you make along the way. They are covered by the blood of Jesus and My mercy.

"I am looking forward to you finishing the race set before you. Pattern your life after the life of Jesus. As We walk together, I will show you My heart. Respond to My leading. Be obedient to My will. Your life is a wonderful journey that We will enjoy together.”

Gen. 1:27-28a AMP 

27) So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him: male and female He created them.

28) And God blessed them and said to them, be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]…

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV 

5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

 

As the Father reveals all aspects of His heart, sometimes I reel with the overwhelming challenge that I am called to face. I begin to condemn myself for who I am not, cower at the prospects ahead of me as a Christian in the coming times, stagger at the weight of my responsibility to represent Jesus properly; and become discouraged as I attempt to prepare for His return. It is then that I remember that none of this was my idea in the first place. My Father has ordained my life and has promised to fulfill His plan for it and in it. My job is simply to need Him desperately.

 Thank You for my life, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Few of you, My children, are bold enough to ask Me for all that I have for you. You choose to wander on the perimeter of My perfect will - looking but never really seeing, listening but never really hearing; and doing, but never really having enough of Me to change your world. I have sorrow in My heart for you. You are really missing out on the abundant life that is your inheritance.

"If I were given access to every area of your life, you would never be the same. I would make some changes. You would have to forgive everyone who has ever offended you.  You would have to throw away some of the diversions in your life that replace your time with Me. You would need to start seeking relationships for their closeness to Me, rather than because they give you alternatives to My working in your life. I would overhaul your days, dwell in your dream patterns; and maintain your every thought, bringing it captive to My will.

"I am a loving taskmaster, wanting only the best for you. You would lose all things that make you weak and receive everything that builds you up to emulate Jesus. Choose to find the abundant life. Be bold! Ask Me to really control every area of your life. It will be worth it. I promise!”

Ps. 18:30 AMP 

As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him.

John 10:10 AMP

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Rom. 12:2 AMP 

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Eph. 3:20-21 AMP

20) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]­­‑

21) To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

 

I think about the caterpillar. (I don’t really do it often, honest.) If the caterpillar chose to stay outside the cocoon, it would never experience the lofty life of the butterfly. Its very nature would, however, continually attempt to drive it to its destiny of becoming a butterfly. To resist that call would take more effort than submitting to it. That is like each of us before we made Jesus our Lord.

Now carry that simple caterpillar-butterfly analogy further and relate it to us as born-again believers. If we don’t completely submit to our Father’s hand, it would be like the caterpillar entering the cocoon; but then deciding what parts of the butterfly it will accept and what parts of the caterpillar it will keep. The result would be a pretty foolish-looking, half-finished combination of both creatures, ill equipped to properly function as either. Maybe like some of us, huh?

Finish me completely, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you noticed that very few people are coming into My kingdom in recent years? How many have come to Me in your immediate circle? It seems that testifying of what Jesus has done has lost its charm in My church. What is actually happening is that few people are craving to know Who Jesus is because of their hardened hearts. They are so consumed by the world and its ways that there is no time for even questioning what will happen after they breathe their last breath.

"A much greater concern of Mine is that My church simply does not love enough to care. You do not love Jesus enough to make His sacrifice for others the priority in your life. You do not love others enough to really care what happens to them after they breathe their last breath. If that offends you, how much time do you spend planning your life so that others see Jesus in what you do and say? See!”

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Amos 3:3 KJV  

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

John 4:34 NIV 

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

 

The world has changed so much that sometimes we do not realize how far we have fallen from the right path, until the Lord shows us and wakes us up. Time is passing so fast, that days turn into months and months turn into years before we can catch ourselves and wonder where it all went. Things take over our lives so insidiously that we wonder how we ever became so consumed with what has a hold on us, eating our lives minute by minute, hour by hour.

Now is the time to stop and take an inventory of our lives to see if we are really where we should be. What is out of order? What is not of God? What needs to be changed? Are we in the center of God’s will, or have all the intrusions of this life pushed us off the path and made us walk in the brambles?

Put me back on Your path, Lord,

Jim Corbett