Category: From Our Fathers Heart

        "Few of My children travel the narrow road to holiness. Most choose to remain where they are with some attachments to the world in their hearts. Not only is that foolish, but it grieves My heart. They miss so much. They could feast from full meals of My provision, but they are satisfied with simple nourishment.

        As you make your daily choices, begin to choose My ways throughout your days. Make proper use of what I have provided for you. Ingest My Word. Become nourished on the things that I hold dear. Head toward holiness. It is where you have been reborn to live."

Hebrews 10:14b NIV

...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

I Peter 1:13-19 NIV

13) Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

14) As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

15) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

16) for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

17) Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

18) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,

19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

 

The concept of holiness often eludes us. We generally see it as this unattainable goal, available only for those "other" Christians like Paul, Peter, and Mary - you know, those holy guys and gals.

Father God says, "Be holy, because I am holy." That means that holiness - a state of heart attitude in full accord with the heart of God and complete freedom from any attachments to the world - is available to any of us who have been made new through the blood of Jesus. I wonder why we are foolish enough that we don't pursue it with all of our hearts?

I want to be holy, Lord,

Jim Corbett

        "The challenges you face these days are minor compared to what is in store for your land. Dark minds with evil agendas are gaining footholds in every corner of the world. Evil is being called good, and good is laughed at or declared evil. Your leaders are puppets of darkness! They are blind guides, leading the blind to destruction.

        "You, however, have an answer for every evil. His Name is Jesus! His ways are honorable. You must follow Him to places of safety. You must look neither right nor left. Keep your eyes only on Him and you will find peace when everyone around you is at war in their hearts. Learn to follow Him with all of your heart now or you will follow the blind guides when things become dark."

Joshua 24:15 NIV

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Psalm 20:6-7 AMP

6) Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

7) Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "This is the way; walk in it."

Jeremiah 12:5 AMP

[But the Lord rebukes Jeremiah's impatience, saying] If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if [you take flight] in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do [when you tread the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions] in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?

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.

 

For many years, the Lord has been exhorting His people to draw close to Him, to take their nourishment only from the Father. Many have! Those who have done so find their entire worth in Jesus. He is their only safety! He is their only joy. His ways are their only guide for living. Those who haven't are beginning to reel in confusion. A gnawing spirit of fear is taking hold deep in the recesses of their hearts. Unless they fully submit to Jesus and find everything in Him, they will soon be overcome with fear. They will attempt to find safety when there is no safety other than in Christ.

Where do you stand? Is Jesus simply a convenient add-on to your life or is He your entire reason for breathing? You must choose this day whom you will serve.

I choose You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

        "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, undergirds and points 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