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6/22/22 A Friend Forever

“How do you feel when people you love violate every trust you’ve given them, break every promise they’ve made to you; and choose to be friends with those who desire to harm you? What if they never defend you, even if they call you their friend? What would you do to those people?

"Well, I choose to love you, forgive you, and continue to invest all that I am in you. I will never give up on you! I have purchased you with a great price and I call you My friend forever.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

9) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Romans 2:4 NIV

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

It is so very easy to observe the behavior of others and miss our own foolishness. In the beginning of this Father’s Heart, most of us would have empathy with the Lord as He asks us the questions above. When we discover that we are doing the very same offenses against Him that we surely wouldn’t want done against us, it becomes a much different story.

To top it off, we also find that while we were offending Him, He was pouring grace and mercy our way. That should bring all but the hardest heart to a life change of repentance. It should make even the coldest attitude do an about face. Did it make you choose to change any of your ways?

Break my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/22/22 God’s Kind of Integrity

In a world of throw-away relationships, marginal commitments, and a redefined meaning of integrity, we - as men of God - are called to walk in the kind of no compromise integrity Jesus had. He walked so far above the ways of the world that compromised, hardened individuals couldn’t stand to be with Him. In fact, they had to rid Him from their midst because He walked in the integrity of His Father.

A man known for uncompromised integrity is looked upon in two ways. To those seeking truth, he is an inspiration. His life shines bright in a darkened world. He is sought out by those who have grown weary of the slippery slope half-truths. His life is a refreshing example to follow.

On the other hand, if you walk in God’s kind of uncompromised integrity, every force of evil that dwells in those who hate the ways of God will be loosed against you. You’ll be looked upon as someone who “just doesn’t understand.” Often you’ll be standing alone, sometimes looking like a fool to those who don’t think as you do. Your circle of “friends” will grow smaller and smaller as you walk in a light that shines on the compromise in them. They’ll eventually hate you for who you are and what you stand for. You’ll eventually be looked upon with the same disdain Jesus experienced. What great company to be in!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

6/21/22 Walking Through the Opening

“The brightness of the light you exhibit to your world is directly dependent on the depth of your intimacy with Me. I don’t mean the flashy, impressive-talking kind of religious light that carries many shadows. I mean the world-changing, eternity-impacting, Christ-representing kind of light that changes lives. That kind only comes from being with Me enough to be able to take what I give you and share it with others, without it having lost any of its effectiveness.

"When We are together, I give you Myself. When you are interacting with those around you, how much of My presence you are able to share depends on how much or little there is of you - how much there is of you that has not been given over to Jesus. Come to Me for real life, not for things. I will use you to affect your world.”

John 6:57 AMP

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me.

Gal. 2:20 AMP

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

1 Cor. 6:19b, 20 NIV

19b) …You are not your own;

20) you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Christ wrote His life into ours when He died on the cross. We have the privilege of sharing that life with others; in fact, it’s our life’s work if we choose to accept it.

It fascinates me how much we misinterpret the way we are to show Jesus to the world. We study books, go to meetings, pray for things; and do many activities that look and sound as if we are spiritual. We fail, however, to take the path that has been laid out for us - the path of being intimate with God.

At the time of Jesus’ death, the veil to God’s presence was torn in two pieces, giving us complete access to the Almighty. Foolishly, few of us walk through that opening often enough to take His real presence to others, which we have been given the honor of doing.

Help me wear out that path, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/21/22 Helpless Before God

Being helpless before God is the opposite of weakness. It allows the believer to tap into the limitless power and supernatural wealth of God and His kingdom. Purposeful helplessness is true to the character of Christ as He did nothing of Himself but only what He saw the Father doing.

As a husband and father, you’re required to create an atmosphere of loving trust and obedience to God. Your example is the best way for your children to learn how to walk as Jesus walked. It’s the place of safety for most wives. When they’re confident that their husbands are submitting to the Lord on their behalf, they find fertile ground to prosper in Christ.

Macho independence - a life of attempting to meet daily challenges and prosper in personal confidence and human strength - is a walk of ignorance. It’s the formula for failure as the world grows darker. It’s the path the enemy would love you and your family to stay on.

Our human strength is no match for the spiritual warfare established against us. Only in the power of God will we be able to withstand the war that’s designed to hinder us from overseeing a prosperous family that’s doing significant work for the Lord. Only in His supernatural strength will any of us be the kind of man the world needs to see as we walk in the character of Christ. We become strong as we deny our own puny human strength and tap into the overwhelming power of our life in Christ. That’s done through a surrendered heart, one that understands its own human frailty and the joy of fully submitting to the power of God.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

6/20/22 Living for Others

The slogan the Lord has given us for our MASH United ministry is “Living for Others with Brothers We Trust.” Living for others is something we do because it’s very much on the heart of God. It’s a goal for any man who says he’s devoted himself to Jesus. Living for yourself is diametrically opposed to the way Jesus lived.

Finding brothers we can trust is where it gets a little dicey. Most men live with surface friendships, unless we’re driven to trust one another by mutual need, like combat situations or childhood friendships that continue into adulthood. In today’s society of throwaway friendships, few stand the test of time.

God, however, is in the process of developing kinsmen friendships and covenant relationships. These associations are God-welded relationships, where two or more walk together to overcome the world and its ways in the seasons to come. They are Holy Spirit-empowered alliances that will provide the opportunity for all involved to live for the best interests of the others while accomplishing God’s plans.

As a husband and father walking through the challenges that affect your family, be on the lookout for those men who function with the same heart as David’s mighty men. Prepare to have men brought into your life that are dedicated to God first, and trained to live out the heart of Jesus toward others. Prepare yourself to be the same kind of trusted friend. God will build these relationships; our job is to surrender to His will so we can become a trusted friend to those He sends our way.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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