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8/07/26 Nothing to Offer

“Soon it will become evident that you will not be able to impart to others what they need to survive. Because they have not responded to My continuous wooing to draw close so that I can give them My Spirit, My wisdom, and My life, they will have nothing to offer anyone. They will not even have enough for themselves. They will ask you for what you have, but you can only send them to Me. I am what they need. They will ask for too much, too late.” 

Matt. 25:1-12 NIV

1) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4) The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6) At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7) Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8) The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9) ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10) But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11) Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir! they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12) But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”

 

To continually remain unresponsive to the Holy Spirit’s wooing to draw close to the Lord, which is clearly evident in this land, is foolish and will reap little reward in the future. When we need what only God can give us, it must be on tap. Future seasons will be overcome with what has been gained from today’s intimacy.

Open my eyes, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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8/07/26 Comfort Zone Gifts

After broadcasting a person's need for a couch over the air at our radio station, we found ourselves staring at something that once resembled furniture in the living room of someone who answered the request. When we refused the explosion of stuffing that was home for her cat, the woman said, "Well, what am I supposed to do with it now?"

Her "gift" to someone in need may be the extreme example of wrong motives, but her attitude resembles the attitude of the church throughout history. Although heartfelt generosity propels the gospel of Jesus, there is an underlying plague of corrupt thinking originally confronted by Jesus. As gifts were being given, He asked a question that rings through the centuries right up to each of us. "Who gives more, those guys over there who give out of their abundance, or the widow who gives a small amount, but it is all that she has?"

As a covering for our families, we as men are to teach those in our midst about the heart of Jesus by our actions. When referring to gifts and giving, we are stewards, not owners of everything we have. We are to teach others about the cross of Jesus by sacrifice, not by giving away our surplus. If a person has untold wealth and gives a seemingly large amount away, God looks upon the gift as far less than one who gives very little, but it is all they have.

Be assured that people who don't know Christ - and for that matter our children, - are watching us as fathers, and how we function. Without knowing it, how we act in every area of our lives is speaking much louder than our words. The freedom in which we give to others, especially sacrificial giving, broadcasts volumes to those who may not understand the cross and its work. People see Jesus in every cup of cold water given by us, especially if the water given means that we go thirsty. Are you ready to be uncomfortable?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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8/06/26 Born in This Season

“Are you not aware of the times and seasons? Who has swayed you from My ways? Have you stopped looking for the soon coming of My Son? Do you plan for His coming every day? You need to shake off the things that have distracted you. They have clouded your eyes and quieted your hearing of why you have been born in this season. Listen carefully! This is not about you! The enemy of My Word is zealous to preach his lies to deceive many, while you crave more comfortable places to hide. He understands what is about to happen and is forming death grips on those who will listen. Many are hearing him because you are not living the truth of Jesus. They need to hear My voice. Who will show them if you don’t? Wake up. Realign your priorities now!”

Proverbs 29:21 AMP

He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him expecting the rights of a son afterward.

Jeremiah 10:23 AMP

Oh, Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps.

1 Cor. 13:11 AMP

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

 

What I have been realizing lately is the fact that there is still a portion of me that is in this walk with the Lord for my good rather than for the fulfillment of His plans. It really boils down to the issue of Lordship. I want to be lord over things that I need to control. As I do that, I lose sight of the plan of God for my life and make demands on Him to fulfill my needs. One day, I will realize that this life is not all about me, and He is not in the business of allowing me to live as though it is.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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8/06/26 Honoring God

As I read through the Word, there are many ways in which we are to honor God. In a nutshell, I believe that honoring our Father in heaven is an attitude of the heart. I know that statement is not a lightning flash revelation, but it is something to be considered as we husbands and fathers go about the business of being an example to our families.

One of the foremost ways that I see of honoring God is found in the heart words of Jesus, when He said that He did nothing of Himself, but everything He did was of His Father in heaven. That's quite a statement. Most of us tough, independent guys gloss over those words, never really understanding the profound impact they would have on our lives if we followed them in everything we do.

Think of the major direction shift our lives would take if we refused to do anything, I mean anything, unless we did it only after we knew that what we did was in our Father's perfect will. I am convinced that would be one of the highest honors we could give Him.

Honoring God by simply finding His heart before we move in any direction would have more impact on our lives and the lives of those around us than we could ever imagine. The understanding that we are paying Him the highest honor we can give, if waiting on Him becomes one of our highest goals, is a challenge that most of us really need to consider. Will you?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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8/05/26 The Real Issues

“I have called you to a higher place. I have taught you to reside in that place with Me. Your world is again attempting to force you to take sides on issues, involve you in controversies, and coerce you to move in directions that are designed to distract you from the real issues that need your complete attention. The more you become involved in the daily distractions, the less you will be able to hear Me when I call you. You need to remember that I have been training you for such a time as this. Understand that others, who are not as mature as you, need you to maintain a proper presence in front of them. You must keep a clear head and remain steadfast in the mission to which I have called you.

“Do not be distracted because of outside influences. Listen carefully. I am about to make the impossible possible in many of your lives. I am about to bring forth miracles and wonders to draw many to Jesus. You need to be where I have called you to be, not in some place, reacting to something that has temporarily garnered your attention. Keep your focus. Remain steadfast in prayer. Stay diligent and on course. If you move only when I tell you to move, you will be where I want you to be. I can then accomplish My desires through you.”

Esther 4:14 AMP   For if you keep silent at this time; relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

 

Throughout the Word, God has placed specific people in specific places to accomplish specific tasks for Him. Positioned properly, these agents allow the power and presence of the Lord to accomplish tasks. They witness miracles and proclaim His Word in due season. Leaders such as Joshua, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, Esther, the apostles, Paul, D. L. Moody, Charles Finney, Smith Wigglesworth, and others too numerous to mention continually moved with the Lord and accomplished much for Him.

Each move of the Lord required obedient, usually ordinary men and women during a specific time and place, who accomplished extraordinary missions for Him. I’m sure that each mission would still have been accomplished if that ordained individual hadn’t shown up for the job. The Lord would have used someone else. However, these people saw the presence of the Lord firsthand because of their obedience.

We are living in astounding times. If these are not the end of the end of times, (I firmly believe that they are,) future Christians could be reading about many of us who have gone before them, because of the exploits that we were involved in for our Lord. We could be the past men and women of faith to them.

In each generation and season, the life of every man and woman has great purpose and matters deeply to the Lord. Every one of us has been born for such a time as this as surely as Esther was. The training that we have been through, or are going through now, will be used in many ways and for many reasons to help fulfill the plan of God.

Would it not be wise, then, to covet our time with our Father, dismissing every distraction that would hinder that fellowship and keep us from hearing His direction every moment of every day? Wouldn’t it be even more wonderful to know that each of us is exactly where we are supposed to be at any given moment, so that the Lord is free to use us for His purposes? On the other hand, wouldn’t it be horrible to find out that someone else had to be used in a particular instance because we were not obedient?

Wanting to be exactly where I’m supposed to be every day, all the time,

Jim Corbett

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