Tag: Christian

“Future believers are in need of you. Do you know that I am counting on you to grow up, so that I can trust you with those who will be coming to Jesus in the great harvest that is beginning? You need to take your eyes off of yourself and your own needs and begin to learn of Me for the sake of others. In your self-absorption, even arrogance, your life in Christ has become about you, rather than about Jesus and those who will embrace Him. Stop that selfish attitude. Turn your hearts now. I need you to grow up! Help get My Word to those who need to hear it. When they do hear, hold them close for Me. Lead them to a deeper, more loving walk. You need to go there first!”

Isaiah 28:9-10 TLB  

9) “Who does Isaiah think he is,” the people say, “to speak to us like this! Are we little children, barely old enough to talk?

10) “He tells us everything over and over again, a line at a time and in such simple words!”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

…the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Hosea 13:6 NIV

“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

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.

2 Cor. 12:15 AMP

But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls.

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

12) So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

 

In Isaiah 28, Isaiah is talking to the drunken prophets and priests who lay in their own vomit, the people who were supposed to hear from God and teach others how to follow Him. Can’t you just smell the pompous arrogance and disdain that they had for this real prophet of God, who exposed the stench of their sin by expressing truth?

They thought that they knew how to follow God and had no clue that they couldn’t follow truth even when God gave it to them in the simplest of terms. In fact, they were offended that it was presented in a way that was beneath their station in life. His humble obedience exposed their arrogance. What a contrast to Paul’s heart to willingly exhaust his life for the sake of others.

Create in me a clean heart, Lord. Keep me teachable and “exhaustible,”

Jim Corbett

“Forever is an extremely long time. We are going to have an unlimited number of times together. I have been patient, but My patience has served its purpose. All things are about to come into My planned order. Everything is unfolding as I have told you it would. Stand for just a little while longer. The refining fires must do their work. They are necessary to accomplish the foundations of future plans and other ordained movements. You may see these times as the end of the end times; I perceive them as the beginning of future eternities. Oh, We will have so much wonderful time together! Wait until you see what I have planned for you!”

Psalm 51:10 AMP

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering and steadfast spirit within me.

Isaiah 48:3  NIV 

“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

 

Most of us are so focused on our own little problems and our own personal worlds that we have forgotten how much more of real life there is. If I understand the Bible, we have eternities upon eternities to spend with the Lord. Our present life is simply a wisp of time compared to what is left.

What concerns me, however, is that those who do not pass the tests of these times - particularly the main one of accepting Jesus as their Savior so that they do have a bright future - are soon going to be in a world of hurt. Maybe we should get our eyes off ourselves and our own puny needs and begin to think about those who need to see Jesus before it’s too late. What do you think? Is that a “DUH,” or what?

Help me to focus on what is important to You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Are you really learning the lessons I am teaching you? Are they being burned into your heart or do you just retain them in your mind for reference? You need to make what I teach you your private stock. You need to own them. Feed on them. Practice them at every turn in your life. Apply them in your relationships with others. Don’t waste one moment of My time with you. I will require that you deem Our times together worth your while. I will give you whatever time you need to grow if you consider it of value. If you don’t, I will find someone who will.”

2 Chr. 16:9 NIV

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”

Isaiah 42:25 AMP

Therefore He poured out upon [Israel] the fierceness of His anger and the strength of battle. And it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not [the lesson of repentance which the Assyrian conquest was intended to teach]; it burned him, but he did not lay it to heart.

 

Few of us realize how important it is to not waste God’s time. We need to understand that His purpose is to use those who choose to be used in His plans.

I am reminded of the television show “Welcome Back Kotter.” There was a character named Horshack who would jump up and down with his hand raised in the air in the back of the school classroom when he knew the answer. He enthusiastically wanted to be called upon.

As the Lord’s eyes go throughout the earth looking for those who want to serve Him, it would be wonderful for all of us to act that enthusiastically, wanting to be called upon by Him. That zeal would help us learn the lessons we’re being taught and use them wisely for His purposes.

Pick me, Lord,

Jim Corbett