Tag: Christianity

“Do you realize how much I cherish those around you? I love them as much as I love you. Some are already Mine. Others are being given chances to see Jesus in action through you. Make sure that you love them. Make sure that you become aware of their needs and give those needs as much credence as you give your own.

 “Devote your life to them as Jesus did. They are at the center of My heart just as you are. Hold them close for Me. Show them My love. Show them Who Jesus is by showing them who you have become because of Him.”

1 Cor. 11:1 NIV

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

2 Cor. 5:20a NIV

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

I John 3:16-18 AMP

16) By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

17) But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?

18) Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

 

Some people, who come into your life, you will be able to embrace. Others, you won’t. Some will embrace you. Others will cheat you. Most will tolerate who you are. A few will love you. All those who come into your life are brought to you by the Lord, so that they can see who Jesus is, process what they see; and decide if they want to know more about Him. How well are you representing Him to your world?

Help me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“What is yours that I haven’t given you? For that matter, what have you claimed ownership of that is Mine? I am deeply concerned over your heart attitude of ownership and what you have claimed to be yours, using it to pad your comfort areas when I have planned to use it for My work.

 “You return small portions of what I have called you to be a steward of and believe that I haven’t noticed. You even have the nerve to justify your folly and choose to be blind to those I send to you for help, saying in your heart that you have done enough.

 “It’s time for you to look around! What are you claiming to be yours that you do not own? What do you have in your hand that I have intended for My work? How much of what you claim as yours have I really allowed you to keep? How do you justify your selfishness when My workers cannot use what I have intended for them?

 “You have held up My blessing for them and for you. I am asking you this day for an accounting. Come to Me with your answer.”

Ps. 24:1 NIV

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Ps.106:12-15 AMP

12) Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise.

13) But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them,

14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

15) And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…

Proverbs 29:21 AMP

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

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.”

Hosea 13:6 NIV

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

 

Stewardship of any kind is a very delicate subject to those who have selfish hearts. It is a delightful conversation to those who fully understand God’s principles and have only His desires in their hearts.

Make us all aware of Your ways once again, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you noticed the hardness of heart in some of My children? Have you missed the joy they once had? Do you see the unrest settling in My church as they begin to trust the world’s ways for their security? So many are working harder to get ahead, when I am calling them to spend time with Me. So many are working for the things they have purchased to calm their unrest.

“In their attempt to buy possessions to give them happiness, they have substituted a false god for their provision. That god has never really met their needs and is powerless as things become darker. The god they looked to has now become the god that has no answer. Everything they purchased from him to satisfy their foolish needs are now the overwhelming burdens for which they must pay.

“Make no mistake - I am God. Serve no other gods. Turn back to Me with all of your heart and I will give you true rest. Turn completely to Me and I will give purpose to your life.”

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 25:12-14 NIV

12) Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13) He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14) The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Prov. 28:14 AMP

Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is the man who reverently and worshipfully fears [the Lord] at all times [regardless of the circumstances], but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Matthew 5:13 AMP

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

 

As the purifying of the children of God intensifies, those who say that they love Jesus - but really only love themselves and the world - become distinguished by their actions. True motives for living are revealed as trials and challenges are placed in their lives. As sad as it is to see and as horrible as the prospects are for these selfish hearts, it brings great opportunity to function as Jesus would in their midst. We can learn to care as He did for their souls. We can be an example of inspired living in a dark world. We can show confidence in a Father Who is all and everything that’s ever needed.

The life you and I live is important to God, to us, and to others. It is important to God, because we are placed as His presence in a dark world, as the life of Jesus flows through us to those who need to see Him. Our lives are important to us, because we have found the answer to life in Jesus Christ and are aligning our hearts continually with His heart, as we walk with purpose through our days in service to the Lord. Our lives are important to others, because God can use our Christ-centered lives to show them His unconditional love, address their needs, and share His plan of redemption and reconciliation. Hopefully, they too will be drawn into their own relationship with Him.

Teach me to not waste a minute of my life, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Wait! Stand just a little longer! Soon I will move on your behalf. You will see how I have answered your prayers to Me. It is My delight to give you what is best for you. Look through what is visible at first and rejoice as your answer unfolds.”

 Psalm 111:2 NIV

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

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.

Isaiah 66:9 AMP

Shall I bring to the [moment of] birth and not cause to bring forth? says the Lord. Shall I Who causes to bring forth shut the womb? says your God.

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30) And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

 

Sometimes we don’t recognize answered prayer when it comes. More of the character of Jesus is the best answer we can ever receive. It is the gift that compounds itself - straightening our path, meeting many needs; and even modifying our future prayers and petitions as we properly respond to His heart working in us.

True crucifixion means that a death must happen. We are called to be dead in Christ, so that His life can be lived through each of us. The hardest thing about being dead in Christ is lying on the slab as if dead until He calls us forth or answers our prayers.

Most of us, instead of patiently waiting for the Lord to intervene in our lives, get up off the slab, pace around the tomb, kick at the stone; and yell at God to roll away the stone because we feel we’ve been there long enough. When our patience wears out, we take a pry bar, move the stone ourselves (doing whatever we can do in our own strength to get us out of our pressure situation,) and go forth in very much the same manner as we did before - powerless, fully alive to our own strength, and “lean of soul” in the work of the Lord. We have no real power to give others, because we have not allowed Christ’s power to be formed in us.

Give me the patience to wait for You to answer, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“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