Tag: Devotional

“It’s time to fall in love with Jesus again. Mechanical Christianity cannot and will not work. It never has. It will not now. Those who were sent to the arena would have cursed Me, if they had not been passionately in love, burning with zeal, and intimately concerned for My Word to be performed in their lives. I chose them to carry the torch of My love into the darkness of their world. The privilege of carrying the Name of My Son cost them everything, a price they were delighted to pay. They loved with a loyal love. They could not and did not play the kind of Christian games that your generation is playing. Hypocrites were found out quickly. Religious bigots turned and ran.

“I am asking you once again to carry My love into the darkness. You are in training in a season of relative peace. Flee from your cold fellowships that contain cold people and useless programs. Fall on your face and do what it takes to fall deeply in love with Jesus. It is the only way you will properly represent Him when I call for you.”

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?

Amos 5:21 AMP 

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell a savor or take delight in your solemn assemblies.

Heb. 12:1 AMP 

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.

 

It is so easy to forget our real purpose for living. It is difficult for us to understand that those who willingly gave up their lives for the gospel of Jesus Christ were the same kind of people we are.

Someone once said: “God does not call equipped people; He equips called people.” You need to know that you are called by God as His personal representative. He is, at this very moment, equipping you for mighty things, like laying your life down for another, loving those who hate you, understanding that you are not your own and have been bought with the high price of the life of Jesus, etc. etc.

Time for another overhaul, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Why are you so concerned over the circumstances in which you find yourself? When did you forget all that I have taught you so far? Don’t you remember how I do things? When you ask Me for things, I give you more of Myself. That is the best gift that I can think of. When you ask Me for help, I give you My power to overcome. You may not be delivered from your trial, but you will overcome. There is nothing that can withstand My everyday force against the foes of My children.

“Don’t you remember that We are in this covenant relationship together? We share what the other is. In your weakness, I am strong. Become weak in Me; I will remain strong for you and through you.”

Phil. 2:12b-13 AMP

12b) … work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13) [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

II Cor 12:9-10 NIV

9) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

10) That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

In my teens and early twenties, I used to work on cars quite a bit. I would buy “junkers” and fix them up to sell them, hopefully making some kind of a profit.

One of the tools that I used to use was affectionately known as a “knuckle buster.” It was an adjustable wrench that would efficiently remove a nut that was fairly loose and not frozen in place by rust.

As I was about to use the wrench for the first time, my dad warned me to use it only in the previously mentioned circumstances or the wrench would round off the nut, slip, and cause my knuckles to hit the closest object with whatever force I happened to be applying to the wrench at the time. I don’t remember my reaction to his words - it was probably some “know it all” kind of teen grunt - but I do remember my reaction the first time I misused the wrench while trying to save time. (In fact, tears almost come to my eyes now as I recall the countless times I had the privilege of experiencing that pain. It was not fun!)

We laugh, but most of us play out some version of that story each day in our relationship with God. It’s almost like we read some of the directions for doing things God’s way a long time ago and decided just after reading them that we understand completely and can do things just fine on our own now, thank you very much!!

In my day, bandages on our hands or skinned knuckles were some kind of “badge of courage” with my buddies and me. We almost paraded our ignorance with a “Yep! I’ve been workin’ on my machine again” kind of bravado.

How foolish it is to regard the teachings of our Lord in the same way. He has told us that if we trust Him completely our “skinned knuckles” will be at a minimum in this life. Since the bandages we need are mostly spiritual, few people see our wounds. They are very real, however, and most of them could be avoided if we would only follow our Father’s directions.

Ouch!

Jim Corbett

“Do you fully understand the privilege of being in My family? Do you really comprehend the alternative? With your acceptance comes responsibility. You have My Name to uphold. You have My desires to fulfill. You have other members of My family to undergird as they progress in their relationship with Me. A high price was paid for your acceptance. How grateful are you?”

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...”

Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

23) “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Matthew 25:14-30 NIV

14) "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.

15) To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

16) The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

17) So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.

18) But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19) "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

20) The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21) "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22) "The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23) "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24) "Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,' he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

25) So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26) "His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

27) Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28) " ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

29) For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

30) And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' “

 

During our travels throughout the United States, we encounter many people who call themselves Christians. Some really are an example and testimony of Jesus. Many, however, seem to have lost their perspective of Christ’s crucified life, and have turned the Gospel inward. They seem to fully accept the privilege of a relationship with Christ but place the responsibilities that come with it somewhere behind all their own agendas.

Serving Christ and accepting His Lordship over our lives is the answer to all human life. It is not a game, nor is it a membership into a “bless me” club. It is a covenant with the Creator of all things. It is a binding contract that is overseen and monitored by the Lord Himself. This covenant agreement with Jesus is taken very seriously in heavenly places. It should be taken very seriously every moment of our lives.

Show me what I agreed to, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“I see all the things that you’re doing for Me, but I’d rather talk. Don’t you feel a little lonely without My presence? Wouldn’t things work better for you if I was at the center of them? Why are you running ahead of Me? We haven’t spent enough time together to have you know My heart. That really has to change. I need to share some pretty vital information with you before you move out again, thinking I am with you. Make Me your priority. Doing good things is not necessarily what I want for you. I want your heart to be in line with My heart. Then We can move together.”

Ps. 16:11 AMP 

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Amos 5:14 NIV

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.

Micah 7:7 AMP

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

 

If we continue to do a bunch of good things and never really learn to wait in God’s presence, we have missed the purpose of the cross. The world knows how to do good things. In fact, because most of us are undone when we come to Christ, we spend most of our days finding answers to our questions and can’t even see the needs around us.

How are you spending your days? Are you firmly convinced that the things you are doing are birthed and anointed by God, or are they just right looking and right sounding events that have little eternal value?

Lord, I want to know you more,

Jim Corbett

“I’m ready if you are! I’m ready to move if you are willing to put into effect what you have been trained to do. You need to wait in My presence to gain My will before you move. Move only when I tell you to move. Move only with those I give you. Listen to My heart in all of your decisions. Seek wise counsel. Walk in love. Remember why I have called you. Focus on your calling. Wait for My presence. Anticipate miracles when you need them. Enjoy the ride; you are My agent of change!”

Exodus 17:12 AMP 

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Deut. 1:6 NIV 

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV 

13) “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Matt.16:19  AMP

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth, must be whatever is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

John 7:6-8 NIV

6) Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.

7) The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.

8) You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come.”

 

With the Lord, timing is everything. When I study the heart of God, I see Him moving at determined times with precise measures. Most of us make the mistake of receiving a direction and then running ahead of His will with our own concept of what He has told us. What happens then is a perfect crash and burn scenario.

Allow the Lord to awaken your heart to His next move in your life. Wait for His precise directions. Seek wise counsel. Move in love. The Lord has determined your path. If it is His time for you to move ahead, walk in His perfect will.

Teach me to wait, Lord,

Jim Corbett