Tag: Faith

“If I asked you to sell all your possessions, give the proceeds to the poor, and come and follow Jesus, would you really do it? Even though you may believe in your heart that you would and know that the heart of Jesus is in you to do so, you would need to repent of your selfishness. You still own much of what you say that you have given away in your heart. It still owns you! You must do something about that while you still can.

"I am not telling you to give everything away. The things you have are simply a benchmark of your maturity in Christ. I am, however, asking you to notice where you really are with Me. How much of your life and loves are really under the Lordship of Jesus? You may be really surprised to find out.”

Matt.16:22-23 NIV

22) Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Out of my sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

I find so much compassion and love in this message. Read it again from the perspective of a loving Father, who is giving an honest appraisal to His child regarding the condition of his or her heart. See it from a concerned Father’s perspective, who has lovingly studied His child, all with the child’s best interests at heart.

If we study the Scriptures, we see that Jesus exposed the things that people really served, even though they either believed that they were doing right or they were performing selfish actions masked as service to God. His directness offended some, challenged others, and became cold drinks of water to the thirsty soul. Truth always is that way. It gets to the core of things.

I believe that our Lord wants us to get truthful with our own hearts. Who are we really? What must change so that we can return to the road of truth? Are we willing to acknowledge our need, so that we can approach Him for help?

Help me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Some of you are so busy looking for My will for your life that you miss what I have planned for you. My plan for you is to fellowship with Me. As We talk, you will know My heart and your place in what I am doing. You miss so much when you miss My reasons for getting together. Make Our time together your priority, and you will never be uncertain as to where I desire to apply My life through you.”

Eph. 3:14-19 AMP

14) For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15) For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

When my daughter Jubilee was just old enough to walk, she and I headed for a tool barn on our property.  We started walking and I remember being very frustrated with her as she picked up little stones, smelled pretty flowers, and pointed to “the birdies.” I remember turning to her, urging her to walk faster, when the Lord spoke to my heart. He impressed upon me that my daughter was going for a walk with me, while I was just heading for the barn. I was so intent on the destiny that I missed the privilege of being with her.

So often it is the same with our relationship with our Lord. We become so busy “getting there,” that we even use our time with Him only to find answers, rather than experience the wondrous fellowship to which we have been invited. How foolish!

Teach me to go for quiet walks with You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“When you love deeply, you commit a violent act against the powers of darkness. When you choose the ways of Jesus over the ways of the world, you destroy strongholds set up to minimize your life. The ways of God are violent against spiritual darkness. They aggressively advance truth.

"Good has won over evil with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Good still wins over evil when you live as Jesus lived, love as He loves, and lay down your life for others as He did. It is a violent way to live, for the enemy has no power over a crucified life. The life of Jesus lived through you wins every battle, destroys every evil scheme, and aggressively advances My kingdom. His kind of love is unstoppable warfare.”

Matthew 11:12 NIV 

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”

Matthew 11:12 KJV

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

John 15:12-14 NIV

12) “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13) Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

14) You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Jesus was brought into a world so perilous that children were killed at the whimsical edict of an evil king, crucifixions were as commonplace as morning walks, and people were held in slavery to ignorant teachers and foolish guides, yet He was absolutely fearless. His passionate love, His intimacy with His Father, and His zeal for imparting truth made Him “Teflon” in a world seething with infectious evil and eternal danger. His presence in any society was a gift of love from His Father God. We are in training to be the same kind of gift to those around us wherever our Father sends us.

Jesus could be fearless because He loved perfectly. He cared only for others and desired nothing for Himself. Even though He had all power, He was under full submission to the will of His Father. In His heart, He had given away everything, so He had no fear of someone robbing Him, even of His life. He held Himself in lower esteem than everyone, even the lowly leper, so no one could destroy His reputation. Jesus’ love was so pure that He was absolutely free from any peril that the world would attempt to place on Him.

Teach me to love as You love, Lord,

Jim Corbett