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11/01/21 Pursuing a Higher Standard

As a husband and father, would you do anything to change your ways if you realized the lives of your wife and children are gifts that will be presented to God one day? Who they become will be laid at the feet of our Lord. Because you hold these offices, you’re a steward of those lives. You’re responsible to provide an atmosphere for them to become all they can be in Christ and you’ll answer to God for the result.

You see, as Christian men, you and I are called to a higher standard than those who live in the world. We’re to love more, serve more, and have God’s higher purposes in mind for everything we do. We are God’s representatives on this earth. He owns our lives, which makes us stewards of them for His honor and glory.

In the world, husbands and fathers are considered a success if their marriage is outwardly OK and their children are accepted by society’s standards. You have a higher call. God asks that your marriage be an example of the relationship of Christ and His church. He asks that your children come to know Him personally through their submission to Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and serve Him with all their hearts. He asks you to pave the way for that to happen through the power of the Holy Spirit. Success in His eyes is far different than the supposed success of the world. Which will you choose?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/30/21 In School

“Do not become weary because of the trials that I am taking you through. Do not harden your heart because I am showing you all that is out of order in you and around you.  Do not think that I have forgotten you because your prayers don’t seem to be answered. You are in school.  You are in My extreme training course, because you have said that you wanted Me to be your everything. I am building the compassion of Jesus in you.  I am placing mercy for others in your heart, which before that held judgment.  I am placing the warrior spirit of Jesus in you and removing the warring spirit of the world.

"In this time of training, come to Me often. Apply My Word to your life. Commune with Jesus. Speak regularly to those of the same mind and heart. Remember that you had strength for all things when you functioned in the first-love qualities of Jesus. Get to know Him again. Lose sight of those things that seem urgent and regain the vision for the things that I consider important. Be strong in the power of My mighty power.”

Eph 4:12-13 AMP 

12) His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and the completeness found in Him.

Phil 4:13 AMP

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

 

Inspired by the wonderful book, In His Steps, there was a trend a while back that flowed throughout the body of Christ, and even touched the secular market. It was the phrase, “WWJD - What would Jesus do?” As wonderful as that phrase is, and even though the thought gave much to those who chose to follow it, it lacked something very essential. It lacked intimacy.

We, as followers of Christ, have been given an astounding gift. We have the privilege of communicating and communing with the Savior of the World, the Master of All Things – Jesus!     As with every trend, someone came up with a modification of the original idea. In this case, the modification is more accurate than the original. Have you ever seen the bracelet, “WWYDJ - What Would You Do, Jesus?” The intimacy of asking our Lord how He would deal with any situation is far better than studying His actions from a distance. Our ability to communicate with Him has been won for us at the cross. Sharing time with Jesus gives us everything we need to overcome anything we face, as we are being trained to be like Him. We also get to know Him when we talk to Him, as well as through reading the Word and following hard after Him.

Thank You for walking with me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/30/21 Just Say Yes

Make sure you respond to the call God has for your life. Make sure you don’t choose to take the easier road by living a life that’s different than God intended.

If you follow hard after God, you’ll probably feel like you’re on the outside looking in within the church. I'm not talking about doing weird things that discredit the integrity of the Gospel. I mean that if you follow the example of the life of Jesus and move only when and where God tells you, people will not understand. You may find yourself giving away your possessions, taking a lesser job so you can reach people, or - heaven forbid - trusting God completely for your provision while you go into full time service.

One of the most heart-wrenching sights you'll ever see is the  emptiness in the eyes of those who have not responded to the call of God, usually because of fear or their lust for worldly goods. Those desires may be simple things, like security, new clothes, or a new car. They understand deep down that they have heard the call of their Creator and have said "no" when asked to fulfill His desires for their lives. Nothing,  absolutely nothing, will satisfy the emptiness of soul that follows.

After saying “no” to the Lord, most of them eventually find themselves working feverishly at some other ministry or filling a myriad  of church positions to cover up the emptiness. The end result is almost always an involvement with other weary, often critical people who are also doing good works, attempting to make a difference of some sort to cover their pain, rather than following after God's original plan for their lives. How sad! How grievous to God. Just say yes!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/29/21 Predigested Food

“You may notice that I am requiring you to experience the messages you will be giving to those around you. I am finished with My messengers spouting other people’s lessons and teachings. Soon, only those who are willing to come to Me for their nourishment, and then live My teachings, will have My anointing to provide food for others.

"How can you give away what you do not own? Why do you feel that you have the right to be exempt from “owning” the lessons you want to give away? Most of you have been giving away predigested food; food received from Me by others. Because of the anointing on it, it has nourished those in need and you have been able to survive. You, however, have become malnourished because you have not received your life directly from Me.

"I am now requiring you to not only be the message; you must be well-fed from My hand, or your words will fall to the ground in front of you, giving little nourishment to others. Become hungry for My Word. Require Me as your source for life. Seek Me for your life and tell others to do the same.”

Amos 5:4b AMP

…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP 

16) Every Scripture is God–breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose and action),

17) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

If you chose to give someone a car that was owned by your neighbor, your gift would be less than perfect, wouldn’t it? That may be a somewhat foolish example, but it does drive home a point. Unless you really own something, you have no right to give it away.

People, who are well-equipped to share the life of the Word of God, do so from having that Word completely formed within them, given from the One Who wrote it. It nourishes and brings life to their being and is fit to give life to others by the performance of that Word in their everyday walk. That kind of life only comes from spending time in the Word and waiting on the Lord to reveal its spiritual calories to your inner being.

Today’s malnourished church will listen to tapes, go to sermons, and read books, rather than go to God themselves for their food. These are all very good activities and well worth investing in, but they can never replace the life and wealthy counsel that is received at the hand of our Lord and from the lap of our Father.

Draw me close, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/29/21 The Bad Guys

As men, we are taught to hold on to our own safety and make sure no one takes our stuff. Some time ago, the Lord startled me while I was in one of those quiet-almost-sleepy-could-really-be-dozing kind of prayer times. His voice was quiet and full of love. He said, "I want you to know that I love your most aggressive enemies as much as I love you. There is no one on the face of this earth that I wish would perish. I want you to pray for all those who hate Me. In fact, I want you to pray for anyone who will hate My children. Pray that they will be able to share My love."

Then things got personally serious. "I want you to pray for those who will kill you. I don't mean that someone is going to do that, necessarily; but I want you to have the heart that would care about their salvation more than you care about your own life." By now, I was awake. Pray for someone who hated me enough to kill me! Love others - even the bad guys?

The Lord then reminded me of His actions on the cross. He had words of forgiveness for those who were spitting on Him and an attitude of great love for those who drove the nails in His hands. He told me to do the same with anyone who came against me. It was enough to remind me this life is not centered around my well-being. What a novel thought!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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