Week Forty-Six - Radiant

Our Saviour is often portrayed with deep melancholy eyes and a solemn look. Only the artist’s subtle halo hints at His true radiance. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, but He was also a man of unfathomable love radiating to those around Him. He drew people to Himself and they sought His company. They heard His words joyfully. The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. He loved the little children and they loved Him. Why? Because of the radiance of His personality. His welcoming and loving nature contrasted with the religious leaders around Him. He was free from the law, and His demeanour mirrored liberty.

     Do you doubt it? Just read the gospels and look for yourself. The New Testament opens with a joyous message, a new life, a new hope, and a charge of energy—a radiance unlike the Old Testament.

     This new radiance carried the disciples through beatings, stoning, shipwreck, and prison with the call, “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Their boldness shone from the radiance of Christ anchored within their hearts. It came through their voices, and eyes, and handshakes as they drew men to Christ, preached the Good News, and hazarded their lives.

     Leslie Weatherhead, in his book, Jesus and Ourselves, says Jesus derived his radiance from three sources. “(1) He had no sense of sin. (2) He was doing God’s will. (3) He was certain of God.” (p 218) These three things bring radiance to our lives as well.
     Do we live with a sense of sin? Guilt? Not secure in our position in Christ as forgiven? “If God has put your sins behind His back you must put them behind yours.” (p 219) Take it to the cross, dear friend, and leave it there. Purity is radiant.

     And what are you doing with your life? Do you understand that your life is sacred? Everything you do is to be done as unto Christ. Your job, schooling, parenting, service, ministry, etc., everything is for Him. “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23).

     We are to be doing His will. He blesses and uses us in even the most mundane and common service dedicated to His glory. We live for Him with the understanding that our life is no longer our own, but His to live through us. Galatians 2:20 “the life which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). We serve the Lord Christ.           
     Lay self aside, and look for His hand in every dish you wash, every conversation you hold, every sale you make. You’ll be surprised how much radiance this brings to your life.

     And certainty? Are you certain of God? Jesus was. He knew that all things lie within the circle of God’s redeeming activity. If I face pain, God is there. Let me cooperate with Him for His glory.  If I come to disaster, let me remember that God alone has the final word.
     Even through tears I become more certain of God, for tears clear my vision of Him. “Happiness may spring from the heels, but radiance only springs from the heart; a heart quiet and steady, deep and strong, unselfish and disciplined” (p 220). Confidence is radiant.

    Psalm 34:5 “They looked unto him, and were lightened (radiant): and their faces were not ashamed.”

     Dear friend, radiance is there as a testimony of the Light of Life within you. Let your little light shine! Don’t hide it under a bushel or dampen it with ungodly living. Live in purity, willingness of service, and confidence. Then, and only then, can it be said of you, “…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13).

Week Forty-Five - Consistency Amid Chaos

I started this year with zeal and determination that no matter how challenging 2019 looked like being, my guiding word would be consistency. 

     Well, so far, 2019 has proved to be a full year. My husband and I were traveling across America, living out of suitcases, for the first six months reporting on our mission work to churches and visiting family. Then, in August, only three weeks after getting back to the UK, my father passed away and we were back across the pond for another three weeks. Since then, I’ve had guests in my home – that’s ten solid weeks of house guests plus ministry.
     As I began working on my blog for today, I wondered what in the world I was trying to accomplish.  My crazy year makes me wonder what happened to my pledge of consistency?  I feel like so much is out of kilter; like I’ll never get back to a consistent mode of operation. 

     I began reading Bob Merritt’s, 7 Simple Choices for a Better Tomorrow.  He writes about the need for discipline in a successful life.  Discipline?  How can I be disciplined amid such randomness? 

     His advice is about managing life’s loads.  You’re supposed to narrow your effort and concentrate on things that match your value system, cut out the dead weight, learn to say “no”, and focus on things that build your strengths.  He says to recognize two main factors; the season of life in which you find yourself, and the options that are before you.  This will help you better manage the loads and become more productive and fulfilled. 
     Well, I thought, that sounds well and good, but I don’t feel like I can adequately access where I am, and I don’t think I have the strength.

     As I turned to my Bible reading, I came to Proverbs 10:4 “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.”  Oh, how I looked for excuses as to my inconsistency, my lack of diligence!  Travel, guests, interruptions, tiredness, etc.  They all seem so legitimate.
     I picked up a book by Amy Carmichael called, His Thoughts said…His Father said.  It’s an unusual little book where the son makes his complaint and the Father gives the instruction.  They are short little paragraphs, but with some profound thoughts.  Today’s reading was from page 47:

     “The son said, I am nothing.  His Father said, Did I ever tell thee that thou wert something?” (This thought alone captured me for quite a while.)
     “The son said, But I do not feel fit for this that is given me to do.  His Father said, Canst thou not trust Me to make thee fit?” (Oh, Lord, I began to pray, Make me fit.  Fit for your use!)
     “The son said, But I am not successful.  His Father said, At the end of the day will My word be, Come, thou good and successful servant? If only thou wilt walk humbly with thy God it will be, Come, thou good and faithful servant.” (Oh, Lord, let me be simply faithful and leave the rest to you.)

     “The son said, But I do not care for what I have to do.  His Father answered, At last thou hast touched the root of the matter.  (Ah…it’s an attitude thing!) Did thy Saviour care for Calvary?

     Then the Eternal Spirit opened to him those terrible scriptures which show Gethsemane and Calvary, till all his paltry “buts” were shrivelled as withered leaves in the fire. And he saw Him whom he followed as He set His face like a flint; and he was utterly confounded and ashamed.” (I rose from my prayer time with a renewed determination.)

     Dear friend, we all have our excuses and challenges.  Disorder, randomness, and inconsistencies happen.  I am learning that even in these times, when I feel like nothing of value is taking place, my Father is still at work in my life.  He sees through the chaos and consistently guides my steps.
     My hope is for a calmer and more orderly end of 2019, but even if that doesn’t work out, I choose to rest in Him.  I choose to look beyond the disarray and commotion of my life to my faithful Father.  In that, I can be consistent!

Week Forty-Four - Gripping

  The grip of my father’s hand brought me into submission, made me feel safe and loved, and assured me of his presence.  Yet, as strong as my father’s grip was, it was nothing compared to the grip of Jesus on my eternal soul.
   The grip of Jesus is triumphant in numerous spheres.  It orders our years, makes wars to cease, uplifts womanhood, gives dignity to manhood, makes children important, improves working conditions, inhibits evil, and makes men ashamed of the evil that persists.  His grip puts laws in our statute books, holds sway in our courts, and sets the highest standard for life.  One historian wrote, “The simple record of three short years of Christ’s active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all the disquisitions of philosophy and all the exhortations of moralists.” (p 176)
   But I don’t want to talk today about these great effects of Jesus’ life, I want us to think about the grip of Jesus on our individual souls.  While on earth, he touched many, drew many, and changed them forever.  Mary Magdalene, whom no one would touch, was held captive by his love.  Nicodemus, though wealthy and respectable, was gripped by Jesus. Then Matthew, the publican, the man who had sold his soul to the Roman government, left his money bags stepping out into a life of adventure and daring at the grip of Jesus’ words, “Follow me.” Even the thief on the cross was gripped as he saluted Jesus as King during his darkest hour.
   And, I remember the day Jesus gripped my heart.  As I knelt to pray with my friend, I heard Jesus’ voice speaking gently, yet certainly, to my heart, “I cannot hear your prayer, Gail, because you have not yielded your heart to me.”  I knew right then that I must repent and give my heart and life to Him.

   That wasn’t the only time His grip reached out to me.  It reached out in a call to service, in the conviction of sin, in expressing comfort and assurance to my soul in times of deep distress.  Truly, the grip of Jesus brings me into submission, makes me feel safe and loved, and assures me of His presence.  What about you?  Has he gripped your heart?

Not what these hands have done

Can save this guilty soul;

Not what this throbbing flesh has borne

Can make my spirit whole.

Thy love to me, O God,

Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,

Can rid me of this dark unrest

And set my spirit free.

Let me no more my comfort draw

From my frail hold on Thee,

Rather in this rejoice with awe—

Thy mighty grasp of me.

Jesus and Ourselves, Leslie D. Weatherhead