Oswald Chambers says: When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is not a bit of the old order left; the old solemnity goes, the old attitude to things goes, and "all things are of God". How are we going to get the life that has no lust, no self-interest, no sensitiveness to pokes, the love that is not provoked, that thinketh no evil, that is always kind? The only way is by allowing not a bit of the old life to be left; but only simple perfect trust in God, such trust that we no longer want God's blessings, but only want Himself. Have we come to the place where God can withdraw blessings and it does not affect our trust in Him?
Wow. A lot like what we talked about on Sunday. God wants to change me. He wants to change my appetites, my actions and my attitudes. Are we there? Where we no longer want God's blessings but JUST God Himself? What a wonderful place to be.
2 Kings 18:32 Sennacherib was threatening an attack on Jerusalem. His chief of staff informed the Israelites that they had no chance. No other god had ever stood up to this great king of Assyria. Then King Sennacherib offered the Israelites this. "Then I will arrange to take you to another land like this one -- a land of grain and new wine, bread and vineyards, olive groves and honey. Choose life instead of death." Sound familiar? Isn't that the same land that God was offering the Israelites of they would just obey?
The devil tries to offer us a counterfeit "Promise Land". Counterfeit "Life". BUT HE CAN'T. The land he offers might appear to have grain, new wine, bread, vineyards, olive groves and honey. But it's a desolate land that eventually is parched and barren.
Like the Israelites, we too have our own King Sennacherib who will try to offer us a counterfeit "Promise Land".
Following Christ
Jeff
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To answer Oswald's question, no. Paul says that he rather boasted in his weaknesses. Our weakness is the pride of our flesh which always distrusts the Lord, for it is impossible to do otherwise. Paul himself said that he was in despair of life. He had lost hope. When God does withdraw his favor, his good providence is still in control. Paul could say that in any condition, in trust or dispair, he had learned to be content. Now that is faith which is a love of God that surpasses and conquers our understanding. Jesus did not heal Paul, and a weakness by any name is a type of sin. It cannot be left in just the realm of the physical and Paul well knew that he had not arrived, but with clear conscience he could say that he was not without guilt.
No, we will never get to that place that we are content with only being with the Lord. Even Mary at the foot of Jesus, chose the better part. It was not for him that she was there but for her. Not one disciple ever came to the place where they were just content with the presence of God. He is always there. Instead they pressed on to take hold of him. Peter, Jesus said, would not even want to go to be with the Lord in his old age, except that another girded him about and took him against his will.
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