Encouragement
Bill Borden of Yale University, wanted to go to the Middle East as a missionary to the Muslims. He died at 30 yrs. of age before he could go. A biographer of Borden's life wrote:
"Billy Borden won for 2 reasons! He always carried his sword (Bible) and looked up for strength. It may be that the length of time God permits us to stay here is not so much the work we are to do...but the closeness of relationship to Himself that He wants us to attain!"
I read this by an unknown author in the Brethren Herald of Indiana in Jan. 1987.
"I asked God to take away my pride, but God said "No".
He said it was not for Him to take away, but for me to give up.
I asked God to grant me patience, but God said, "No".
He said that patience is a by-product of tribulation. It isn't granted, it's earned.
I asked God to give me happiness, but God said "No".
He said He gives blessing. Happiness is up to me!
I asked God to spare me pain, but God said "No".
He said, "Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to Me."
I asked God to make my spirit grow, but God said, "No".
He said I must grow on my own, but He will prune me to make me fruitful.
I asked God if He loved me and God said, "Yes".
He gave me His Only Son Who died for me and I will be in Heaven someday....
because I believe!
I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.
And God said, "Ah, finally you have the right idea".
I am as spiritual and as disciplined as I have consciously chosen to be!
Discipline results from THE WILL.
We live defeated, undisciplined lives because of disobedience!
Keep in mind that the word 'Christian' is used only 3 times in the New Testament....
whereas the word 'Disciple' (Disciplined ones) is used many times.
Both are important and it takes both!
A great Scripture for Valentines Day is John 15 where Jesus speaks of....
the Discipline of Love.
He wants us to keep in mind that God's Unconditional Love is for our highest good.
He uses the illustration of the Vine and the branches:
Vs. 1-3: The key to effective Christian living is 'fruit bearing'
(Fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22 puts LOVE first)
Vs. 4-7: The key to 'fruit bearing' is 'abiding'. (See also Vs. 10 and 14)
Vs. 6-8: The key to abiding is 'obeying'.
Vs. 9-10: The key to obeying is 'loving'.
Vs. 15: The key to loving is 'knowing' Him.
Jesus said, "I am the Vine and ye are the branches".
This requires:
close communion...
absolute dependence...
deep restfulness...
absolute surrender...
and much fruitfulness!
I Corinthians 13 further emphasizes:
There is Value in love....
There are Virtues in love....
There is Victory in love.
Faith, Hope and Love will last forever!
In addition to this on Discipline, God gave me the following on what He expects from us!
1) Stay in TOUCH with God through Bible Study, Prayer and Worship (private and public).
2) Stay in TUNE with God's Love-Song for your life.
3) Stay on TARGET (His Will) for God.
4) Stay TRUSTING to keep going...and to keep loving Him in all things!
5) Stay TRUSTWORTHY as a Disciple of His.
6) Stay FRUITFUL in Prayer
CONCLUSION:
By life and by lip, let us give reason for the Hope that is in us!
His Name is Jesus....
His Passion is The Cross....
and Love....
and Prayers for Intercession...
Remember that our prayers won't mean much to God...until they mean much to us!!
May we have:
The 'tough love' of Amos....
The tender mercy of Hosea....
and always the Example of Christ!
In his book, "Songs of Glory" Williams J. Reynolds wrote:
'George Matheson was afflicted with poor eyesight when he was a child.
By the time he was 18, he was almost totally blind.
Nevertheless he was a brilliant student in the academy and university in Glasgow.
He became a Presbyterian minister and was was loved and admired by the people he served in several churches in Scotland.
Perhaps as a compensation for his blindness, Matheson developed an extraordinary memory. Each week he would dictate his sermon to his sister. She would read it back to him twice, then on Sunday he would preach it word for word!
"Oh Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go' was written in 1882 on the day of his sister's marriage. Many felt that the wedding may have brought back vivid memories of his teenage romance which ended when the girl refused to go through with the wedding because of his blindness. He remained single throughout his life.
The 4 stanzas were written in 5 minutes!
He later recalled that 'it was the quickest bit of work that I ever did in my life.
I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice...
rather than working it out myself".
'O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go'
(Text: George Matheson, 1842-1906
Music: Albert L. Peace, 1844-1912)
'O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths
its flow may richer, fuller be.
O Light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine's blaze
its day may brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow thru the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain,
that morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms
red life that shall endless be.'
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