"You Are Not Your Own"
Do you not know that . . . you are not your own? —1
Corinthians 6:19
There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman
who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God
divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on
one hand and for Himself on the other. No human being
can stand that unless he is identified with Jesus Christ. We are not sanctified
for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen
that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into
fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way. If you refuse, you will be of no
value to God in His redemptive work in the world, but will be a hindrance and a
stumbling block.
The first thing God does is get us grounded
on strong reality and truth. He does this until our cares for ourselves individually
have been brought into submission to His way for the purpose of His redemption.
Why shouldn’t we experience heartbreak? Through those doorways God is opening
up ways of fellowship with His Son. Most of us collapse at the first grip of
pain. We sit down at the door of God’s purpose and enter a slow death through
self-pity. And all the so-called Christian sympathy of others helps us to our
deathbed. But God will not. He comes with the grip of the pierced hand of His
Son, as if to say, "Enter into fellowship with Me;
arise and shine." If God can accomplish His purposes in this world through
a broken heart, then why not thank Him for breaking yours?
(Taken
from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost For His Highest” November
1)