. .. that you
may know what is the hope of His calling . . . —Ephesians 1:18
Remember that you have been saved so that the life of
Jesus may be manifested in your body
(see 2 Corinthians
4:10). Direct the total energy of your powers so that you may
achieve everything your election as a child of God provides; rise every time to
whatever occasion may come your way.
You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do
something to exhibit it. You must “work out your own salvation” which
God has worked in you already (Philippians
2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence
that you are working it “out”? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy
person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved
and sanctified you.
God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to
see if you can jump over them properly—”By my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29).
God will never shield you from the requirements of being His son or
daughter. First Peter
4:12 says, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you . . . .” Rise to the occasion—do what the trial
demands of you. It does not matter how much it hurts as long as it gives God
the opportunity to manifest the life of Jesus in your body.
May God not find complaints in us anymore, but spiritual
vitality—a readiness to face anything He brings our way.
The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this
occurs, all of our dictating of our demands to God disappears. Our Lord never
dictated demands to His Father, and neither are we to make demands on God. We
are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants.
Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with
which to feed and nourish others.
(Taken
from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost for His Highest” May 15)