A Mind Like Muller's

Thursday’s thoughts on Muller sent me to the Christian Ethereal Classics Library searching for thoughts directly from Muller. I found a book by Andrew Murray on Prayer with a section entitled, George Muller, and the Secret of His Power in Prayer. Muller’s story is worth your reading time. You’ll find it here.

As clearly as Muller’s life displays the power of our prayer hearing God, it also demonstrates the efficacy of the word of God in the heart of His children. After years of depending on commentaries and other works, Muller committed himself to reading Scripture alone; he estimated the benefit of a few hours of study of God’s word to exceed months spent in the writings of men. On obedience to Scripture Muller said, “‘It had pleased God, in His abundant mercy, to bring my mind into such a state, that I was willing to carry out into my life whatever I should find in the Scriptures.”

Pray that we would all have that same mind - that we would all say, “Whatever I find in Your Word Lord God is what I will carry out in my life!” We all ask God for direction, wisdom, and guidance. Let’s commit not only to ask to know His will, but also to dive into His word with a readiness to live what we read. As we develop pure obedience to the Word of God I am confident we will find wisdom for each step on our journey home. What better way to acknowledge him in all our ways than to carry out everything we find in His Word? (Prov. 3:6)

Don’t know where to start reading? Check out what the Sermon on the Mount says about how we should live. Matthew 6-7

wrestling, swords, and dart-throwing

Monday was my first day of school.

In my preparation for this semester, and even on Monday as I drove to school, I had resolved to think of myself as a missionary on my campus: sharing the love of Christ is my reason for being there, as much as to earn my degree or learn new things.

As I walked around the campus, sat in my classrooms, and met some new people, I was overwhelmed by a flood of doubts about my missionary resolution: They won't understand, won't want to hear, won't like you, if you take a stand in some class you'll say the wrong thing and do more harm than good, what if someone really does have an argument that can shatter your faith, you're just a hypocrite and tow one line at home and church because that's where it's easy, just concentrate on your classes and don't let other people sink in, you've always failed before, and on and on.

I got home feeling pummelled, physically exhausted, and convinced -- in a spirit of fear -- that my effort to be a light on campus would fail.

Later that day a friend sent me an e-mail:

I prayed for you this morning. That God would make you a light on [your] campus. That you would shine brightly and would display the loveliness of Christ to your professors and peers.

So it went something like this:

(1) I purpose to be a light on campus
(2) Someone prays for me to be a light on campus
(3) Doubt attack! Fear attack! Doubt attack! Attack! Attack!!! ATTACK!

Coincidence?

I don't think so.

Guys, we are in a serious battle. It is no small thing to want to show the love and light of Christ.

We need to stay in the Word. We need to encourage each other with the truth of Christ. We need to pray boldness -- for ourselves and for each other.

We need to remember that it's not of our own strength or our own merit that we are able to reflect the light of Christ, but only through His strength and all-sufficient merit. By the same token, ours isn't to bring about fruit but to plant the seed and trust Him to bring the increase.

And we would all do well to keep Paul's admonitions from Ephesians 6 close at hand:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

losing weight[s]

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

This morning I was reading a commentary on Hebrews 12 by F.B. Meyer and ran into some potent reflections on the idea of weights we foolishly carry around with us. Here's some of what Meyer says:

No man would think of maintaining a high speed encompassed with weights. The lads who run for a prize litter the course with garments flung away in their eager haste. There would be little difficulty in maintaining an intense and ardent spirit if we were more faithful in dealing with the habits and indulgences which cling around us and impede our steps.

Thousands of Christians are like water-logged vessels. They cannot sink; but they are so saturated with inconsistencies and worldliness and permitted evil that they can only be towed with difficulty into the celestial port.

Meyer points out that this idea of "weights" is not the same as sin. A weight, he says, can be "something which others account harmless, and permit, and in which you once saw no cause for anxiety, but which you now look on with a feeling of self-condemnation."

It may be a friendship which is too engrossing; a habit which is sapping away our energy as the tap-root the fruit bearing powers of a tree; a pursuit, an amusement, a pastime, a system of reading, a method of spending time, too fascinating and absorbing, and therefore harmful to the soul -- which is tempted to walk when it should run, and to loiter when it should haste.

-- from F.B. Meyer on Hebrews, published in Parallel Classic Commentary on the New Testament: Calvin (Mark Water, ed.)

Hard words, eh?

What are your weights?

note those who so walk

A couple of weeks ago a friend reminded me of the Jim Elliot quote, "wherever you are, be all there."

When Jim Elliot said "all there," he meant it. For him, being all there meant giving up all he had -- his future, his family, and his life -- as a martyr in the jungle of Ecuador (read more of the story here).

Being "all there" is hard, especially while we live in a culture so saturated with distractions.

But most often what keeps me from being "all there" isn't a cell phone or an internet browser or an iPod (it probably helps that I don't own an iPod...). What keeps me from being "all there" -- fully engaged in whatever I believe God has called me to do -- is wondering what other people think of me, trying to figure out how the "Now" God has marked out connects with all the "Later" plans I've worked out for myself, or allowing myself to be defeated by sin.

Sometimes, in my human wisdom, I decide that being "all there" is dangerous, because I might put my safety at risk or miss some other opportunity that would be bigger and better. I worry that wholeheartedly following God's plan will compromise my well-being.

It isn't a new worry.

In fact, Jesus warned against it over 2,000 years ago:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. -- Mathew 6:31-34

In His providence He gives us the imperative -- and the amazing liberty -- to be "all there," following Him.

Will we?

is this me?

Cartoon (c) 2007 by Ben Lansing (www.benlansing.com, www.tttblog.com)

not my life

The other night I was reading selections from The Christian's Daily Walk, a commentary on Christian life by Puritan Henry Scudder.

Along the way Scudder commented that we are stewards of the lives we are given.

"Steward" is one of those now-Christianized terms that seems to have lost the impact of its meaning. It has been defined as, "a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others."

This is a shocking concept if you think about it, because it means that we can claim no ownership of our own lives at all. In legal terms, to be an agent is to be fully responsible for every action to the person for whom you are acting.
So, to adopt Scudder's way of thinking, we are actually accountable to someone else for every single minute we spend on this earth.

While it is a position of heavy responsibility, the position of agent is also one of honor, since the person who uses the agent (the "principal," in legalese) trusts the agent to make the best use of his property.

The Bible has a lot to say about stewards and stewardship. As you have time, it is a helpful activity to look at the places where this word comes up in Scripture.

And think about these questions:

• Am I operating as if I'm a steward of the life God's given me?
• How do I demonstrate that stewardship?
• Am I a good steward of my material possessions?
• Would I treat my possessions differently if they weren't mine, but belonged to someone who had ultimate authority over me?
• Am I a good steward of the relationships God has placed in my life?
• What does it mean to be a "steward of the manifold grace of God"?

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

-- 1 Peter 4:7-11

prayer meeting update

Thanks to all who prayed at and for the prayer meeting Sunday night. It was a refreshing and challenging time of giving thanks and praying big things for 2007.

Please be praying specifically
- that God would give us a heart to love and welcome people into our group in 2007
- that God would give us a clear vision for mission work we should pursue in 2007