The disciples when Jesus called them, dropped their nets and followed him and yet for us we sit there and try and work it all out, try and plan everything, finish things in order that we can go, etc etc.
Recently the Lord has been talking to us about going to Christchurch and we have stepped out in faith once already and gone and when there and since then, we received so many more words from the Lord about going down there and yet we sit here and try and work it all out, instead of just getting up and going. We have so many practical things we need to deal with, so many things we are 'responsible' for, and yet what comes to mind is the scripture of Jesus inviting people to the wedding feast and yet each one was busy with his own thing and couldn't come and so the invite went out to others.
Are we so busy with our own planning, processing, thinking long term instead of a simple step of faith and allowing God to make the next ones, etc that when Jesus calls us we have so many excuses as to why we can't go? And when he calls us, do we then try and work it out in 'our own strength' instead of from a place of simple faith and trust that God will provide in all the areas that we need provision for?
Oh, so deep and yet so simple.
We do it on so many levels that we don't even realise that we are now coming from a place of striving, of trying to work it all out, of trying in our own strength to fulfil and 'do' what the Lord said that we no longer come from a place of simple faith and trust, but rather suddenly find ourselves doing it in mans strength to do what the Lord wants us to do. And once again we become 'doers' of the word.
Revelation 2 keeps coming to mind this week verse 4:
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have lost your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent....To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
The place of 'first love' is one of simplicity, of just doing what the Lord said to do, of not questioning every detail because we trust that He will work it all out and has gone before us. First love is a place of safety, of security, of knowing that its all in control, of uninhibited abandonment.
Romans 14:22 "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" And once again Jim and myself find ourselves repenting this morning as we realise that we are not stepping out in faith, but rather trying to 'work it all out'. Our heart is right before the Lord of wanting to do what He wants us to do, but in that place, we so easily step into sin that we need to turn and repent as He shows us again how easily we are not moving from a place of faith and simple trust, but now trying to work it all out.
So in sharing our journey and what the Lord is saying to Jim and I, may it be of some use to some of you out there. Bless you heaps as you journey day by day in the Lord, as He opens your eyes to things that you quickly move into without even realising it, and that He continues to take you from glory to glory as you trust in Him.
Recently the Lord has been talking to us about going to Christchurch and we have stepped out in faith once already and gone and when there and since then, we received so many more words from the Lord about going down there and yet we sit here and try and work it all out, instead of just getting up and going. We have so many practical things we need to deal with, so many things we are 'responsible' for, and yet what comes to mind is the scripture of Jesus inviting people to the wedding feast and yet each one was busy with his own thing and couldn't come and so the invite went out to others.
Are we so busy with our own planning, processing, thinking long term instead of a simple step of faith and allowing God to make the next ones, etc that when Jesus calls us we have so many excuses as to why we can't go? And when he calls us, do we then try and work it out in 'our own strength' instead of from a place of simple faith and trust that God will provide in all the areas that we need provision for?
Oh, so deep and yet so simple.
We do it on so many levels that we don't even realise that we are now coming from a place of striving, of trying to work it all out, of trying in our own strength to fulfil and 'do' what the Lord said that we no longer come from a place of simple faith and trust, but rather suddenly find ourselves doing it in mans strength to do what the Lord wants us to do. And once again we become 'doers' of the word.
Revelation 2 keeps coming to mind this week verse 4:
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have lost your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent....To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
The place of 'first love' is one of simplicity, of just doing what the Lord said to do, of not questioning every detail because we trust that He will work it all out and has gone before us. First love is a place of safety, of security, of knowing that its all in control, of uninhibited abandonment.
Romans 14:22 "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" And once again Jim and myself find ourselves repenting this morning as we realise that we are not stepping out in faith, but rather trying to 'work it all out'. Our heart is right before the Lord of wanting to do what He wants us to do, but in that place, we so easily step into sin that we need to turn and repent as He shows us again how easily we are not moving from a place of faith and simple trust, but now trying to work it all out.
So in sharing our journey and what the Lord is saying to Jim and I, may it be of some use to some of you out there. Bless you heaps as you journey day by day in the Lord, as He opens your eyes to things that you quickly move into without even realising it, and that He continues to take you from glory to glory as you trust in Him.
