From the rising of the sun to its going down
the Lord's name is to be praised!



Friday, May 06, 2011

The Filling

Hebrews 2:17-18
17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Calendars, schedules, lists, routine, rising early, going to bed on time, exercise, all of these goals have been weighing me down. I have been feeling the need to be more organized and run my household well. We are called to be intentional about our lives for Christ and these things fit into being intentional. So why do they not work perfectly and how is it I fail in these basic things?

I discovered today (anew) that none of these things are good by themselves. There is nothing we can do to order our lives properly aside from Christ. I have not intentionally tried new calendars or the self-discipline of rising early without my Jesus being a part of them. What I did, was slip into thinking that the goodness of these habits would bring goodness into my life-and to a degree they can be a blessing.

The theme that reoccurs in my life though, is failure. You probably all feel that at times. The new calendar is hard to stick too, and rising early is next to impossible without going to bed on time. We strive but we fall even though we expected to succeed because we had added something of value to our life.

I came to a point today where I needed Jesus SO badly. I am full of sin and failure and deep down I think that I am more forgiven when I strive to do better. Do you see how I have set myself up for failure!? I will only overcome if I live out of that forgiveness and do not think that anything I do makes me more worthy of that forgiveness. His forgiveness is complete in Himself and is not dependant on what I will do. What I will do MUST flow out of what He has done.

So I came to a place of pleading with my Savior today, and I begged for filling. I listened to the Revive our Hearts broadcast from April 28 and it was about Jesus being our High Priest. Not only has He wiped my sin away on the cross, He is TODAY, at this SECOND interceding on my behalf-that is how merciful He is and how utterly dependant I am on Him. Oh the completeness of His salvation and how lavish His love. His work of salvation was finished on the cross but He is still active for His people today!

It struck me that Jesus had been interceding on my behalf, for the spiritual battle I was fighting, and in His mercy, He filled me through the truth that was spoken on a radio broadcast. This Savior is REAL and cares about every detail of our lives. He made what was an ugly morning, into something that drove me to the cross. Thank you Lord!

I am not suggesting you throw out your Polestar Family Calendar (lol, Heather!). I am telling you that NOTHING from the simplest thing like a calendar, to the beauty of corporate worship, can be a blessing without the completeness of Christ. Does that make any sense to you? Please feel free to share how Jesus has blessed you as He actively intercedes on your behalf.

Here is a quote from Nancy Leigh DeMoss:

We know that Jesus is today head of His Body, the church. Revelation chapters 2 and 3 tells us that He is “walking in the midst of the seven golden lampstands” (that is the local churches). And what is He doing?
• He’s reigning.
• He’s observing.
• He’s guiding.
• He’s supplying.
• He’s protecting.
• He’s providing.
He has this very active ministry today on behalf of His churches. He’s not just this distant, far-away ruler who just looks at things going down here on earth but has a totally different life up in heaven. He is actively engaged with us by His Spirit here on earth as the Head of His Church

3 comments:

Heather VMS said...

Good post, Mel! And don't worry I wont' throw out my calendar :-)

Belinda said...

Yes, yes yes! Beautiful truths Mel! I needed this.

Kara said...

It is so neat to see God working the same things out in many believers. I'm just starting a study Personal Revival by Nancy L. Demoss, it's good.