How much of our prayer life is asking the Lord for what He has already done? Jesus died to bring me into a right relationship with the Father. It is a finished work for us to discover, as we continue to seek Him and grow in Him. There is no restriction from heaven in my relationship with Him. The onus is not on God to do something, but for me to walk in humility, repent and get right with God. Our birthright in Christ is all the fullness of God. Seek and you will find. The more we empty ourselves, He will fill. “He must increase, but I must decrease”, John 3:20.
A friend had three dreams, all very different but with the same ending. In the dreams she was very busy organising details of a trip, agendas, people, situations, but when it was time to leave…….she wasn’t ready! Her clothes lay in disarray, strewn around an empty suitcase.
It is a simple analogy but has a profound challenge. Am I ready? Ready for what? We believe in the return of Jesus, coming to claim those who are rightfully His own, but He comes every day with His challenges to walk before Him transparently in truth, in relationships, situations and selfless choices.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful”. Faithful to what?……faithful to God. Am I ready? Ready to respond to Him in the challenges of the day? Do I recognise Him when He comes? Sometimes He comes in disguise. Opportunities will always arise for me to surrender my agenda in exchange for God’s. I cannot do the will of God miserably or begrudgingly. There is a sweetness in humility and surrender that leaves the fragrance of Christ as a deposit in others’ lives.
1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 “What! Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, who you have of God, and you are not your own? You are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. I am not my own to do as I please anymore.
The Lord examines the motives of our heart. I may observe what another person does, but I do not know why he is doing it. Only God sees the motives of our hearts and is the righteous Judge. If my motive for doing something is to elevate me in the eyes of men, (men pleasing, self glory), then I am being an unfaithful steward of the life of Christ in me. My number one motive in all I do should be to live to please my Master first. This may mean that some may be offended or disagree with me, but the Lord will require that I be found faithful to Him in my choices, and His call upon my life. It is Jesus who died on the Cross for me, in my choices of surrender I give Him back the life I owe to Him. In return He grants me the simple pleasures of walking life’s journey with Him. He is the true joy giver and dispeller of gloom. We reap what we sow, a person will never outgive God, for it is His nature to bless.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future, plans to bless you and not for evil”. “And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart”, (verse 13).
In Jesus’ sermon on the mount He teaches us to prioritise this seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness, ( Matthew 6:33-34 ). Before we entered into our salvation, Jesus was seeking us. Matthew 19: 10 declares of Jesus, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”. In His divine love He sought, and found us. Now we have opportunity to seek Him and serve Him with the laying down of our lives. Am I ready? When the Father sees His beloved Son made Lord of my heart and life…..then He is well pleased!
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