March 18, 2015

Shall I Rouse Myself Up to This?

Perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

“Having therefore these promises.”  I claim the fulfilment of God’s promises, and rightly, but that is only the human side; the Divine side is that through the promises I recognise God’s claim on me. For instance, am I realising that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, or have I a habit of body that plainly will not bear the light of God on it? By sanctification the Son of God is formed in me, then I have to transform my natural life into a spiritual life by obedience to Him. God educates us down to the scruple.  When He begins to check, do not confer with flesh and blood, cleanse yourself at once. Keep yourself cleansed in your daily walk.

I have to cleanse myself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit until both are in accord with the nature of God. Is the mind of my spirit in perfect agreement with the life of the Son of God in me, or am I insubordinate in intellect? Am I forming the mind of Christ, Who never spoke from His right to Himself, but maintained an inner watchfulness whereby He continually submitted His spirit to His Father? I have the responsibility of keeping my spirit in agreement with His Spirit, and by degrees Jesus lifts me up to where He lived—in perfect consecration to His Father’s will, paying no attention to any other thing. Am I perfecting this type of holiness in the fear of God? Is God getting His way with me, and are other people beginning to see God in my life more and more?

Be serious with God and leave the rest gaily alone. Put God first literally.

Chambers, Oswald (2011-05-01). My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition (pp. 55-56). Discovery House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Several items struck me from today's Utmost entry.  But the one that most resonated with me was the penultimate sentence: "Be serious with God and leave the rest gaily alone."  It is the insertion of one word that stuck a chord with me--"gaily".

My conscience was pricked thanks to Chambers insertion of that 5-letter adverb.  Yesterday morning a homeless gentleman, Gabe (not his real name), called me and needed to meet at a neighborhood Burger King to get some assistance ordering a birth certificate.  He needed the document to apply for some assistance programs. 

When I got home from work I was tired.  The dog needed walked.  I had a short home project that needed completed.  By the appointed time to head to Burger King arrived, "gaily" was not part of me lexicon.  My lack of "gaily" was even apparent to my wife.  But I drug myself to the meeting with Gabe.  Had a good visit.  Ordered the birth certificate.

When I got home I would like to report a Poppinsesque presence had washed over me, but that was not the case.  However, I was in better spirits than before the meeting.

Is obedience to God an all or nothing affair?  Can we be partially obedient or is partial obedience complete disobedience?  I was obedient in my actions (met with Gabe), but disobedient in my attitude (begrudging).  Hmmm. . .

Anyway, my prayer for today is to insert "gaily" in to my obedience