The Habit of Rising to the Occasion
That ye may know what is the hope of His calling. . . . Ephesians 1:18
Remember what you are saved for—that the Son of God might be manifested in your mortal flesh. Bend the whole energy of your powers to realise your election as a child of God; rise to the occasion every time.
You cannot do anything for your salvation, but you must do something to manifest it, you must work out what God has worked in. Are you working it out with your tongue, and your brain and your nerves? If you are still the same miserable crosspatch, set on your own way, then it is a lie to say that
God has saved and sanctified you. God is the Master Engineer, He allows the difficulties to come in order to see if you can vault over them properly—“By my God have I leaped over a wall.” God will never shield you from any of the requirements of a son or daughter of His. Peter says—“Think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.” Rise to the occasion; do the thing. It does not matter how it hurts as long as it gives God the chance to manifest Himself in your mortal flesh.
May God not find the whine in us any more, but may He find us full of spiritual pluck and athleticism, ready to face anything He brings. We have to exercise ourselves in order that the Son of God may be manifested in our mortal flesh. God never has museums. The only aim of the life is that the Son of God may be manifested, and all dictation to God vanishes. Our Lord never dictated to His Father, and we are not here to dictate to God; we are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. When we realise this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine to feed and nourish others.
Chambers, Oswald (2011-05-01). My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition (pp. 98-99). Discovery House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
"God never has museums." Were that He did. How I would love a period of life where Kristi and I could walk along quietly in a climate-controlled, plush-carpeted, softly-lit room where red velvet ropes kept us separated from the realities of life. Work challenges would just be an oil paining on the wall. Health issues were nothing but an interesting "Do Not Touch" sculpture in the middle of the room. Financial concerns nothing more than an odd looking piece of abstract multi-media art.
But how foolhardy to expect a different life from the saints of the Bible. Moses did not walk through a museum. Paul's life was not a sit and view existence. Even Jesus Christ never had those golden years of inactivity. No, at the end of the day, Christians are expected to be living life, facing challenges, and being victorious. We do not work for things on this side of the divide. Our rewards, our mansions, our time of leisure will happen in heaven.
Ours is a life of obedience. We are to keep working over our bodies so that they may conform to Christ Jesus. (1 Corin. 9:27 KJV) Each day we must give our energies anew to the work God has set before us. No museum. No velvet ropes. No observers.
When I view life as a whole and more specifically the day that is upcoming through a lens of participation not observation, I feel a much deeper need for fervent, passionate prayer. I realize that to successfully navigate today, this project, or that challenge, a close, continual relationship with God is imperative. Preparation through prayer. Readiness through reading.
Life ain't the Guggenheim.
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