Christian Chickenpox June 13, 2015

Getting There 

Where the Self-Interest Sleeps and the Real Interest Awakens 

Master, where dwellest Thou?. . . Come and see. . . . John 1:38–39

Come with Me

“They . . . abode with Him that day.” That is about all some of us ever do, then we wake up to actualities, self-interest arises and the abiding is passed. There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.

“Thou art Simon . . . : thou shalt be called Cephas.” God writes the new name on those places only in our lives where He has erased the pride and self-sufficiency and self-interest. Some of us have the new name in spots only, like spiritual measles. In sections we look all right. When we have our best spiritual mood on, you would think we were very high-toned saints; but don’t look at us when we are not in that mood. The disciple is one who has the new name written all over him; self-interest and pride and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.

Pride is the deification of self, and this to-day in some of us is not of the order of the Pharisee, but of the publican. To say “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable to human pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. It literally means that you defy God to make you a saint. “I am much too weak and hopeless, I am outside the reach of the Atonement.” Humility before men may be unconscious blasphemy before God. Why are you not a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe God can make you one. It would be all right, you say, if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is just what He will do! “We will come unto Him, and make our abode with Him.” Make no conditions, let Jesus be everything, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for ever.

Chambers, Oswald (2011-05-01). My Utmost for His Highest, Classic Edition (pp. 119-120). Discovery House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

"Spiritual measles".  Christian chickenpox.  Sanctified freckles.  Is God's name written on every part of your life, or is it just written on parts?  Are we totally clothed in God's righteousness, or just bits and pieces of our lives?  Smoking is a long-gone habit.  But what about your attitude toward gays?  You no longer tell those crass jokes at work.  But do you still share that juicy piece of gossip?  You signed up to drive the church shuttle.  But what about those lingering glances at the new 20-something coworker?

If God's name is not written on every part of your life, each habit, each desire, each thought, then you still have work to do.  Each day ask God to reveal to you those areas that still do not have His mark.  He will be faithful to do so.  After He has revealed those areas to you, make them a conscious, intentional area of prayer so that each day you become more and more covered with His name.