May 6, 2014

Today's Reading




During my morning 'quiet time' I often read the day's portion from this book My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers.   This is often considered a classic for followers of Jesus as part of their devotional reading time.
Today is May 6th and the following is what I read this morning.

Liberty and the Standards of Jesus
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free.." ~Galatians 5:1
A Spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand - "Believe this and that"; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions.  And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty - the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ. 
Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ.  It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God's view. There is only one true liberty - the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.
Don't get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you - with patience and gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, "Go... and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:19), not, "Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions."


Blessings on the journey~