-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST --
http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
January 11, 2008
WHAT MY OBEDIENCE TO GOD COSTS OTHER PEOPLE
They laid hold upon one Simon ... and on him they laid
the cross.
Luke 23:2
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=lu+23:2&sr=1
If we obey God it is going to cost other people more than it costs
us, and that is where the sting comes in. If we are in love with our
Lord, obedience does not cost us anything, it is a delight, but it
costs those who do not love Him a good deal. If we obey God it will
mean that other people's plans are upset, and they will gibe us with
it - "You call this Christianity?" We can prevent the suffering; but
if we are going to obey God, we must not prevent it, we must let the
cost be paid.
Our human pride entrenches itself on this point, and we say - I will
never accept anything from anyone. We shall have to, or disobey God.
We have no right to expect to be in any other relation than our Lord
Himself was in (see Luke 8:2-3).
Stagnation in spiritual life comes when we say we will bear the whole
thing ourselves. We cannot. We are so involved in the universal
purposes of God that immediately we obey God, others are affected.
Are we going to remain loyal in our obedience to God and go through
the humiliation of refusing to be independent, or are we going to
take the other line and say - I will not cost other people suffering?
We can disobey God if we choose, and it will bring immediate relief
to the situation, but we shall be a grief to our Lord. Whereas if we
obey God, He will look after those who have been pressed into the
consequences of our obedience. We have simply to obey and to leave
all consequences with Him.
Beware of the inclination to dictate to God as to what you will allow
to happen if you obey Him.
/--- $5 PER MONTH BLESSES 2,000 PEOPLE ---------------------\
Just five bucks means 2,000 email devotionals can be sent
to believers around the world. Help get the Word out!
\--------------------- http://www.heartlight.org/support ---/
Content-type: text/html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JESUS: UNCOVERING THE TRUTH THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING, by Brian McLaren
Unafraid of controversy or the uncomfortable gray areas of life,
McLaren's quest is to find the essential message of Jesus' life - even
if it overturns our conventional ideas, priorities, and practices.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?253
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - by Oswald Chambers /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/my_utmost
\/
This email is made possible by YOUR donations! If you've found
our service encouraging or inspiring, we pray you'll give a voluntary
donation to keep this ministry going. Donations are NOT required,
but they are appreciated!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
Visit HEARTLIGHT on the web for even more articles, plus music,
devotionals and more for your Christian walk!
This devotional is copyright Oswald Chambers Publications,
< http://www.oswaldchambers.co.uk >.
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-myutmost@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
To unsubscribe send a blank email to:
myutmost-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
======================================================================
