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Are we, no matter who we are or where we are in life, truly without a prayer when supposedly “bad things happen to good people”?
I loved this piece from Oz Chambers this morning, it succinctly opens up a whole world of opportunity for us, in that His very life in us as us, is being clearly depicted to a world of people still blinded by the matrix of religion.
Rich
The Habit of Enjoying Adversity
. . . that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body —2 Corinthians 4:10
We have to develop godly habits to express what God’s grace has done in us. It is not just a question of being saved from hell, but of being saved so that "the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body." And it is adversity that makes us exhibit His life in our mortal flesh. Is my life exhibiting the essence of the sweetness of the Son of God, or just the basic irritation of "myself" that I would have apart from Him? The only thing that will enable me to enjoy adversity is the acute sense of eagerness of allowing the life of the Son of God to evidence itself in me. No matter how difficult something may be, I must say, "Lord, I am delighted to obey You in this." Instantly, the Son of God will move to the forefront of my life, and will manifest in my body that which glorifies Him.
You must not debate. The moment you obey the light of God, His Son shines through you in that very adversity; but if you debate with God, you grieve His Spirit (see Ephesians 4:30 ). You must keep yourself in the proper condition to allow the life of the Son of God to be manifested in you, and you cannot keep yourself fit if you give way to self-pity. Our circumstances are the means God uses to exhibit just how wonderfully perfect and extraordinarily pure His Son is. Discovering a new way of manifesting the Son of God should make our heart beat with renewed excitement. It is one thing to choose adversity, and quite another to enter into adversity through the orchestrating of our circumstances by God’s sovereignty. And if God puts you into adversity, He is adequately sufficient to "supply all your need" ( Philippians 4:19 ).
Keep your soul properly conditioned to manifest the life of the Son of God. Never live on your memories of past experiences, but let the Word of God always be living and active in you.
1 comment:
Hey brother,
Nice and rich thoughts. It brings to mind the verse which I will paraphrase (cuz I am too lazy to look it up) "always living out the dying of our lord Jesus in the mortal flesh so that the life of Jesus may be manifested. Therefore, death works in me, but life in you."
The rub for me is that choice. I get so weary some times, that it just FEELS easier to go the other way. Death, death, death, and more death to self.
It is an interesting paradox - I am dead, but I try to live as though I am alive. When I refuse to accept my death, I attempt to kill that which is really alive in me, and bring life to that which is dead in me. Oh wretched man that i am... who can save me? thank GOD that I am already saved from this mess. Now to believe it! Oh lord, help my unbelief!
Thanks again Rich,
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