Dec, 26, 2014
MY FRIENDS, TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS THE PROMISE LAND, WE CANNOT BECOME STAGNANT!!
My friends have you ever noticed a creek or pond where stagnant water exist, “this type of standing or slow-flowing water only provides a breeding ground for many insects that can transmit diseases and other bacteria’s.”
This is the same with our mediocre or uninspired spiritual life. We go to church, because that is what is expected, but Sabbath or Sunday school is much to early, and Wednesday night prayer service interferes with our favorite TV show.
We make sure the big heritage family bible is on our coffee table, because that is what is expected, but reading it, we just can’t find the time. We visit our sick friends, because that is what is expected, but once again our time is limited on what and how much we can do for the Lord.
So now our Spiritual life becomes stagnant, with no movement, which then provides “a dwelling place of demons, and a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!”
On the outside we look great, but today we must look in the mirror and then look at the life of Christ and then ask ourselves how far have we really come and how far do we plan on going to eliminate self, and allow God’s Spirit to take full control.
My friends getting to the threshold of the promise land means nothing, if Christ meets us at the entrance and tells us “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” Matt. 7:23 (NKJV)
“As with life, so it is with growth. It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit. It is by His power that the seed develops, ” For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:28-29 (NKJV) And Jesus bids us “consider the lilies how they grow.” Luke 12:27. The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort, but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life.
The child cannot, by any anxiety or power of its own, add to its stature. No more can you, by anxiety or effort of yourself, secure spiritual growth. The plant, the child, grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life, air, sunshine, and food.
What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant, such is Christ to those who trust in Him. He is their “everlasting light,” “a sun and shield.” Isaiah 60:19; Psalm 84:11 (NKJV) He is the living water, “the Bread of God . . . which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” John 6:33 (NKJV).
In the matchless gift of His Son, God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe. All who choose to breathe this life-giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. (E.G. White Steps to Christ pp. 67-68 Growing up into Christ)
My friends in a few days a new year begins, 2015, the grace of God is gradually being withdrawn from our world, stagnation can never be an option if our desire is God’s pure and holy kingdom and life eternal. So at this moment, if you took the time to read this devotional, Please take the time to fall on your knees in sincere and heartfelt prayer and cry out,
“Our Father which art in heaven” not my will but thou will be done not only today but every day, until I can see you face to face and here you say “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Matt. 25:23 (KJV)
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY