"Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." John 3:6

Most Christians know belief in Jesus as Lord is required for eternal life with God, but many are not understanding of God's definition of the word "belief". What does it mean to "believe" in Jesus?

From God's perspective, belief in His Son Jesus Christ means to have faith in Him. Believing Jesus is God is one thing, but having the faith to trust Him in and for all things requires the intimacy of relationship. To the world this is foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21, and 2:14) How can we have a relationship with a person who lived and died nearly 2000 years ago?

Salvation is truly a mystery because it is of God and not of man (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:4), but with salvation comes the knowledge of our true standing before God. Suffice it to say that, often for the first time, we see ourselves and the world the way God sees us - totally depraved compared to Him and His Son Jesus. (Hosea 5:2, Acts 8:22, Romans 1:29) This introspection of humility manifesting itself within our prideful, arrogant human existence is the exclusive domain of God. Man is incapable of achieving it on our own.

When God calls seeking a greater relationship we can answer Him wisely in faith or continue in the foolishness of the world. Ponder the words of missionary Jim Elliott:

"Wise is the man who gives what he can not keep, for that which he can not lose".

God loves us as His children, and has a wonderful plan for our lives. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) We can begin this day on our own, or take His hand in faith, holding fast throughout the day come what may. He loves us enough to allow us the choice.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 30

Faith

Without faith it is impossible to please Him . . . —Hebrews 11:6

Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth. The life of faith brings the two of these into the proper relationship. Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual, and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. Nothing that Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, but is revelation sense, and is complete, whereas common sense falls short. Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life. "We know that all things work together for good . . ." ( Romans 8:28 ) so that no matter what happens, the transforming power of God’s providence transforms perfect faith into reality. Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children.

For every detail of common sense in life, there is a truth God has revealed by which we can prove in our practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, "Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word" (for example, see Matthew 6:33 ). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" ( John 14:9 ) we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh," Romans 8:3

When we realize Jesus became a living sacrifice for our sins, more as a result of obedience to the Father than because of sympathy for us, do we love Him less? What if His ONLY reason was obedience to God? Are we willing and committed to loving and preaching a Savior who died as much out of obedience to His Father as love for us? (Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42)

We need to be careful regarding the basis for our love for Christ, as it is easy to make Him into a Savior we would desire rather than the One sent by God. Human understanding of love is limited, but God loves infinitely. We might think we know what is meant by "For God so loved the world", but earthly understanding and experience will likely not provide the breadth and width of God's love for humankind. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

To base our godly intentions and service on such a limited understanding alone (minimizing the significance of obedience to the Father in Jesus' crucifixion) exposes us to the danger of living a gospel of man rather than God. Certainly God is love, but in love He chastens those He considers His children. (Hebrews 12:6) Do we accept and worship the God who chastens in love as readily as the God of lovingkindness? The challenge is in knowing and living as if He is One in the same - as Jesus did.

Pleasing the Father involves loving Jesus to the extent that He lives in and through us, not what we think of His Son. This means we should assume Jesus' attitude and perspective regarding serving God which allows Him to be formed in us - willful surrender, submission, and obedience to the Father. Will this be our motivation for the day? If so, will it be our living witness, regardless of the consequences?

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 29

Substitution

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him —2 Corinthians 5:21

The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy for us. Yet the New Testament view is that He took our sin on Himself not because of sympathy, but because of His identification with us. He was "made . . . to be sin . . . ." Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the only explanation for His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy for us. We are acceptable to God not because we have obeyed, nor because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason. We say that Jesus Christ came to reveal the fatherhood and the lovingkindness of God, but the New Testament says that He came to take "away the sin of the world!" ( John 1:29 ). And the revealing of the fatherhood of God is only to those to whom Jesus has been introduced as Savior. In speaking to the world, Jesus Christ never referred to Himself as One who revealed the Father, but He spoke instead of being a stumbling block (see John 15:22-24 ). John 14:9 , where Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father," was spoken to His disciples.

That Christ died for me, and therefore I am completely free from penalty, is never taught in the New Testament. What is taught in the New Testament is that "He died for all" ( 2 Corinthians 5:15 )—not, "He died my death"—and that through identification with His death I can be freed from sin, and have His very righteousness imparted as a gift to me. The substitution which is taught in the New Testament is twofold— "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." The teaching is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me (see Galatians 4:19 ).

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest." Ephesians 2:3

Is it possible to be saved without knowing you're lost? Fortunately, God answers this question for most of us since we have a clear memory of who we were prior to being born again, thus knowing for certain that we were, in fact, lost.

The reality of the Gospel is that without Jesus Christ the entire human race would be destined for eternal damnation. (Romans 3:10) None of us would merit a moment, let alone eternity, with God. Knowing this, how many of us still refuse to surrender all to Jesus Christ? We might be saved, but are we living the sanctified life which allows Jesus to shine through us to others?

Because Jesus lives we can call heaven home. Because Jesus lives death has lost its sting. (1 Corinthians 15:54-58) Will we live this day with the assurance and peace of one who will spend eternity in heaven with God? If we don't, then we deny the inheritance of the Kingdom. (Romans 8:16-17)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 28

Justification by Faith

If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life —Romans 5:10

I am not saved by believing—I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me—repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the effect, instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is never that! I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ instantly places me into a right relationship with God. And as a result of the supernatural miracle of God’s grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, or because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The Spirit of God brings justification with a shattering, radiant light, and I know that I am saved, even though I don’t know how it was accomplished.

The salvation that comes from God is not based on human logic, but on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We can be born again solely because of the atonement of our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ). The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself. We do not have to accomplish these things ourselves—they have been accomplished through the atonement of the Cross of Christ. The supernatural becomes natural to us through the miracle of God, and there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done—"It is finished!" ( John 19:30 ).

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Perhaps the greatest challenge for Christian believers is to distinguish the difference between loving God, and loving godly principles - they are not one in the same. The proof is that it is possible to love godly principles without loving God, but not the reverse.

For centuries men and women have gone to the mission field, or to full-time ministry, with only a love of godly principles and the desire to profess them to the unknowing. While God is capable of using anyone for His purpose, His desire is that by our intimate relationship with Jesus, and through the power of His Holy Spirit, we would become shining points of distribution for His Gospel to all with whom we come into contact. (Matthew 5:16)

Today as we move among the world, will we be representative of a godly creed, or of a personal relationship with the Savior of the world? There is absolutely no power in a creed or doctrine, yet the power of Christ working through fools (1 Corinthians 3:18-20) who love Him evidences the greatest Gift ever offered to mankind. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 27

The Method of Missions

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . —Matthew 28:19

Jesus Christ did not say, "Go and save souls" (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, "Go . . . make disciples of all the nations . . . ." Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, "Don’t rejoice in successful service—the great secret of joy is that you have the right relationship with Me" (see Luke 10:17-20 ). The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point of view.

The challenge to the missionary does not come from the fact that people are difficult to bring to salvation, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, or that there is a barrier of callous indifference. No, the challenge comes from the perspective of the missionary’s own personal relationship with Jesus Christ—"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" ( Matthew 9:28 ). Our Lord unwaveringly asks us that question, and it confronts us in every individual situation we encounter. The one great challenge to us is—do I know my risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, but foolish enough according to the wisdom of the world, to trust in what Jesus Christ has said? Or am I abandoning the great supernatural position of limitless confidence in Christ Jesus, which is really God’s only call for a missionary? If I follow any other method, I depart altogether from the methods prescribed by our Lord—"All authority has been given to Me . . . . Go therefore . . ." ( Matthew 28:18-19 ).

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

Are we the "little children" of God, or do we believe we are qualified and capable of helping Him? What little child is a genuine helper to adults? Very few little children are capable of helping adults, and that is one reason God presents little children as spiritual role models for believers. We are most capable before God when we rely on Him as little children, rather than on our talents or abilities as His helpers. (Mark 10:14)

It takes genuine "little children" to be available for God to do His most important work through them. This is a foreign concept to most people, and even to many believers who insist on holding what we perceive as our human assets or attributes up to God as a testament to our Kingdom value. Truthfully, God sees nothing of value in our human nature or capability, but only in our humility, surrender, and obedience as His little children. (Luke 10:21)

So how will we go about the Lord's business this day? Will we be like a little child, holding on tightly to our Father's hand, or the self-confident adult only reaching for God's hand when we come to the end or ourselves?

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 26

What is a Missionary?

Jesus said to them again, ’. . . As the Father has sent Me, I also send you’ —John 20:21

A missionary is someone sent by Jesus Christ just as He was sent by God. The great controlling factor is not the needs of people, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in our service for God is behind us, not ahead of us. The tendency today is to put the inspiration out in front—to sweep everything together in front of us and make it conform to our definition of success. But in the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, and is the Lord Jesus Himself. The goal is to be true to Him—to carry out His plans.

Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ—"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . ." ( Matthew 28:19 ).

When looking back on the lives of men and women of God, the tendency is to say, "What wonderfully keen and intelligent wisdom they had, and how perfectly they understood all that God wanted!" But the keen and intelligent mind behind them was the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were "foolish" enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

The "good work" begun in us is God's salvation by grace. Believers saved by grace undergo a lifelong journey of sanctification, thus the "perfection" that will occur until the day of Christ Jesus.

Every moment between the "beginning of the good work", and the "day of Christ Jesus", is an opportunity for growth, even those experiences which occur as a result of sinful disobedience if we confess, repent, and seek God's forgiveness in Jesus. (James 5:16, 1 John 1:9) Hopefully, such occurrences diminish over time, as we become more concerned with getting in step with God, and out of step with the world.

Proof of spiritual growth and development is possessing a nature consistent with that of our Savior. Is this our goal, or is it to simply "model" Him? Acquiring the nature of Jesus Christ requires us to seek Him with all our being, (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9) to identify with His suffering, and exaltation, and to subordinate our own needs and desires to a position far below our yearning for Him.

Is Jesus Christ our primary reason for existing? If so, we'll never wonder about our purpose, or anguish over burdensome tasks and responsibilities. (Philippians 4:13)

"I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee my precious Savior,
I surrender all."

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 23

Nothing of the Old Life!

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17

Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, "God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right." But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.

When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and "all things are of God" ( 2 Corinthians 5:18 ). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that "is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil"? ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God—such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Acts 5:32

Perhaps the most difficult aspect of humility is the understanding that God wants nothing to do with us - that is, our human nature. We will always be unsuccessful in approaching Him carnally. We are only able to have a relationship with God spiritually. (John 3:36)

Understanding that fellowship with God is dependent upon our submission and surrender to Jesus Christ residing in us through the Holy Spirit, obedience is the key that opens the door to God. (Hebrews 5:9) If we believe we can approach Him in any other attitude we are deceived.

Several times today we will be tempted to manage our circumstances or resolve issues based on our human ability alone. Sadly, we may be successful in our own capacity which will encourage independence and self-reliance. If we're believing of, and committed to the concept that strength in the Lord first requires weakness in self (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), we will begin this day praying to be guided to Him in Christ Jesus rather than succeeding in our own effort.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 22

The Witness of the Spirit

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit . . . —Romans 8:16

We are in danger of getting into a bargaining spirit with God when we come to Him—we want the witness of the Spirit before we have done what God tells us to do.

Why doesn’t God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won’t abandon yourself to Him in total surrender. Yet once you do, immediately God witnesses to Himself—He cannot witness to you, but He instantly witnesses to His own nature in you. If you received the witness of the Spirit before the reality and truth that comes from obedience, it would simply result in sentimental emotion. But when you act on the basis of redemption, and stop the disrespectfulness of debating with God, He immediately gives His witness. As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting. If you are debating as to whether or not God can deliver from sin, then either let Him do it or tell Him that He cannot. Do not quote this or that person to Him. Simply obey Matthew 11:28 , "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden . . . ." Come, if you are weary, and ask, if you know you are evil (see Luke 11:9-13 ).

The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:16

Almost from the moment we enter this world we are encouraged to hurry up, to win the race, to stay ahead. Speed, and moving quickly become a part of life. As we grow older, the world encourages us to admire people who act impulsively, or spontaneously, especially if they're successful by world standards.

Interestingly, the Bible provides nearly an opposite perspective regarding time. While it discourages slothfulness, or wasting of time, it rarely mentions anyone hurrying anywhere. The pace of life related in God's Word presents a stark contrast to today's "hurry-up" world. (Psalm 37:9, Psalm 123:2, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 40:31)

Have you ever considered that the Holy Bible, spanning thousands of years and recorded by various individuals, only speaks of the future in terms of prophetic events? As my youngest son once informed me, we know that God considers this moment a precious gift because He named it "the present".

We can obsess about yesterday and tomorrow, but how about today? In God's economy, there is no time more valuable than the present. (Matthew 6:34, Philippians 4:6, 1 Peter 5:7) So here we are - now what would God have us do with it? Glorify His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ with all we say and do!

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 21

Impulsiveness or Discipleship?

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20

There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a sense of restraint to impulsiveness, suddenly bringing us a feeling of self-conscious foolishness, which makes us instantly want to vindicate ourselves. Impulsiveness is all right in a child, but is disastrous in a man or woman— an impulsive adult is always a spoiled person. Impulsiveness needs to be trained into intuition through discipline.

Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness, but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land ( Mark 14:54 ). We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises— human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus. It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God, but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people, and this is not learned in five minutes.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body." 1 Corinthians 6:18

We are born self-centered. Certainly there are varying degrees of self-focus, but nearly everyone is inherently more concerned for themselves than others. Therefore, without the gift of salvation through Christ, and the subsequent fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we are incapable of Christ-like servanthood.

With Jesus as our example, for the first time we can begin to understand the meaning of self-sacrifice, and also know how human pride distances us from God. This must all happen before we have an understanding of just how immoral we are. Without an abiding relationship with God, man has no idea of the extent of his depravity. (Ephesians 4:18)

The truth of the Gospel collides with our sin and immorality, revealing in its light that which we attempt to conduct in the dark. We can run, but can not hide, as the spiritual light of God can not be shielded or deflected. Thankfully, Jesus has provided the opportunity to move from the dark to the light instantly, allowing us the freedom to choose light over dark. (Hebrews 11:25) Will we surrender willfully and obediently to God, growing in grace and spiritual stature? We will likely be given the opportunity to decide many times today.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 20

Is God’s Will My Will?

This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3

Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me—is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30 ). Beware of saying, "Oh, I am longing to be sanctified." No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.

All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8 ). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" ( Romans 8:39 ).

Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.

Amen!

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:21
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For most true Christians, our lives can be divided into two elements - the time we lived as unbelievers, and the time we've lived as children of God. Prior to salvation we lived to survive and/or prosper subject to the world system. Hopefully, since salvation we're maturing and progressing relative to eternal values and Kingdom principles because we seek to KNOW Jesus. (2 Peter 3:18)

Spiritual progression only occurs as the result of a sincere desire to KNOW Jesus Christ. We can preach on street corners, mission in Africa, work in inner-city soup kitchens - none of which amounts to anything without an intense and abiding love for, and focus on, Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3:8)

Will our Savior determine the course and outcome of our day? Will we arise thinking of Him, and live each moment of the day seeking to KNOW Him better? Wherever we are, and whenever it may be, Jesus Christ is with us ready to take our hand as we reach up to Him. It doesn't matter what we did yesterday, or even a moment ago. The time to seek and KNOW Jesus is right now! (Romans 10:9)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 19

The Unheeded Secret

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world —John 18:36

The great enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ today is the idea of practical work that has no basis in the New Testament but comes from the systems of the world. This work insists upon endless energy and activities, but no private life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing. Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation . . . . For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you" ( Luke 17:20-21 ). It is a hidden, obscure thing. An active Christian worker too often lives to be seen by others, while it is the innermost, personal area that reveals the power of a person’s life.

We must get rid of the plague of the spirit of this religious age in which we live. In our Lord’s life there was none of the pressure and the rushing of tremendous activity that we regard so highly today, and a disciple is to be like His Master. The central point of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship with Him, not public usefulness to others.

It is not the practical activities that are the strength of this Bible Training College—its entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens.

Amen!
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"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest." John 4:35
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Do we travel through life on two separate roads - one secular and the other spiritual? If so, we have succumbed to dualism, one of Satan's greatest deceptions. The world system encourages the belief that a life dedicated to God and His plan is only for those called to "the work of the church", or of a specific form of religion.

The concept of dualism (purposeful separation of spiritual and secular existence) is purely of the world, as it is never prescribed in God's Word. To the contrary, God's Word tells us to render all service as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23, Ephesians 6:7) Proverbs 3:5-6), and encourages no distinction between our secular and spiritual lives with its clear and consistent instruction to rely on God and seek His will for all things.

In his book, Loving Monday, (the entire book may be read online) author and successful business owner John D. Beckett presents the witness of how he has operated the R.W. Becket Company for many years as his Christian calling. Struggling to determine God's will for his life as a young man, he came to the realization that he could best serve God right where he was, as long as he considered his business, personal, and spiritual lives all as one under Jesus Christ.

John Beckett is a missionary, and one of the highest order since he submitted and surrendered to God's plan for his life rather than pursue his own. When he joined his father's business it had 30 employees. After nearly three decades of operating it under godly principles, and as an integral component of his own Christian journey, it has grown to more than 500 employees, becoming a leader in its industry. John Beckett's business life is not separate from his spiritual life. He has not succumbed to the lie of "dualism" as the world prescribes.

Through his decision to become a servant for Jesus Christ, John Beckett has influenced thousands of people for the Kingdom through his work. Would he have realized a similar opportunity in full-time, church-only related ministry or missions? Only God knows, but the truth of his life has been to allow Jesus to use him as a conduit for His plan, and that's really all that matters.

Where does Jesus have you today? Wherever it is, if you've submitted and surrendered your life to Him, you are, or have the potential to be, a successful missionary.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

October 16

The Key to the Master’s Orders

Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest —Matthew 9:38

The key to the missionary’s difficult task is in the hand of God, and that key is prayer, not work—that is, not work as the word is commonly used today, which often results in the shifting of our focus away from God. The key to the missionary’s difficult task is also not the key of common sense, nor is it the key of medicine, civilization, education, or even evangelization. The key is in following the Master’s orders—the key is prayer. "Pray the Lord of the harvest . . . ." In the natural realm, prayer is not practical but absurd. We have to realize that prayer is foolish from the commonsense point of view.

From Jesus Christ’s perspective, there are no nations, but only the world. How many of us pray without regard to the persons, but with regard to only one Person—Jesus Christ? He owns the harvest that is produced through distress and through conviction of sin. This is the harvest for which we have to pray that laborers be sent out to reap. We stay busy at work, while people all around us are ripe and ready to be harvested; we do not reap even one of them, but simply waste our Lord’s time in over-energized activities and programs. Suppose a crisis were to come into your father’s or your brother’s life—are you there as a laborer to reap the harvest for Jesus Christ? Is your response, "Oh, but I have a special work to do!" No Christian has a special work to do. A Christian is called to be Jesus Christ’s own, "a servant [who] is not greater than his master" ( John 13:16 ), and someone who does not dictate to Jesus Christ what he intends to do. Our Lord calls us to no special work—He calls us to Himself. "Pray the Lord of the harvest," and He will engineer your circumstances to send you out as His laborer.

Amen!
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"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 1 John 4:14
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Are all Christians called to be missionaries? God's Word clearly encourages us without qualification, exclusion, or exception to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." (Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:47)

Most people think of the word "missionary" as describing a person who travels to far away places to establish a church among those never having heard the Gospel. While this is one description of a missionary, the word is significantly more far ranging. Anyone who shares the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone else is a missionary. Whether on a foreign field, or in our own neighborhood we are missionaries by God's definition. Also, sharing the Gospel is not limited to verbal communication. The truth of Jesus Christ is often more effectively evidenced by actions, as the nature of a person is much more than spoken words.

So, to what mission field are we sent today? Will it involve the workplace, the community, or even the church? Will we be submitted and surrendered enough to allow God's leading? Remember, you will likely be the only Bible some people read today, so . . . .
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost for His Highest. . .

October 15

The Key to the Missionary’s Work

He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world —1 John 2:2

The key to the missionary’s message is the propitiation of Christ Jesus—His sacrifice for us that completely satisfied the wrath of God. Look at any other aspect of Christ’s work, whether it is healing, saving, or sanctifying, and you will see that there is nothing limitless about those. But—"The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"—that is limitless ( John 1:29 ). The missionary’s message is the limitless importance of Jesus Christ as the propitiation for our sins, and a missionary is someone who is immersed in the truth of that revelation.

The real key to the missionary’s message is the "remissionary" aspect of Christ’s life, not His kindness, His goodness, or even His revealing of the fatherhood of God to us. ". . . repentance and remission of sins should be preached . . . to all nations . . ." ( Luke 24:47 ). The greatest message of limitless importance is that "He Himself is the propitiation for our sins . . . ." The missionary’s message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is "for the whole world." When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus.

A missionary is someone who is bound by marriage to the stated mission and purpose of his Lord and Master. He is not to proclaim his own point of view, but is only to proclaim "the Lamb of God." It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, "Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me," but, ". . . woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" ( 1 Corinthians 9:16 ). And this is the gospel—"the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
Amen!
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"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24