"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God," 2 Corinthians 3:5

As Kingdom ambassadors, Christian believers are charged to be in the world, but not of it. (John 17:14-16) This means that while living in the world among unbelievers, we are to considers ourselves like ambassadors in a foreign land. Ambassadors are charged to represent their home country most favorably, primarily for the purpose of encouraging positive and productive relationships with the citizens of the foreign land to which they are posted.

Successful ambassadors must learn to balance their desire to personally appeal to others with their responsibility to work on behalf of their home nation. Faithful believers in Jesus Christ are Christian ambassadors to the world. While encouraging relationships with unbelievers, we must never lose sight of our primary goal - to best represent our "home" Kingdom. (Matthew 5:14-16)

So how should a Kingdom ambassador appear to unbelievers? We are to present the principles of our King and His realm - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - all while trusting in our Lord. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Successful Kingdom ambassadors are always prepared and enthusiastic regarding the privilege of sharing their King with all who will listen. (2 Timothy 4:2) It begins by seeking, knowing, and loving King Jesus with all of our heart, soul, and mind. (Matthew 22:37)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 30

"By the Grace of God I Am What I Am"

By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain . . . —1 Corinthians 15:10

The way we continually talk about our own inabilities is an insult to our Creator. To complain over our incompetence is to accuse God falsely of having overlooked us. Get into the habit of examining from God’s perspective those things that sound so humble to men. You will be amazed at how unbelievably inappropriate and disrespectful they are to Him. We say things such as, "Oh, I shouldn’t claim to be sanctified; I’m not a saint." But to say that before God means, "No, Lord, it is impossible for You to save and sanctify me; there are opportunities I have not had and so many imperfections in my brain and body; no, Lord, it isn’t possible." That may sound wonderfully humble to others, but before God it is an attitude of defiance.

Conversely, the things that sound humble before God may sound exactly the opposite to people. To say, "Thank God, I know I am saved and sanctified," is in God’s eyes the purest expression of humility. It means you have so completely surrendered yourself to God that you know He is true. Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not. But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

There is only one relationship that really matters, and that is your personal relationship to your personal Redeemer and Lord. If you maintain that at all costs, letting everything else go, God will fulfill His purpose through your life. One individual life may be of priceless value to God’s purposes, and yours may be that life.

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 determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2

Is it a coincidence that much of American life becomes excessively pre-occupied with self-indulgence and worldly distractions between Thanksgiving and Christmas, two of the three annual Christian holidays? The Christmas season reveals the clash of Christian and secular culture which exists largely unnoticed throughout the rest of the year. The spiritual battle waged between secular commercialism and true Christianity becomes a spectacle of immense proportion.

The only two things Satan dislikes more than observing the Christian world celebrate the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus (Easter) is when Christians gather to worship God in thankfulness, and to exalt the incarnation of His Son. Sadly, Satan has largely succeeded in creating a mockery of Thanksgiving and Christmas through the encouragement of self-indulgent customs and traditions having little to do with the reasons for both celebrations.

What can we do about it? We can begin by consecrating our lives (physically and spiritually) for such a time as this. (Esther 4:14). For the next 30 days, we can be content to merely observe the temporal seduction of the world, or be a bright beacon for those seeking, or at least wondering about, the Truth of the season. Will we be salt and light, especially during a season when many may be looking for it?

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it e made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew
5:13-16

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 27

The Consecration of Spiritual Power

. . . by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world —Galatians 6:14

If I dwell on the Cross of Christ, I do not simply become inwardly devout and solely interested in my own holiness— I become strongly focused on Jesus Christ’s interests. Our Lord was not a recluse nor a fanatical holy man practicing self-denial. He did not physically cut Himself off from society, but He was inwardly disconnected all the time. He was not aloof, but He lived in another world. In fact, He was so much in the common everyday world that the religious people of His day accused Him of being a glutton and a drunkard. Yet our Lord never allowed anything to interfere with His consecration of spiritual power.

It is not genuine consecration to think that we can refuse to be used of God now in order to store up our spiritual power for later use. That is a hopeless mistake. The Spirit of God has set a great many people free from their sin, yet they are experiencing no fullness in their lives— no true sense of freedom. The kind of religious life we see around the world today is entirely different from the vigorous holiness of the life of Jesus Christ. "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one" ( John 17:15 ). We are to be in the world but not of it— to be separated internally, not externally (see John 17:16 ).

We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of our spiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is our part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) is God’s part. We must make a deliberate determination to be interested only in what God is interested. The way to make that determination, when faced with a perplexing problem, is to ask yourself, "Is this the kind of thing in which Jesus Christ is interested, or is it something in which the spirit that is diametrically opposed to Jesus is interested?"

Amen!

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

"For the word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

A wonderful aspect of the Gospel is that the grace of God is available to everyone. The Bible tells us some will accept it, and others will not. While it may be tempting to consider and discuss who will and will not be saved, giving in to such temptation is counter-productive to a successful Christian journey.

Regarding the kingdom of God, His Word tells us that knowing Jesus Christ should be our highest priority, for He alone is our source of spiritual nourishment. In Christ we are capable of a righteous and faithful walk, usually the most effective method for sharing the truth of God's salvation plan for mankind. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

Much the same way as videos or movies offer instruction via the presentation of living examples, such is the walk of the believer. For maximum effect, the "script" of the believer's life will likely include vivid scenes depicting opportunities for faith in, and reliance on God in difficult times. (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12)

What will be the effect of the message our life relates to the rest of the world today? Like the Director of a major motion picture, God is setting the stage for each of us individually to communicate His message. Will it be the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, or something else we consider more interesting or relevant? (1 Peter 4:11,16)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 26

The Focal Point of Spiritual Power

. . . except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . —Galatians 6:14

If you want to know the power of God (that is, the resurrection life of Jesus) in your human flesh, you must dwell on the tragedy of God. Break away from your personal concern over your own spiritual condition, and with a completely open spirit consider the tragedy of God. Instantly the power of God will be in you. "Look to Me. . ." (Isaiah 45:22). Pay attention to the external Source and the internal power will be there. We lose power because we don’t focus on the right thing. The effect of the Cross is salvation, sanctification, healing, etc., but we are not to preach any of these. We are to preach "Jesus Christ and Him crucified" ( 1 Corinthians 2:2 ). The proclaiming of Jesus will do its own work. Concentrate on God’s focal point in your preaching, and even if your listeners seem to pay it no attention, they will never be the same again. If I share my own words, they are of no more importance than your words are to me. But if we share the truth of God with one another, we will encounter it again and again. We have to focus on the great point of spiritual power— the Cross. If we stay in contact with that center of power, its energy is released in our lives. In holiness movements and spiritual experience meetings, the focus tends to be put not on the Cross of Christ but on the effects of the Cross.

The feebleness of the church is being criticized today, and the criticism is justified. One reason for the feebleness is that there has not been this focus on the true center of spiritual power. We have not dwelt enough on the tragedy of Calvary or on the meaning of redemption.

Amen!

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

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

From the moment we're saved through faith in Jesus Christ we get ALL of the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit get all of us? If we're honest, the answer for most Christians is "perhaps for awhile".

Typically, the more dramatic our conversion experience, the more we are subject to the leading of the Spirit, at least for a time. While we have little to do with our salvation experience (Ephesians 2:8), from that moment forward how we continue in faith, devotion, submission, and obedience is significantly determined by our own self-discipline and perseverance. (Hebrews 12:1)

The apostle Paul's great devotion and perseverance came out of the realization that what Jesus had accomplished at Calvary was done even for him though he aggressively persecuted the church of Jesus Christ. But having less than a dramatic conversion experience is never an excuse for an undisciplined Christian walk.

If we are truly saved by grace, then we are no more or less saved than any other saint. Each day is an opportunity to dedicate it to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If we fail in this regard, the person in the mirror is the only one to be held responsible. It is finished (John 19:30) empowers us to live the sanctified life through faith, but God allows each of us to determine to what extent we will.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 25

The Secret of Spiritual Consistency

God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . —Galatians 6:14

When a person is newly born again, he seems inconsistent due to his unrelated emotions and the state of the external things or circumstances in his life. The apostle Paul had a strong and steady underlying consistency in his life. Consequently, he could let his external life change without internal distress because he was rooted and grounded in God. Most of us are not consistent spiritually because we are more concerned about being consistent externally. In the external expression of things, Paul lived in the basement, while his critics lived on the upper level. And these two levels do not begin to touch each other. But Paul’s consistency was down deep in the fundamentals. The great basis of his consistency was the agony of God in the redemption of the world, namely, the Cross of Christ.

State your beliefs to yourself again. Get back to the foundation of the Cross of Christ, doing away with any belief not based on it. In secular history the Cross is an infinitesimally small thing, but from the biblical perspective it is of more importance than all the empires of the world. If we get away from dwelling on the tragedy of God on the Cross in our preaching, our preaching produces nothing. It will not transmit the energy of God to man; it may be interesting, but it will have no power. However, when we preach the Cross, the energy of God is released. ". . . it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. . . . we preach Christ crucified . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 1:21, 23 ).

Amen!

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

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Are we "branches" truly abiding in the Vine, Jesus Christ, or just branches striving to bear our own fruit? Undertaking godly service dependent on our own effort and capability alone usually results in frustration and defeat. (John 15:6) Jesus knew our best opportunity for effectively serving Him could only be realized in steadfastly seeking and relying on Him.

As Christian branches, our primary function is to seek and conduct nourishment from the Vine - not focus on bearing our own fruit. Obviously, since fruit sprouts from branches, some nurturing is necessary on our part, but we must be careful not to become absorbed or consumed by the development of the fruit relative to our concern for the Vine. The fruit can only be created and successfully maintained via our attention to the Vine. (John 15:4)

It is indeed a good thing to be energized for the Kingdom relative to our responsibility to share the Gospel, and disciple those who will hear and accept it. (Matthew 28:19-20) However, the real test for godly servants is to never lose sight of the Vine for the fruit. Seeking the Vine is our best opportunity to be blessed in bearing fruit.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 24

Direction of Focus

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters . . . , so our eyes look to the Lord our God . . . —Psalm 123:2

This verse is a description of total reliance on God. Just as the eyes of a servant are riveted on his master, our eyes should be directed to and focused on God. This is how knowledge of His countenance is gained and how God reveals Himself to us (see Isaiah 53:1 ). Our spiritual strength begins to be drained when we stop lifting our eyes to Him. Our stamina is sapped, not so much through external troubles surrounding us but through problems in our thinking. We wrongfully think, "I suppose I’ve been stretching myself a little too much, standing too tall and trying to look like God instead of being an ordinary humble person." We have to realize that no effort can be too high.

For example, you came to a crisis in your life, took a stand for God, and even had the witness of the Spirit as a confirmation that what you did was right. But now, maybe weeks or years have gone by, and you are slowly coming to the conclusion—"Well, maybe what I did showed too much pride or was superficial. Was I taking a stand a bit too high for me?" Your "rational" friends come and say, "Don’t be silly. We knew when you first talked about this spiritual awakening that it was a passing impulse, that you couldn’t hold up under the strain. And anyway, God doesn’t expect you to endure." You respond by saying, "Well, I suppose I was expecting too much." That sounds humble to say, but it means that your reliance on God is gone, and you are now relying on worldly opinion. The danger comes when, no longer relying on God, you neglect to focus your eyes on Him. Only when God brings you to a sudden stop will you realize that you have been the loser. Whenever there is a spiritual drain in your life, correct it immediately. Realize that something has been coming between you and God, and change or remove it at once.

Amen!

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

"Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19

As believers, do we strive to see the world through the eyes of Jesus, or instead with the perspective that other people seem to be lost, or at least less spiritual than we? Imagine having to deal entirely with unsaved, unspiritual people as Jesus did every day He spent on earth.

Most of us recall a time before we were "born again" into the family of God. Were we not some of the most insufferable people on earth? Our spiritual development means nothing to God if it does not translate into "Christ-likeness" (Matthew 5:16), and Jesus never considered anyone below Him (Mark 10:45).

Throughout this day we will encounter many potential stumbling blocks relative to living Christ for others to experience. They may be pleasant or unpleasant distractions, but we must know that to God both are the same. Anything we use as an excuse to be drawn away from the spirit and character of Jesus is of the enemy. (John 12:24-26)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 23

The Distraction of Contempt

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! For we are exceedingly filled with contempt —Psalm 123:3

What we must beware of is not damage to our belief in God but damage to our Christian disposition or state of mind. "Take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously" ( Malachi 2:16 ). Our state of mind is powerful in its effects. It can be the enemy that penetrates right into our soul and distracts our mind from God. There are certain attitudes we should never dare to indulge. If we do, we will find they have distracted us from faith in God. Until we get back into a quiet mood before Him, our faith is of no value, and our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity is what rules our lives.

Beware of "the cares of this world . . ." ( Mark 4:19 ). They are the very things that produce the wrong attitudes in our soul. It is incredible what enormous power there is in simple things to distract our attention away from God. Refuse to be swamped by "the cares of this world."
Another thing that distracts us is our passion for vindication. St. Augustine prayed, "O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself." Such a need for constant vindication destroys our soul’s faith in God. Don’t say, "I must explain myself," or, "I must get people to understand." Our Lord never explained anything—He left the misunderstandings or misconceptions of others to correct themselves.

When we discern that other people are not growing spiritually and allow that discernment to turn to criticism, we block our fellowship with God. God never gives us discernment so that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.

Amen!

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

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

Do we think of God as a "kind, old, forgiving gentlemen", perhaps like a grandfather? While it might be comforting to consider Him as someone looking for any reason to forgive us, that's not the God of the Bible.

We are forgiven for one reason only - Jesus suffered and died to pay the penalty for our sins. Without His sacrifice, forgiveness by God would not be possible. (Romans 3:21-26) While it is true that God's love for us was the motivation behind sending His Son as a sacrifice, (John 3:16) it was Christ's obedience that enabled God's plan to succeed. (Matthew 26:38-39) (John 17:4, 19:30)

We must never be deceived into believing God's love for us means that we're lovely. On the contrary, without the blood of Jesus Christ cleansing us of sin we are but filthy rags. (Job 15:16, Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:3, Isaiah 64:6) Jesus alone saves us from eternal payment for our iniquity. Praise His holy name!

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 20

The Forgiveness of God

In Him we have . . . the forgiveness of sins . . . —Ephesians 1:7

Beware of the pleasant view of the fatherhood of God: God is so kind and loving that of course He will forgive us. That thought, based solely on emotion, cannot be found anywhere in the New Testament. The only basis on which God can forgive us is the tremendous tragedy of the Cross of Christ. To base our forgiveness on any other ground is unconscious blasphemy. The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way! Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours.

Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive—He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm.

Compared with the miracle of the forgiveness of sin, the experience of sanctification is small. Sanctification is simply the wonderful expression or evidence of the forgiveness of sins in a human life. But the thing that awakens the deepest fountain of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven his sin. Paul never got away from this. Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.

Amen!

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

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34

What did Jesus mean when He uttered the words of Matthew 10:34? Most theologians consider Jesus to be saying that the convicting truth of His Word is unsettling to the world, often to the extent that it will actually create strife between believers and unbelievers, even family members. (Luke 12:51-53)

Does this mean that we should welcome conflict with the world? To the contrary, conflict and strife with others should never be desired by God's people, but we are not to be surprised when His Truth is so disturbing to the lost and perishing that we will be shunned and often vilified. Obediently walking with Jesus is not the best way to win a cultural popularity contest. (Luke 21:12-13)

Godly love in the form of the crucifixion of His Son at Calvary is not a love the world can embrace. It says that we dirty, rotten, sinners, undeserving as we may be (Isaiah 64:6), are loved beyond measure by a righteous and exclusive God. (Romans 5:7-9)

We needed a savior, and God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ who defined Sonship through His steadfast obedience. He endured torture and ridicule unto death to please His Father, that we may have the same option, and a similar inheritance. (Galatians 3:18; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 1:14; Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 11:8; 1 Peter 1:4)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 19

"When He Has Come"

When He has come, He will convict the world of sin . . . —John 16:8

Very few of us know anything about conviction of sin. We know the experience of being disturbed because we have done wrong things. But conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots out every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one—"Against You, You only, have I sinned . . ." ( Psalm 51:4 ). When a person is convicted of sin in this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that God would not dare to forgive him. If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so.

The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again. The love of God means Calvary—nothing less! The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else. The only basis for which God can forgive me is the Cross of Christ. It is there that His conscience is satisfied.

Forgiveness doesn’t merely mean that I am saved from hell and have been made ready for heaven (no one would accept forgiveness on that level). Forgiveness means that I am forgiven into a newly created relationship which identifies me with God in Christ. The miracle of redemption is that God turns me, the unholy one, into the standard of Himself, the Holy One. He does this by putting into me a new nature, the nature 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 the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:2

The "dying seed" concept (John 12:24) of Christianity challenges all believers. Dying to self in order to grow fruitful in Christ requires a moment to moment attitude of submission, surrender, and obedience to God. (Galatians 5:24-25)

The key to self-crucifixion is found in replacing our carnal interests with love for Jesus Christ. (Matthew 22:36-40) For perspective if we want to lose weight, which is more successful in the long run - to stop eating altogether, or change permanently what we eat to shed extra pounds and maintain a healthy weight? Replacing fleshly indulgence with a spiritual diet of Jesus Christ is most effective in improving intimacy with God.

We are responsible to do whatever is necessary to adjust our lifestyle toward Jesus and away from ourselves. While sacrifice and self-denial is an important ingredient in the sanctification process, there is a big difference between running away from the world, and running to Jesus. (Isaiah 2:22)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 18

Winning into Freedom

If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed —John 8:36

If there is even a trace of individual self-satisfaction left in us, it always says, "I can’t surrender," or "I can’t be free." But the spiritual part of our being never says "I can’t"; it simply soaks up everything around it. Our spirit hungers for more and more. It is the way we are built. We are designed with a great capacity for God, but sin, our own individuality, and wrong thinking keep us from getting to Him. God delivers us from sin—we have to deliver ourselves from our individuality. This means offering our natural life to God and sacrificing it to Him, so He may transform it into spiritual life through our obedience.

God pays no attention to our natural individuality in the development of our spiritual life. His plan runs right through our natural life. We must see to it that we aid and assist God, and not stand against Him by saying, "I can’t do that." God will not discipline us; we must discipline ourselves. God will not bring our "arguments . . . and every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 )— we have to do it. Don’t say, "Oh, Lord, I suffer from wandering thoughts." Don’t suffer from wandering thoughts. Stop listening to the tyranny of your individual natural life and win freedom into the spiritual life.

"If the Son makes you free . . . ." Do not substitute Savior for Son in this passage. The Savior has set us free from sin, but this is the freedom that comes from being set free from myself by the Son. It is what Paul meant in Galatians 2:20 when he said, "I have been crucified with Christ . . . ." His individuality had been broken and his spirit had been united with his Lord; not just merged into Him, but made one with Him. ". . . you shall be free indeed"—free to the very core of your being; free from the inside to the outside. We tend to rely on our own energy, instead of being energized by the power that comes from identification with Jesus.

Amen!

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

"For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, " I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU." Hebrews 6:13-14

Christians often struggle with God's emphasis on obedience to Him. We find it difficult to willfully obey Him,though it is a key element in resisting our fallen human nature, and/or receiving God's blessing of protection. (Matthew 19:17, Luke 11:28)

For perspective, consider the small child refusing to hold a parent's hand on a busy street thereby disdaining the obedience necessary for safety in a potentially dangerous environment. In this situation the parent has a choice to make in either allowing the child to be subject to unnecessary injury or death; or enforcing the obedience necessary for the welfare of the child. As God's adult "children", do we ever confront Him with similar situations? (Hebrews 12:6)

Being an obedient Christian can be very difficult. It may require us to be unpopular with the world, and even loved ones. But if we truly love God with all our heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:36-38) we know that willful obedience evidences such love. God desires a relationship with His children, and in any successful relationship both parties have responsibility. The more mature a Christian becomes, the more we appreciate and embrace willful obedience to God.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 17

The Eternal Goal

By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing . . . I will bless you . . . —Genesis 22:16-17

Abraham, at this point, has reached the place where he is in touch with the very nature of God. He now understands the reality of God.

My goal is God Himself . . .At any cost, dear Lord, by any road.

"At any cost . . . by any road" means submitting to God’s way of bringing us to the goal.

There is no possibility of questioning God when He speaks, if He speaks to His own nature in me. Prompt obedience is the only result. When Jesus says, "Come," I simply come; when He says, "Let go," I let go; when He says, "Trust God in this matter," I trust. This work of obedience is the evidence that the nature of God is in me.
God’s revelation of Himself to me is influenced by my character, not by God’s character.

’Tis because I am ordinary, Thy ways so often look ordinary to me.

It is through the discipline of obedience that I get to the place where Abraham was and I see who God is. God will never be real to me until I come face to face with Him in Jesus Christ. Then I will know and can boldly proclaim, "In all the world, my God, there is none but Thee, there is none but Thee."

The promises of God are of no value to us until, through obedience, we come to understand the nature of God. We may read some things in the Bible every day for a year and they may mean nothing to us. Then, because we have been obedient to God in some small detail, we suddenly see what God means and His nature is instantly opened up to us. "All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our "Yes" must be born of obedience; when by obedience we ratify a promise of God by saying, "Amen," or, "So be it." That promise becomes ours.

Amen!

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

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." Colossians 3:17

As children, most of us played the game "Simon Says". The objective of the contest was not to achieve anything spectacular, or even to finish ahead of anyone else, but rather to listen closely and only execute instructions preceded by the words "Simons says". The winner was usually the most patient and disciplined participant, as one by one the other contestants were eliminated for responding to instructions issued without the required "Simon says".

The Christian journey is somewhat like "Simon Says", in that we are to listen carefully and diligently for God's direction while shutting out the temptations and distractions of the world. However, unlike "Simon Says", we're not to stand completely motionless until instructions are received, but instead are to move through life with godly intent and perseverance. (Philippians 3:7-14)

The call to Christian service is not reserved only for those carrying out grand and extraordinary works for the Kingdom of God, but also to the saints who live, and work, and have their being every day in Christ Jesus, wherever they are called. The simplest acts of patience, kindness, and compassion shown to those whom God has placed in our path are what He desires of us each day. Is there anything more loving and caring than sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who will hear it?

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 16

Still Human!

. . . whatever you do, do all to the glory of God —1 Corinthians 10:31

In the Scriptures, the great miracle of the incarnation slips into the ordinary life of a child; the great miracle of the transfiguration fades into the demon-possessed valley below; the glory of the resurrection descends into a breakfast on the seashore. This is not an anticlimax, but a great revelation of God.

We have a tendency to look for wonder in our experience, and we mistake heroic actions for real heroes. It’s one thing to go through a crisis grandly, yet quite another to go through every day glorifying God when there is no witness, no limelight, and no one paying even the remotest attention to us. If we are not looking for halos, we at least want something that will make people say, "What a wonderful man of prayer he is!" or, "What a great woman of devotion she is!" If you are properly devoted to the Lord Jesus, you have reached the lofty height where no one would ever notice you personally. All that is noticed is the power of God coming through you all the time.

We want to be able to say, "Oh, I have had a wonderful call from God!" But to do even the most humbling tasks to the glory of God takes the Almighty God Incarnate working in us. To be utterly unnoticeable requires God’s Spirit in us making us absolutely humanly His. The true test of a saint’s life is not successfulness but faithfulness on the human level of life. We tend to set up success in Christian work as our purpose, but our purpose should be to display the glory of God in human life, to live a life "hidden with Christ in God" in our everyday human conditions ( Colossians 3:3 ). Our human relationships are the very conditions in which the ideal life of God should be exhibited.

Amen!

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

"knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;" Romans 6:6

Is it really possible for a believing Christian to have a bad day? By the standards of the world certainly there are good and bad days, and the world is the place of our carnal existence. When life presents extraordinary challenges and trials we are tempted to evaluate it strictly from a carnal perspective, but the believer in Jesus Christ is equipped with the Word and power of God to know and live the truth. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 13:20-21)

The true believing Christian has a different perspective from which to evaluate each day. (Matthew 16:33) Having our spirit brought to life through faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the quality of each day is determined not by where, and in what we reside, but by WHO resides within us. (Ephesians 2:1-3) For Christians, our worst day as a believer should far exceed our best day as a non-believer. Is this our perspective?

If our witness of this day is exhibiting the demeanor of one whose success is determined by the experiences of this world God will not be glorified. By the blood of Jesus we are charged with the responsibility of being ambassadors for His kingdom, to present the truth of a higher existence not subject to the powers and circumstances of the world. Of which realm will be citizens today? (Romans 12:2)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 13

Faith or Experience?

. . . the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me —Galatians 2:20

We should battle through our moods, feelings, and emotions into absolute devotion to the Lord Jesus. We must break out of our own little world of experience into abandoned devotion to Him. Think who the New Testament says Jesus Christ is, and then think of the despicable meagerness of the miserable faith we exhibit by saying, "I haven’t had this experience or that experience"! Think what faith in Jesus Christ claims and provides—He can present us faultless before the throne of God, inexpressibly pure, absolutely righteous, and profoundly justified. Stand in absolute adoring faith "in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption . . ." ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 ). How dare we talk of making a sacrifice for the Son of God! We are saved from hell and total destruction, and then we talk about making sacrifices!

We must continually focus and firmly place our faith in Jesus Christ— not a "prayer meeting" Jesus Christ, or a "book" Jesus Christ, but the New Testament Jesus Christ, who is God Incarnate, and who ought to strike us dead at His feet. Our faith must be in the One from whom our salvation springs. Jesus Christ wants our absolute, unrestrained devotion to Himself. We can never experience Jesus Christ, or selfishly bind Him in the confines of our own hearts. Our faith must be built on strong determined confidence in Him.

It is because of our trusting in experience that we see the steadfast impatience of the Holy Spirit against unbelief. All of our fears are sinful, and we create our own fears by refusing to nourish ourselves in our faith. How can anyone who is identified with Jesus Christ suffer from doubt or fear! Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief.

Amen!

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

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4

Sanctification is the process by which we draw closer to God, and away from the attractions (and distractions) of the world. For some, there is dramatic life-change from the moment of salvation. Others may take years to mature even marginally, but all believers are sanctified (set apart for God) to some degree over the entire term of human life. (2 Timothy 2:19-21)

What is our part in the maturation process, and how does it happen?

The answer is found throughout God's Word, but the New Testament epistles are especially helpful for guidance and inspiration. These letters were written to believers in local churches struggling, as we do, against traditions, carnal lusts, and the deceptions such as are common to man (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Another way we can know we have a responsibility in our relationship with God is that He desires fellowship with us. Successful relationships are dynamic, ever-growing as a result of increasing knowledge, understanding and compassion - direct results of intimate fellowship. (1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 John 1:3)

We can be assured the love of God will guide us into intimate fellowship with Him today, providing we are obedient to what Jesus stated was God's greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38) We have everything to gain, and nothing to lose by loving Him with all of our being.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 12

The Changed 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

What understanding do you have of the salvation of your soul? The work of salvation means that in your real life things are dramatically changed. You no longer look at things in the same way. Your desires are new and the old things have lost their power to attract you. One of the tests for determining if the work of salvation in your life is genuine is—has God changed the things that really matter to you? If you still yearn for the old things, it is absurd to talk about being born from above—you are deceiving yourself. If you are born again, the Spirit of God makes the change very evident in your real life and thought. And when a crisis comes, you are the most amazed person on earth at the wonderful difference there is in you. There is no possibility of imagining that you did it. It is this complete and amazing change that is the very evidence that you are saved.

What difference has my salvation and sanctification made? For instance, can I stand in the light of 1 Corinthians 13 , or do I squirm and evade the issue? True salvation, worked out in me by the Holy Spirit, frees me completely. And as long as I "walk in the light as He is in the light" ( 1 John 1:7 ), God sees nothing to rebuke because His life is working itself into every detailed part of my being, not on the conscious level, but even deeper than my consciousness.

Amen!

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

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;" Hebrews 11:17

Abraham's example of faith in offering up Isaac challenges us all. What has God made evident to us regarding sacrifice or service that we find too difficult to carry out? We may be tempted to answer that we've never been challenged with such a task or trial, but how about sharing our faith? Has there ever been a time when we failed to share our faith in Christ because of what it might cost us?

We may not be tested with offering up an only son, but if we're not being tested and tried by God on some level we need to examine our faith life. Testing through service and sacrifice is one of the ways God grows and matures His children. (James 1:12) Consequently, a Christian without spiritual testing or trial may be one out of fellowship with the Father.

The lessons of godly testing or trial are rarely welcome from a human perspective, but spiritually they mold and shape God's children in the image of His Son Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7) Today, we can travel through life on our own plan and schedule, or take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 11

The Supreme Climb

He said, ’Take now your son . . .’ —Genesis 22:2

God’s command is, "Take now," not later. It is incredible how we debate! We know something is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it immediately. If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later—it must be done now. And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.

"So Abraham rose early in the morning . . . and went to the place of which God had told him" ( Genesis 22:3 ). Oh, the wonderful simplicity of Abraham! When God spoke, he did not "confer with flesh and blood" ( Galatians 1:16 ). Beware when you want to "confer with flesh and blood" or even your own thoughts, insights, or understandings—anything that is not based on your personal relationship with God. These are all things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.

Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be. Always guard against self-chosen service for God. Self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service. If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace; or even if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him. If the providential will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. But never decide the place of your own martyrdom, as if to say, "I will only go to there, but no farther." God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one.

Amen!

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

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5

To unbelievers it seems ridiculous to turns one's life completely over to God. For the new believer it may not be ludicrous, but certainly disconcerting. How does one exist successfully in the world system while trusting God?

The answer involves re-evaluating our definition of success. Success in God's economy means obedient submission and surrender to Jesus as Lord. Since He has overcome the world, (John 16:33) as believers in Christ we have the opportunity for similar victory. (1 John 5:5)

These promises leave us with the legitimate option of walking with the world for ourselves, or in the world in step with God for His purpose. We can live merely as citizens of the world, or in the world as ambassadors for His kingdom. The decision is really that simple, and once we make the right choice the challenge is in how we succeed in self-denial relative to living for Christ.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 10

Fellowship in the Gospel

. . . fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ . . . —1 Thessalonians 3:2

After sanctification, it is difficult to state what your purpose in life is, because God has moved you into His purpose through the Holy Spirit. He is using you now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of our salvation. If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, "God has called me for this and for that," you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God’s interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world. Your understanding of your ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him. I should never say, "Lord, this causes me such heartache." To talk that way makes me a stumbling block. When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work His will in me without any hindrance. He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it I cannot be used by God for His purpose in the world. Doing this creates for me my own cozy "world within the world," and God will not be allowed to move me from it because of my fear of being "frost-bitten."

Amen!

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

"He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything." Colossians 1:18

The best way to tell others about Jesus Christ is to know Him so well that we are enthusiastic about speaking of Him as a close personal friend. Regarding beloved family or friends, don't we typically find every opportunity to tell others about their attributes and how important they are to us?

If we don't feel the same way about Jesus Christ it is only for one reason - we don't know Him as well as we should. To know Jesus as He desires is to be passionate about Him, to want everyone else to know our Best Friend as we do, and to make Him the highest priority of each and every day. (Matthew 22:36-38)

Today we may have an opportunity to tell someone about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Will we communicate Him as the ultimate love of our life as we truly know Him, or something less?

"Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 9

Sacred Service

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ . . . —Colossians 1:24

The Christian worker has to be a sacred "go-between." He must be so closely identified with his Lord and the reality of His redemption that Christ can continually bring His creating life through him. I am not referring to the strength of one individual’s personality being superimposed on another, but the real presence of Christ coming through every aspect of the worker’s life. When we preach the historical facts of the life and death of our Lord as they are conveyed in the New Testament, our words are made sacred. God uses these words, on the basis of His redemption, to create something in those who listen which otherwise could never have been created. If we simply preach the effects of redemption in the human life instead of the revealed, divine truth regarding Jesus Himself, the result is not new birth in those who listen. The result is a refined religious lifestyle, and the Spirit of God cannot witness to it because such preaching is in a realm other than His. We must make sure that we are living in such harmony with God that as we proclaim His truth He can create in others those things which He alone can do.

When we say, "What a wonderful personality, what a fascinating person, and what wonderful insight!" then what opportunity does the gospel of God have through all of that? It cannot get through, because the attraction is to the messenger and not the message. If a person attracts through his personality, that becomes his appeal. If, however, he is identified with the Lord Himself, then the appeal becomes what Jesus Christ can do. The danger is to glory in men, yet Jesus says we are to lift up only Him (see John 12:32 ).

Amen!

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

He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Mark 4:40

Is it possible to live without the fear of a future negative event? It is possible with faith in Jesus Christ as our living Lord. Christ the living Word of God communes with our spirit, and the truth of His Word becomes the basis for fear-ending faith. (Romans 10:17)

If we believe God's assurance that all things work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), we already know the outcome of all life circumstances - they are for our benefit! While all "good" things are not pleasant (painful discipline, challenging instruction, or remediation), knowing the final outcome will be for good enables us to have the peace that surpasses all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

Studies have shown that a significant majority of what people worry about never takes place. In short, we suffer anxiety over the unknown, or due to uncertainty. With an eternal outlook - that whatever comes our way is no surprise to God, and ultimately for good - the anguish of trial and tribulation (or the anticipation of it) should be minimized. (John 14:27)

Are we trusting in God, knowing we're in His hands? If so, we know there is no better place to be. If not, it's time to run to His out-stretched arms by opening His Holy Word for blessed assurance, all the while offering intercessory prayer for others. The Gospel of Jesus Christ frees us from the fear of death and destruction enabling us to lift up others with the heart of a servant. (Ephesians 6:18)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 6

Intimate Theology

Do you believe this? - John 11:26

Martha believed in the power available to Jesus Christ; she believed that if He had been there He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a special intimacy with God, and that whatever He asked of God, God would do. But— she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha’s theology had its fulfillment in the future. But Jesus continued to attract and draw her in until her belief became an intimate possession. It then slowly emerged into a personal inheritance— "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ . . ." ( John 11:27 ).

Is the Lord dealing with you in the same way? Is Jesus teaching you to have a personal intimacy with Himself? Allow Him to drive His question home to you— "Do you believe this?" Are you facing an area of doubt in your life? Have you come, like Martha, to a crossroads of overwhelming circumstances where your theology is about to become a very personal belief? This happens only when a personal problem brings the awareness of our personal need.

To believe is to commit. In the area of intellectual learning I commit myself mentally, and reject anything not related to that belief. In the realm of personal belief I commit myself morally to my convictions and refuse to compromise. But in intimate personal belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ and make a determination to be dominated by Him alone.

Then, when I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me, "Do you believe this?" I find that faith is as natural as breathing. And I am staggered when I think how foolish I have been in not trusting Him earlier

Amen!

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

"For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." 2 Corinthians 1:5

While few of us enjoy suffering, mature believers understand suffering's place in the Christian journey. Our human perspective is that suffering is always negative, but understanding God's viewpoint that suffering refines and strengthens is critical to staying in step with Him. (James 1:3, 1 Corinthians 3:13)

An interesting irony is that we can appreciate the value of conformity relative to joining a club, or even a church, but conformity to suffering in order to join Jesus' "club" seems incongruous. Why is our suffering so important to God? Because it was required of His Son, and also because it serves to grow and mature us spiritually. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

True faith in Jesus Christ is not a "sometimes" thing. Truly faithful believers understand the value of trusting God in all things. (Colossians 1:17) Will the sufferings of this day move us toward, or away from God?

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 5

Partakers of His Suffering

. . . but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings . . . —1 Peter 4:13

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others. Because of this process, you will never be surprised by what comes your way. You say, "Oh, I can’t deal with that person." Why can’t you? God gave you sufficient opportunities to learn from Him about that problem; but you turned away, not heeding the lesson, because it seemed foolish to spend your time that way.

The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered "according to the will of God" ( 1 Peter 4:19 ), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God’s purpose beforehand. In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a shortcut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering—the way of the "long road home."

Are we partakers of Christ’s sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through—we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize—"God has strengthened me and I didn’t even know it!"

Amen!

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

"but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house--whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." Hebrews 3:6

What a blessing to worship the God whose greatest commandment is that we are to love Him. Relative to all the other "gods" we're inclined to worship, the God Most High stands alone. (Nehemiah 9:6) Sadly, many of His children don't consider Him from this perspective, instead preferring a god of good health, wealth, happiness, or some other carnal gratification.

The truth of God's love for mankind is manifested in His Son Jesus Christ, by Whom we have been redeemed from eternal damnation. All we have been required to do is sincerely acknowledge and proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, at which point we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we are, for the first time, capable of returning God's love. (Colossians 2:13)

Realizing the truth of the Gospel should inspire believers to action. It is too good to keep to ourselves, and it is through the actions of saints that most people gain their first glimpse of God.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 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 5:14-16

Remember that we could be the only Bible some people read today.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson

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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 4

The Authority of Truth

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you —James 4:8

It is essential that you give people the opportunity to act on the truth of God. The responsibility must be left with the individual—you cannot act for him. It must be his own deliberate act, but the evangelical message should always lead him to action. Refusing to act leaves a person paralyzed, exactly where he was previously. But once he acts, he is never the same. It is the apparent folly of the truth that stands in the way of hundreds who have been convicted by the Spirit of God. Once I press myself into action, I immediately begin to live. Anything less is merely existing. The moments I truly live are the moments when I act with my entire will.

When a truth of God is brought home to your soul, never allow it to pass without acting on it internally in your will, not necessarily externally in your physical life. Record it with ink and with blood—work it into your life. The weakest saint who transacts business with Jesus Christ is liberated the second he acts and God’s almighty power is available on his behalf. We come up to the truth of God, confess we are wrong, but go back again. Then we approach it again and turn back, until we finally learn we have no business going back. When we are confronted with such a word of truth from our redeeming Lord, we must move directly to transact business with Him. "Come to Me . . ." ( Matthew 11:28 ). His word come means "to act." Yet the last thing we want to do is come. But everyone who does come knows that, at that very moment, the supernatural power of the life of God invades him. The dominating power of the world, the flesh, and the devil is now paralyzed; not by your act, but because your act has joined you to God and tapped you in to His redemptive power.

Amen!

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

"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." Galatians 5:24

The undeniable truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ points us all to the realization that we are sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Though we gratefully accept salvation by grace, we often come up short regarding crucifying the flesh.

Success under God is defined by the extent to which we are able to die to self, and live in Christ. (Philippians 1:21) If we think we bring anything of value to the relationship, we are destined to fail in our Christian walk. Christian growth and maturity requires crucifixion of the old life in deference to the new, otherwise the old life will significantly impede the new. (Romans 8:10)

Do we think ourselves bondservants for Christ? If not, it is likely because we worship some aspect of Christianity instead of Christ alone. If our faith is defined primarily by our concern for a church building, a favorite ministry, family - anything ahead of Jesus Christ - these are things we must make subject to our love of Jesus if we truly desire to serve our Savior. (Matthew 10:37-38)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 3

A Bondservant of Jesus

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me . . . —Galatians 2:20

These words mean the breaking and collapse of my independence brought about by my own hands, and the surrendering of my life to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. No one can do this for me, I must do it myself. God may bring me up to this point three hundred and sixty-five times a year, but He cannot push me through it. It means breaking the hard outer layer of my individual independence from God, and the liberating of myself and my nature into oneness with Him; not following my own ideas, but choosing absolute loyalty to Jesus. Once I am at that point, there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Very few of us know anything about loyalty to Christ or understand what He meant when He said, ". . . for My sake" ( Matthew 5:11 ). That is what makes a strong saint.

Has that breaking of my independence come? All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is—will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— "I have been crucified with Christ . . . ."

The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint.

One student a year who hears God’s call would be sufficient for God to have called the Bible Training College into existence. This college has no value as an organization, not even academically. Its sole value for existence is for God to help Himself to lives. Will we allow Him to help Himself to us, or are we more concerned with our own ideas of what we are going to be?

Amen!

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

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." John 15:10

When we think of obedience to God, is it relative to all things in life? Because human beings think of obedience in terms of duty or obligation rather than faith and love, we tend to only apply godly obedience to matters of significant consequence.

As with every other important life principle, obedience is best practiced in ALL things. Godly obedience should be our state of existence rather than reserved for select circumstances and/or challenges. God is pleased when obeying Him is our "default" attitude, actually becoming a part of our nature. (2 Chronicles 31:20-22)

Willful obedience to God encourages intimacy with Him, and in close harmony with God we are best able to be used for His good purpose. (Romans 6:16) Godly obedience is a step-by-step process which must be a foundational component of who we are, and hope to be. Obedience to God is a choice, but chosen in ALL things it becomes our nature.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

November 2

Obedience or Independence?

If you love Me, keep My commandments —John 14:15

Our Lord never insists on our obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an "If," meaning, "You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so." "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . ." ( Luke 9:23 ). In other words, "To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me." Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26 ). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.

The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.

Amen!

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