"For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." 1 Corinthians 4:20

During this season of celebration of the birth of our Savior we may be presented with numerous opportunities to share the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Christmas season calls each and every Christian believer to celebrate and worship publicly, to glorify Jesus Christ through our acknowledgment of Him as Lord. The more we do so, the more we become a beacon for non-believers. (Matthew 5:16)

Sharing the Gospel can be done in either of two ways - in our own ability and power, or that of the Holy Spirit. We are most effective witnesses when we humbly rely on God the Holy Spirit when presented with an opportunity to share Jesus rather than our human talents or abilities. (Matthew 10:20; Luke 21:15)

While it is important to read, study, and meditate on the Word of God, it is God who determines the outcome of a witnessing opportunity. (Psalm 7:10; 68:20) Rather than striving for excellence or eloquence in sharing the Gospel with others, our attitude should instead be one of humble submission, surrender, and obedience to the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit. With this perspective, we are the perfect conduit for the One who truly saves. Remember, He is the Potter, and we are merely the clay. (Isaiah 64:8)

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

December 3

"Not by Might nor by Power"

My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power . . . —1 Corinthians 2:4

If in preaching the gospel you substitute your knowledge of the way of salvation for confidence in the power of the gospel, you hinder people from getting to reality. Take care to see while you proclaim your knowledge of the way of salvation, that you yourself are rooted and grounded by faith in God. Never rely on the clearness of your presentation, but as you give your explanation make sure that you are relying on the Holy Spirit. Rely on the certainty of God’s redemptive power, and He will create His own life in people.

Once you are rooted in reality, nothing can shake you. If your faith is in experiences, anything that happens is likely to upset that faith. But nothing can ever change God or the reality of redemption. Base your faith on that, and you are as eternally secure as God Himself. Once you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be moved again. That is the meaning of sanctification. God disapproves of our human efforts to cling to the concept that sanctification is merely an experience, while forgetting that even our sanctification must also be sanctified (see John 17:19 ). I must deliberately give my sanctified life to God for His service, so that He can use me as His hands and His feet.

Amen!

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

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

The instruction of Matthew 6:33 is to seek first, not do or be first. The temptation to make doing and being more important than seeking Jesus Christ has tripped up many Christians with good intentions. (Matthew 7:21-23)

The problem of placing the acts of doing and being like Christ ahead of seeking Him is that it encourages more of an inward perspective than an upward focus on the Savior. With seeking Jesus as our highest priority, we are less likely to be distracted by self-evaluation, one of the enemy's most subtle snares. Remember the parable of the Vine? (John 15:4-6) Branches are useless without a vine (roots).

Anything that causes us to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ for a moment, or even for what seems like a good reason for example, self-evaluation, exposes us to deception and misconception. Remember Peter walking on the water to Jesus during a storm. He did fine until he was distracted by the wind, but glancing away from His Lord for only a moment caused him to "sink". The encouraging part of this passage of Scripture is that when he cried out to Jesus, he was immediately saved. (Matthew 14:28-31)

Today we can focus on seeking Jesus, or something else that competes for our attention. It's our choice.

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

December 2

Christian Perfection

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12

It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do—God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, "It could never be God’s will for me to be sick"? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son ( Isaiah 53:10 ), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary—that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.

Amen!

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

"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19

The principle of godly obedience often confuses Christians. While God's Word tells us it is impossible to be obedient enough to deserve His grace (Romans 3:10, Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3), it also says obedience is important. (1 Peter 1:22)

As with every other aspect of human behavior and conduct, obedience comes in two varieties - godly and ungodly. Godly obedience is conducted with a sincere heart for God's sovereignty and a genuine concern for pleasing Him. Ungodly obedience is born of our desire to obey God on our own terms, or in our own capability. While obedience to God in any form is better than disobedience, He always prefers that our obedience to Him is performed with a humble and contrite heart, and we should know that God is always aware of the heart with which we serve Him. (Acts 13:22, 1 Samuel 13:14)

Our Christian walk begins to glorify God when, in heart-felt obedience to Him, we become disciplined to obey the law (2 Corinthians 10:5). To the world, "obedience", while at times useful and necessary, is nearly always perceived as negative. To Christians intent upon pleasing God, godly obedience is a delight.

I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8

Onward Christian soldiers!

Bob Benson
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from My Utmost For His Highest. . .

December 1

The Law and the Gospel

Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all —James 2:10

The moral law does not consider our weaknesses as human beings; in fact, it does not take into account our heredity or infirmities. It simply demands that we be absolutely moral. The moral law never changes, either for the highest of society or for the weakest in the world. It is enduring and eternally the same. The moral law, ordained by God, does not make itself weak to the weak by excusing our shortcomings. It remains absolute for all time and eternity. If we are not aware of this, it is because we are less than alive. Once we do realize it, our life immediately becomes a fatal tragedy. "I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died" ( Romans 7:9 ).

The moment we realize this, the Spirit of God convicts us of sin. Until a person gets there and sees that there is no hope, the Cross of Christ remains absurd to him. Conviction of sin always brings a fearful, confining sense of the law. It makes a person hopeless—". . . sold under sin" ( Romans 7:14 ). I, a guilty sinner, can never work to get right with God—it is impossible. There is only one way by which I can get right with God, and that is through the death of Jesus Christ. I must get rid of the underlying idea that I can ever be right with God because of my obedience. Who of us could ever obey God to absolute perfection!

We only begin to realize the power of the moral law once we see that it comes with a condition and a promise. But God never coerces us. Sometimes we wish He would make us be obedient, and at other times we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God’s will is in complete control, He removes all pressure. And when we deliberately choose to obey Him, He will reach to the remotest star and to the ends of the earth to assist us with all of His almighty power.

Amen!

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