I
may not understand what Jesus Christ says, but it is dangerous to say that
therefore He was mistaken in what He said. It is never right to think that my
obedience to a word of God will bring dishonour to Jesus. The only thing that
will bring dishonour is not obeying Him. To put my view of His honour in place
of what He is plainly impelling me to do is never right, although it may arise
from a real desire to prevent Him being put to open shame. I know when the
proposition comes from God because of its quiet persistence. When I have to
weigh the pros and cons, and doubt and debate come in, I am
bringing in an element that is not of God, and I come to the conclusion that
the suggestion was not a right one. Many of us are loyal to our notions of
Jesus Christ, but how many of us are loyal to Him? Loyalty to Jesus means I
have to step out where I do not see anything (cf. Matt. 14:29); loyalty to my
notions means that I clear the ground first by my intelligence. Faith is not
intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I
see no way.
Are
you debating whether to take a step in faith in Jesus or to wait until you can
see how to do the thing yourself? Obey Him with glad reckless joy. When He says
something and you begin to debate, it is because you have a conception of His
honour which is not His honour. Are you loyal to Jesus or loyal to your notion
of Him? Are you loyal to what He says, or are you trying to compromise with
conceptions which never came from Him? “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do
it.” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost
for His Highest, 3/28
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