WHAT TO RENOUNCE
I am once again posting from my favorite daily devotional book MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST by Oswald Chambers.
"Have you "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty" - the things that your sense of honour will not allow to come to the light. You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up; renounce the whole thing until there is no hidden thing of dishonesty or craftiness about you. Envy, jealousy, strife - these things arise not necessarily from the disposition of sin, but from the make-up of your body which was used for this kind of thing in days gone by (see Romans 6:19 and 1Peter 4:1-2) Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing of which you would be ashamed arises in your life.
"Not walking in craftiness." that is, resorting to what will carry your point. This is a great snare. You know that God will only let you work in one way, then be careful never to catch people the other way; God's blight will be upon you if you do. Others are doing things which to you would be walking in craftiness, but it may not be so with them. God has given you another standpoint. Never blunt the sense of your Utmost for His Highest. For you to do a certain thing would mean the incoming of craftiness for an end other than the highest, and the blunting of the motive God has given you. Many have gone back because they are afraid of looking at things from God's standpoint. The great crisis comes spiritually when a man has to emerge a bit farther on than the creed he has accepted. "
I would love your comments on what this particular devotional speaks to you. What part of it really stands out to you.
The part that jumps out to me is the last sentence "The great crisis comes spiritually when a man has to emerge a bit farther on than the creed he has accepted." I know in my walk with Jesus there have been times when He has stretched to "farther on than the creed I had accepted"
21 comments:
I love the part where it says "renounce it as soon as it springs up". It seems so easy, but it is a constant job to be in the service. We must work diligently to not be brought down by our own weaknesses.
I have struggled with personal pride and I know that I must renounce this immediately!!
Thank you Susan
I love this part, "Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing of which you would be ashamed arises in your life."
Sometimes things can sneak up on you.
You know, I think what spoke the most to me was that by letting yourself hide dishonesty in your heart you blunt the life God has for you. I want the full blessing of God and to serve Him whole-heartedly. I don't want to let worldliness blunt my walk with Him. Good thoughts. Thanks Susan.
This devotional reminds me of a key to "purity" that the Holy Spirit gave me many years ago. I was to pretend that I had one of those neon ticker signs above my head that broadcast every thought in my head for people to see. Let's just say that when I put that into use it causes all of those dishonest thoughts to be exposed!! Thanks for the reminder to use it!!
What a great post! Lots to think about and work on.
Hugs!
Kat
I love your depth Susan, your heart after purity in God. Yes what jumped out - the dealing with that thought the minute, the nano second it tries to infiltrate, because once we fester on the thoughts we want to hide in the shadows and that brings the dishonesty and the disconnection. Tiredness is a factor when I see this weakness come out, a real snare, because I don't guard my thoughts so well. I needed to read this today. Thank you.
"Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing of which you would be ashamed arises in your life."
So neglected in today's society! Those Christians of old had something that we just do not have now a days.
I must be ever so careful to view sin as sin - and to keep watch over my ever "prone to wonder" heart - I must keep Christ my passion.
Thanks for sharing your devotion. I love Oswald Chambers.
Jane
I love my copy of "My Utmost For His Highest". I know I fall so short sometimes of giving God my utmost, therefore I miss HIS highest blessings for myself.
I have to say the part of this particular devotional is the line that advises us to renounce it as soon as it springs up! We know the instant we sin. That is the moment to get rid of it. I love 1 Josh 1:9 for this purpose! It is the Christian's bar of sopa, spiritually thinking.
talks to me like someones talking the talk but not walking the walk ;o]
> God's blight will be upon you if you do
Oooh, I think I would prefer a god who was not wrathful and vengeful and casting blight everywhere.
Thanks for coming by my blog and commenting!
This part stood out to me: "Maintain a continual watchfulness so that nothing of which you would be ashamed arises in your life."
Maintain a continual watchfulness...So often I fing myself becoming lazy and that's when trouble sets in. I need to keep my lamp lit brightly at all times. It's when I walk in my own flesh that things go crazy.
By the way, the chat was fun and you did great! Can't wait to try it again :)
I'm still trying fogure this part out: " You know that God will only let you work in one way, then be careful never to catch people the other way; God's blight will be upon you if you do."
God will only let me work in one way - I am assuming that one way is in integrity and without mainpulation. But what's he mean by "then be careful never to catch people the other way". What other way? Am I not supposed to use manipulation and deceit to "catch" other people? Or am I not to judge their own motives for what they do? Or what? And what the heck is God's blight? A blight is fungus or plant/skin disease...
I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm a stickler for accurate Biblical teaching. It's difficult to ascertain if one is accurate if one is not CLEAR!
> I'm not trying to be difficult, but I'm a stickler for accurate Biblical teaching. It's difficult to ascertain if one is accurate if one is not CLEAR!
You have a point. The bible is so riddled with contradictions, falshoods and ambiguities it is impossible to take it seriously. And I have read it.
Great post. We need to renounce anything that pops into our lives or hearts that we have nothing to be ashamed of. Got to keep a careful watch on our hearts, minds souls, and mouths!
"God has given us another standpoint..."
God's given us a different way to live, a better way. With His help and strength, he teaches us. The Bible is his word and it is truth, showing us the way to go.
Have you "renounced the hidden things of dishonesty" - the things that your sense of honor will not allow to come to the light. You can easily hide them.
Ok I am so guilty of hiding things, it seems ok if I keep them in and not go to the Lord. I too struggle with pride and judgment; wow can I be judgmental thanks for the post sounds like a great devotional.
Alisun
Great devotion Susan. Thanks for sharing with us.
The last sentence stands out for me too.
As well as maintain continual watchfullness
Susan, I did read this but did not comment as I was having a quick peep after being away.
I do have this book. For me I am not so concerned about constant watchfullness as trusting God to show me any issues and giving me the grace to act on them.
I believ e constant watchfullness keeps our eyes on ourselves rather than on Him who is my keeper. anyway.
That part that hit me the most is "Is there a thought in your heart about anyone which you would not like to be dragged into the light? Renounce it as soon as it springs up..."
Wow - I think there is a reason I didn't get to comment on this post until tonight!
Stopped by your blog via Barbara. Loved the first paragraph. So to the point and instructive. I like that. Deal with it, so it doesn't deal with you.
Love the tour of your town and church.
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