A CALL TO EVERY BELIEVER
My most recent blog “A Call to the Body of Christ in Australia” has highlighted the fact that God wants to use the pandemic, to bring back the Church to the “Old paths). I said “Australia” as I mentioned that a current serving officer in The Salvation Army” has recently published an ” Open Letter to T.S.A.” but of course the “call is to the Body of Christ around the world. I am sure “not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet” but believe I am emphasising what the Word of says, and what the Holy Spirit has been saying to me personally.
The Body of Christ is made up of hundreds of millions of born again Believers. and God wants to use the pandemic, as a call to us individuals to live a life of holiness and victoty and purity.
Today, my blog is a call “To every Believer”. In Bible College (nearly 60 years ago) I was encouraged to seek out and read a little book entitled THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471). In all honesty I cannot remember if I ever did, but felt prompted to purchase a copy (still available) on Kindle, the version I purchased is in very old English but I quickly got the message, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE INNER LIFE, where only you and God knows what is truly going on within. I am aware that much introspection is not healthy , as we will always find “stuff” in our heart Jer.17:9, but there must be a place for us to sit and contemplate from time to time what is going on in our heart.
Every day I start my Quiet Time with Confession & Repentance, and list many areas before the Lord, including for example MY MOTIVES AND ATTITUDES. I often ask myself the questions, “Am what I am doing, is it for my glory or His glory, will it extend my kingdom or His Kingdom? and then move on and I sadly believe too quickly, but I personally feel I need to spend more time developing the Inner Life.
I am sure not going to highlight any possible scenarios that could be going on in your life, that is the Holy Spirit’s business.
We know man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the heart, and I do not want to be caught up with other people’s ideas of me, I want to please the Lord even to the very inner recesses of my heart, and I believe what Christ purchased for us on the Cross and through His resurrection, we have available such an inheritance, that by the grace of God I can live a holy life, in thought and word and deed.
Do we need to slow down and smell the roses? Do we need to WORK HARDER AND SPEND MORE TIME WORKING AT BEING , THAN ALL THE TIME OUR DOING?
Aussies, (for example) it is time to be FAIR DINKIM.
Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV is taking on a deeper meaning to me, David said,
Search me, O God, and KNOW my heart;
TRY me, and know my anxieties;
And SEE if there is any wicked way in me,
And LEAD me in the way everlasting.
As I have already said much introspection is unhealthy, but if we will let the Lord search our hearts, and have “ears to hear” our Inner Life will start to reflect more and more “The Imitation of Christ”.
I love this old song”
To be like Jesus, To be like jesus
All I ask is to be like Him, All through life’s journey, from earth to gloty
All I ask is to be like Him
To be like Jesus, To be like jesus
All I ask is to be like him,
Not it in a measure, but in its fullness
All I ask is to be like Jesus.
I am always open to comment, and would seriously love to hear from you at this time.
