April 25, 2005

today's "Utmost for His Highest"

This kicked me in the butt today.

April 25
"Ready in Season"
Be ready in season and out of season —2 Timothy 4:2
Many of us suffer from the unbalanced tendency to "be ready" only "out of season." The season does not refer to time; it refers to us. This verse says, "Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season." In other words, we should "be ready" whether we feel like it or not. If we do only what we feel inclined to do, some of us would never do anything. There are some people who are totally unemployable in the spiritual realm. They are spiritually feeble and weak, and they refuse to do anything unless they are supernaturally inspired. The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not.
One of the worst traps a Christian worker can fall into is to become obsessed with his own exceptional moments of inspiration. When the Spirit of God gives you a time of inspiration and insight, you tend to say, "Now that I’ve experienced this moment, I will always be like this for God." No, you will not, and God will make sure of that. Those times are entirely the gift of God. You cannot give them to yourself when you choose. If you say you will only be at your best for God, as during those exceptional times, you actually become an intolerable burden on Him. You will never do anything unless God keeps you consciously aware of His inspiration to you at all times. If you make a god out of your best moments, you will find that God will fade out of your life, never to return until you are obedient in the work He has placed closest to you, and until you have learned not to be obsessed with those exceptional moments He has given you.

4 comments:

Susan Kirchmayer said...

yeah

Michelle said...

Very true, the line that speaks to me the most is

"The proof that our relationship is right with God is that we do our best whether we feel inspired or not."

I need to remember that on a daily basis. Thanks Sue.

Miss-buggy said...

I agree Chel.
What's with the rality check today? I think I needed them.
wow...

shari said...

Darn my humanness anyway. I mean I'm reading that and somehow denying the very truth of it. But, there is no denying it. God definitely wanted me to read that this morning. Thanks Sue.