“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
I find such comfort in this scripture. When I feel overwhelmed or have not the answer, or see confusion knocking on my heart and mind’s door, I see and hear, “Be Still, I am God.”
I am God of your words and feelings of hopelessness. I am God of Hope.
“Be still” is a command. This command redirects my attention that we are finite, we are limited. God is infinite. He is unlimited. It also reminds me to keep on with my limited work at hand because that is what God has instructed us to do. And, when I do, my limited work will become a work of hope when God who is infinite gives His hand of help to my limited situations.
What does this scripture mean to you? Has it helped you in anyway? As I have been sitting, praying and writing in my journal on a rainy cool morning this scripture has placed me in a chair of contemplative silence with God.
thedailylily.com 
When I hear this scripture I think of three things. First I associate it with Sara’s workbook for The Daily Lily Retreat #1, “The Dance of Healing”. It was the scripture for the 1st step in the Dance of Healing where we are told to ‘Be still and know that I am God…I will be exalted in the earth.’. This chapter is all about cultivating the mind and reflecting on God. It helps me to pause and reflect on God, His promises, His word on a daily basis.
Secondly, this chorus sings in my head, “Be still and know that I am God…I am the Lord that Healeth Thee…”. Singing this song is comforting and reassures that He does care and does heal us.
And thirdly I feel reminded by God to stop and take an assessment of what I am doing…have I stopped to ask and pray and listen for His directives or have I allowed business and clutter w/ to get my focused out of His will and plan? For me being still is often to prioritize and put His works first…then everything else in the day falls into place.
I appreciate Sara’s insight on finite and infinite. It is an encouragement to me and joyful and helps keep things focused.
All to often I think…” We see things not as they are, but as we are.” Finite and not infinite. When I am still and meditate on God I develop the faith to believe that God is God and I need Him.
That’s good, Anne. I heard Lisa Bevere, in a teaching, say…’often in the Bible we read what we believe rather than believe what we read.” If we will just believe what HE has written in His Word…as you have said above, GOD IS GOD, and Oh how we do need Him!
This recalls the old hymn by Robert Lowry & Annie Hawks:
I Need Thee O I Need Thee
Every Hour I Need Thee
O Bless Me Now My Savior
I Come To Thee
“What does this scripture mean to you? To me, it says: I am in control of all things, Tammy, but remember to look to me, and not all the confusion around you.
“Has it helped you in any way?” Only when I apply it. Thanks Sara, for reminding me that this is a “command”.
I’d like to add the footnotes, from my Bible. for this scripture: “War and destruction are inevitable, but so is God’s final victory. At that time, all will stand quietly before the all-powerful Lord. How proper, then, for us to be still now, reverently honoring Him and His power and majesty. Take time each day to be still and to honor God.”
Debi, you mentioned we are to cultivate the mind. Dictionary says, cultivate your mind… improve, better, refine, elevate; educate, train, develop, enrich.
Now how does one do that? Would we say it is the opposite of passivity? And, would we understand that still is not passivity. I just heard about Navy Seals and how trained they are to do a specific duty. They may have to wait long periods of time before they move but they are ready at any moment. I am sure impressed with the little I heard about the seals and other special forces, and my knowledge is very little. I thought WHOA, if we as Christians could be so well trained to be still and follow the Commander-in-Chief, The Holy God, what victories we would see.
I am thinking how many Christians read the news, repeat it, and then repeat it again for social chatter. But, when one would like to come together with the same Christians to Worship God in praise and the study of God’s Word, they don’t seem to even know you. But, they sure can put out political news as if they are in office. Now, somebody in the mix needs to be still. Way to much chattering.
Needles, you sure know how to stick a needle in a balloon and the air slowly goes away. “The command only works when I apply it!!!!” Yikes!
Sara, my understanding is that still is not passivity. Still has to do with focus…like focus on a target so you can hit it. Be still and cease from meaningless activity and engage in purposeful. Be still but be seeking God’s will by planning. (A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps. Prov.16:9). Be still by waiting upon the Lord (I worked as a waitress and you are pretty active when you are waiting on Someone…you serve them).
How to cultivate the mind? Well some suggestions I received from your chapter in “Dance of Healing” were to remember God’s word by searching and studying it; writing in a journal. Then you have to train your mind to follow what you have learned by doing, putting into practice. Sometimes the head is hard, like hard ground and it needs a plow or hoe to break it up so it can be productive. Reading and writing on the Daily Lily can can be a useful tool like that.
Speaking of being still and Waiting….Sara wrote a song a while ago entitled ‘My Waiting Room’ (c). I paraphrase…
The lyrics speak of wating on God in His waiting room. In that waiting room there’s power and fire for the cleansing of the soul. In the waiting room there is no fear, doubt or strife or unbelief In that waiting room there is praise and much worship and captives are set free, and my eyes are opened to be able to ‘see’. And now I can see in the world as I go for His light has broken forth in my soul. Because I have waited in HIS waiting room, the victory has been won. Although I have paraphrased the song, this part of the song I love the best (quote): “As I wait, I see His face, shining as the glory of grace…as I wait, as I wait in His room.”
Oh, yes be still and wait and know that He is God. Is there anything too difficult for our GOD?
No, nothing is to difficult for Him!
I love the line in lyric also, “as I wait I see His face shining as a glory of grace.”
“And you shall be secure and feel confident because there is hope…”
(Job 11:18 AMP) If we can peek out through all the confusion and voices around us we will remember there is hope and we can feel secure.
When we bow to pray for ourselves, our families and friends as well as many others, we need confidence, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of “know that I Am God.” I Am the God that heals you! I Am the God that will intervene in each and every situation that you bring to My attention. As we share with one another through this blog to remind one another and build our confidence in what seems like a godless wave of behavior and character in our culture… God is God!
We are cultivating our minds as Debi said and we are cultivating our culture through our words and actions as we move in confidence of knowing and exhibiting the character of God!
I feel like I am wrapped in a security blanket through that scripture and your encouraging comments regarding it Sara and I am appreciative of those who take their time to write and share on this site…it is a boost each day.
Knowing we can less and less look to our culture that had originally been based on Christian principles, it begins to dawn on us slowly but surely that we “needs be” look to God and God alone and His godly children of the Body of Christ for leadership and wisdom for ALL our needs and in all our circumstances. More and more the Word of God rings true in our today world. ” I Am the God that healeth thee. Never will I leave you nor forsake you. My God will provide all my needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together and running over. Trust in the Lord God with all your heart and mind and soul and He will direct your paths. The just shall live by faith.”
If we keep our eyes on Jesus and not on the economy, or the crime scene, (juvenile and white collar as well) and the heathen raging against our Lord and the lust and pride of this world….we will run, run, run to Jesus and cling to Him, cling to the cross, cling to His Word. Therein is the peace that passes all understanding. It’s in Him. He is the ONE that makes life worth the living.
He says that we have not chosen Him but He has chosen us. Beth Moore says in one of her devotionals, ” I am totally blessed by the thought that nothing is more appropriate than getting excited when God does something in our lives. And I think He loves it (when we are excited about His blessings).”
Beth goes on to say, “don’t lose the wonder of this fact of the beauty of Jesus’ choosing ordinary people like you and me to know Him and serve Him, to be blessed and guided by Him. May we never get over it.”
AMEN!!
If you are reading this I pray that you will feel the tender touch of God’s hand. I pray that if you are feeling overly saturated with work, burdens and daily living that you will be still and know that God is on your side. Surrender your all to Him. Yield your saturated mind, will and emotions to God. Be still and let your Heavenly Father strengthen you. Arrest your tight muscles with peace. Let the Holy Spring infuse your mind with joy. Turn the page of emotional blame to bliss. Smile! You get all this for being still and knowing that God is on your side.
“Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
With such a full week – being a teacher – I’m sure you can insert your own career where I have teacher and other items on life’s platter of life that vive for your time. I have read the comments but often have fallen asleep without commenting. Each day with the pressure of too much I have prayed. God there is too much for me to physically do today. Please help me to get through this day and still my soul so that I don’t self destruct. Still my soul so that I may be about what you want me to do this day. Stop the panic that usually comes with too much to do. Lord there is no need for panic as you are by my side. Thank goodness Jesus has met me every time. Sometimes eliminating an activity, sometimes sending someone to help, sometimes almost like he is stopping the clock. Jesus thank you so much and help me stay awake to write and pray.
“Come away with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31
“Jesus knows that at times we are grieving, confused, tired, worried, fearful…and His comfort to us, as with His disciples, is to “Come away with Me….” As Needles says, “Be Still” and “come away with Me” are commands. I see these scriptures written all over the internet, on many retreat centers and retreat teachers, including myself, use it for our theme. But, the healing and comfort comes when we, “Just Do IT.”
Thank God for the power of retreats! Thank God for the encouragers in the Body of Christ that reminds us to come away with Him! Thank You God that we find You waiting for us at our point of need.
Even Jesus took His disciples to a place apart to retreat for a little season. If Jesus, in His human body, knew He must rest at times, divine though He is, followed Father God’s example of a Sabbath rest.
The world is winding up or winding down or something. It seems the pace has increased, notably.
As a child I thought the summer would never come to our cold, icy climate where I lived at that time. Then we thought the Summer would never end and we would never get back to our school chums. Those lazy, hazy days of Summer. But recently, it seems the tempo has increased substantially and the time is rushing by. There is more to do, more to negotiatate, more responsibility, more, more, more of everything.
But Jesus speaks PEACE to us. Peace, wonderful peace to a racing generation. If we will hear His voice we can receive His peace that passes all understanding.
A most encouraging truth is that Jesus prayed for you and me. In John 17, Jesus says in prayer to His Father that not only had He prayed for the then present Disciples but He says,”Neither for these alone do I Ipray, not only for their sakes but also for ALL WHO ARE EVER TO COME TO BELIEVE and trust in Me. Praise God. That’s you and that’s me for whom Jesus prayed on that day. And He ever lives to make intercession for us. We know that we can overcome, that we can be at peace because our GOD has prayed us into the Kingdom and continues to pray the victory in our lives.
We rejoice and are still because we KNOW that He is God. Peace!
“But the healing and comfort comes when we, ‘Just DO IT'”. Now, that should be enough to make me SCHEDULE the “BE STILL” time with God. Thank you, Sara.
Pastor Gary was talking about the sower today. Sometimes we sow on rocky soil, sometimes we sow on hard soil, sometimes in weedy soil, and sometimes in fertile soil. What are our blockages that cause us from getting to the fertile soil and reaping a good harvest. Perhaps fear, stress, pride, etc., etc. Each of our hardnesses or rocks maybe different but when categorized – lumped together -all the same – sin.
Yes we need to do what Needles says “Just DO IT” – get to the fertile soil and throw the rocks aside, plow the hardened soil we just keep by doing the same sins over and over – change and jump in the fertile soil. Sounds easy, but it takes a lot of work. WOW to get out of SELF and into the good soil, grow, and bloom.
Psalm 127 says, ” It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know God enjoys giving rest to those He loves?”
Ps. 130 goes on to say,”Pray to God making your life a prayer and WAIT for what He’ll say and do. My life’s on the line before God, my Lord, WAITING and watching till morning, Waiting and watching till morning.”
And Ps.131 exhorts us to, “CULTIVATE a quiet mind. Wait for God with hope. Hope NOW, hope Always.”
In other words, “be still and know that I AM GOD!”
II Timorty 3:2 “For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered…”
Rena, I think this announcement from Timothy summons up your comment.
Dr. Dan Hayden says, “Self-centered (lovers of self) behavior is the most destructive influence upon interpersonal relationships imaginable. It eliminates concern for the other person’s welfare and sucks the life out of any meaningful communication.”
MG, Debi and I commented on the cultivate your mind in above comments trying to get understanding.
” It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late and work your worried fingers to the bone.” I think Dr. Hayden has an answer for this as well…” Self-love is the cesspool out of which oozes every other perversion of the human heart, for ultimately everyone and everything else becomes expendable in the pursuit of its insatiable lust. Yet the thing that is most exalted in our society is the “self.” Self fulfillment, self-determinism, and self-image are highly regarded as the essence of life by our hedonistic culture.”
Now if Dr. Hayden has not scared the (hell) self out of us yet, try more of him”…we can say that the person who is characterized by philautos (lover of self) is really the ultimate IDIOT.”
If you would like to read Dr. Hayden article in its entirety visit….
http://www.awordfromtheword.org/lovers-of-self.htm
hedonistic• the ethical theory that pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) is the highest good and proper aim of human life.”
I read something from Oswald Chambers “My Utmost for His Highest” Aug 26 devotional that I think relates to Dr. Hayden’s article and the topic of Being Still:
“Reflected peace is the proof that you are right with God because you are at liberty to turn your mind to Him. If you are not right with God, you can never turn your mind anywhere but on yourself. If you allow anything to hide the face of Jesus Christ from you, you are either disturbed or you have a false security. ”
He goes on to say…
“Are you looking unto Jesus now, in the immediate matter that is pressing and receiving from Him peace? If so, He will be a gracious benediction of peace in and through you. But if you try to worry it out, you obliterate Him and deserve all you get.”
I think relates to MG’s comment about Sara’s song ‘Waiting Room” and ‘as I wait I see His face shining as a glory of Grace.’
What is reflected peace?
I thought it meant peace that’s reflected from the person who has allowed the peace of Christ to rule in their heart and life????
I think reflected peace is being able to walk through all kinds of situations – war, people talking about you, difficult relationships of any kind and yet maintain the peace in your mind that God has everything under control. You are not silent in the process but active.
In my study of Esther she had everyone including herself praying and then it was time to act. Knowing God was with her she acted in his strength and by doing so saved a nation of people.
As someone told me long ago, Jesus’s peace will insight people to change or not to change. Do we reflect that peace to insight change? Step in line with Jesus? or step in line with Satan? Pray in the waiting room and step out and reflect his peace (Jesus) to others.
Am I getting from your comments (Debi&Rena’s) that peace is the opposite of self love? Dr. Hayden says, “self-love is the ultimate idiot.” So we are either an ‘ultimate idiot’ or reflective peace? Yes or No? So, can we name ourselves? HUM!
You have said it well Sara.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace and rules in a His kingdom of peace. Self love is not allowed in. So, I would agree we are either in one category or the other.
I must say Debi I have read what you wrote. Your quote from Oswald Chambers, etc. But, I am not really understanding how Oswald Chambers ‘peace reflection ‘ and Dr. Hayden’s “Self-centered (lovers of self) behavior is the most destructive influence upon interpersonal relationships imaginable. It eliminates concern for the other person’s welfare and sucks the life out of any meaningful communication.” and his word, “(lover of self) is really the ultimate IDIOT.”
I am thinking lots of us have sucky communications unless we avoid the self-lover. I hear a lot of sucky jokes. Sucky lies, deception, etc. etc. coming from Jesus believers. I am not sure how to apply Oswald’s litmus test of ‘reflective peace.” I guess I am still trying to connect Oswald to Hayden to action.
Well after reading your perspective and understanding on this Sara, maybe I am not understanding or making a correct comparison of the two. I thought (from my words and understanding) that both persons were saying in effect that self-centeredness is a blockage to healthy relationships…both with the Lord Jesus and with others (seems like if one is healthy with Lord and vice-versa, they will be healthy with others which is opposite of self-centeredness)
Maybe the jokes from Jesus lovers are from those who are on various stages of the ladder to heaven. They don’t realize how sucky they are until they come a little higher and then when they look back they wish they had never been involved in such jokes or communication. They don’t realize what a waste of time and how debilitating their words are to the person they speak them to. They bring death instead of life. Dry bones instead of life. Jesus’s words were always life giving. According to your study, Dressing for His Glory” which we will be studying this summer the tongue can be misused and like a parasite sapping all energy from us. One of the scriptures quotes is Psalm 39:1 which says muzzle my mouth. Praying this and acting upon it every time we speak then we can take a step higher and as Sara says “Gather_In” Isaiah 50:4 …golden apples and desplay them in settings of silver. Otherwise you
attach yourself to others like the mistlletoe and suck the life words from them giving no substance to the hearer. Proverbs 15:4 from the study says – a gentle tongue is a healing tongue. Let the healing words of Jesus pour forth and bring living water to individuals around us not suck them dry to death with dead words that don’t ignite their lives to Jesus and set them before others so let their light shines for Jesus. Thus we are the reflective peace in that person’s life.
Very interesting, powerful thoughts and words, Rena. I am seeing words spoken to encourage, edify, teach, heal and help are ‘reflective peace’ flowing like a river to wash a shrinking soul. But, misappropriated, spoken for the purpose to lie, hide, deceive, or out of ignorance and self seeking, will shrink a soul and leave the word spreader with the toxic from the power of their own words to bring quick overview of self destruct. As Dr. Hayden said, ” Self-love is the cesspool out of which oozes every other perversion of the human heart, for ultimately everyone and everything else becomes expendable in the pursuit of its insatiable lust.”
My friend Tammy emailed me this a few days ago, “I was listening briefly to Dr. Charles Stanley last night and he was speaking on conflict. He said something that stuck in my head and wanted to share: (it sure made me think) “Conflict is inevitable! Your response is a choice.” Dr. Stanley and Tammy’s words are life giving words. Why, they are truth. They came timely to her and then to me!!!!
Rena, thanks again. I sure like the quotes from the study “Dressing for His Glory.” It sure looks like it is going to be a powerful retreat and may just tame the tongue and heal a shrinking soul!
I was talking with my husband, about this blog last night. He and I were having a meaningful conversation about it, and were looking up and reading some scriptures together. He offered a lot of meaningful points and scriptures that got me thinking. A scripture kept coming to my mind that I wanted to share, but I couldn’t find it. This morning, I explained the scripture to my friend, Sara, and she helped me locate it. It is in the book of Romans, and I’d like to share with you, here, and hope that all will give their insight on the meaning: (Romans 12:18 NLT) “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 (NKJV)” If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
Needles says,”… hope that all will give their insight on the meaning.” Needles, I missed your Bibles’ footnotes.
But, my thoughts are to quickly access the meaning of “as much as depends on you.” ie, what action am I to take or not take? My next thought would be, O, my, how I need wisdom, so my action would be to ask God as James instructed us to do;
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
Ok, Sara……….my Bible gives the footnotes to verses 17-21: ” These verses summarize the core of Christian living. If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. And remember, grace is undeserved favor. By giving an enemy a drink, we’re not excusing his misdeeds. We’re recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins–just as Christ did for us.
Needles, your Bible footnotes shows a road to being a help by using our spiritual gifts that have been given to each of us by the Holy Spirit.
I see your husband got your feet a hopping and I know he has a great reputations for this ie getting many hopping to work. What comes to my mind is if we are working and using our gifts we just plain forget about our self life. Our self life becomes a shelf life and our life because a shared life.
WHOA WHOA WHOA, there is a lot of something to this “Be still and know that I Am God.” He sure knows how to move us along on http://www.thedailylily.org.
Father God, thank you for your great love for the people of the world. (John 3:16) Bless this blog of Hope with your presence and your power and give the writers and readers right words, understanding and creativity to share your heart with all those who need you. Please help each of us to experience more of your hope and your power in our lives, In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen
Needles in thinking about your scripture above ““Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 (NKJV)” If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”, I was reminded of one of Sara’s blogs from Dec 20, 2008: “BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS.” I reread it and think it gives us a good understanding of what is it is to really live peaceably with all men. It’s not trying to keep a peace to avoid making waves or confrontation. It’s trying to live a life to bring the real truth of the Prince of Peace to others and each situation from my understanding.
I quote from Sara’s blog: “Colossians, 1:20, reveals “…God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Now let’s get to know the Son better so we can be a son.
And…”He showed us how to be Peace Maker and be called “son of God.”
“Conflict is inevitable! Your response is a choice.” In above comment this was quoted from Dr. Charles Stanley. And Debi’s words in above comment, “It’s not trying to keep a peace to avoid making waves or confrontation.” (I enjoyed rereading and studying “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”)
I see conflict and confront as healthy twins. I see when one has skills, tools, education, sword of the spirit and above all love; conflict and confront kiss and peace ensues.
I have a question? Why does a person say to another, husband, wife, children,etc., Example: “if you do this or that I am out of here.” Then they do it and they are not out of there. I guess my real question is how much ego does it take for one to have that much spunk to give someone that ultimatum.
As Hayden said, …we can say that the person who is characterized by philautos (lover of self) is really the ultimate IDIOT. Isn’t that the person who would give the ultimatum to one they should love. As a counselor told me, “Jesus would not be happy that one of His children are treated that way.” That person is certainly filled with self love for if they as Needles says above from her bible footnotes, If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive…. By giving an enemy a drink, we’re not excusing his misdeeds. We’re recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins–just as Christ did for us.
Just maybe the giant ego is hiding behind a mask of giant self deception. They allow Satan to strike out at their victim but retreat until the next attack. Little by little trying to wear down the victim so they think. They don’t realize God knows, God sees, and God will act as Beth Moore says. The victim who knows that can stand and be still knowing that God is God.
Sara asks, “I have a question? Why does a person say to another, husband, wife, children,etc., Example: “if you do this or that I am out of here. Then they do it and they are not out of there.”
I am reminded of a term that I heard Sara coin from a teaching I heard her give some time ago. The title of the teaching and the term was ’empty threat person’.
The person above seems to fit this category…full of empty threats with no action…or put another way, full of hot air, all show and no go. All this kind of action does is undermine their authority and prove them to be liars. Sounds like spunk and run. It’s easy to threaten, and try to throw our weight around. It is difficult to follow through and show backbone and consistency rather than a temper tantrum.
On April 15th I posted the words to a song Sara had written a while back, entitiled ‘MY WAITING ROOM’ (c). Herein is another aspect of waiting…. An article by D.A. Carson in BILLY GRAHAM’S DECISION MAG. caught my eye and my interest. The title of the article is HOW SHOULD WE WAIT FOR JESUS? In this writing, C. A. Carson reiterates the parable of the Boss who went away on a jouney and left talents to his three servants, as in Matthew 25: 14-15. I will be quoting from his article throughout this comment. Carson says, the parable describes the different ways people wait for Jesus’ return. “Believers are to to wait for the Lord Jesus as slaves commissioned to improve their Master’s Assets, to advance His Kingdom. In our waiting we are not to be passive. We are to grow, carefully manage and develop the resources the Lord has entrusted to us till He returns.”
Now many of us already know the details of the parable; how one servant took the ten talents given him and made ten more; the second given five made five more. But the SIN of the 3rd slave is what we need to look at carefully. His sin was that he thinks he has the right to make his own judgments. “But if he is the slave of the Master, then NOT undertaking the task put to him by the Master, and hiding the talent in the ground is flagrant disobedience and thus SIN, using the excuse that the Master was stern and harsh. The other two servants were delighted to do the will of the Master and they obtained assets for the Kingdom. But number three slave did it his own way. So the Master in the story judges him not only on the principle that the slave should obey the Master but even more, that this fellow is not only slothful but wicked, for he pretends that the problem lies with the Master’s harsh attitude. ”
We know the outcome of this particular parable. The Master took the talent from the lazy slave who did not even invest the talent and gave it to the man, now with twenty talents. The moral being that to him who has more shall be given but to him who has not, due to his own slothfulness, not being diligent and proactive, even the little he has will be taken away. That poor old chap was thrown outside the gates in utter darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We know where that is. This is very scary. Waiting on the Lord entails hard work. “Our task while we wait for the Lord Jesus is not to improve our own assets. And if we focus all our energy and attention on increasing our own assets what will we have to show the Master when we face HIM.” We can’t take ours with us.
Now this caveat from Mr. Carson…”If one is waiting so passively for Jesus that he or she sees no obligation to improve the Master’s assets, WHETHER THROUGH SUFFERING, EVANGELISM, LOVING BROTHERS AND SISTER IN CHRIST or growing in conformity to Christ, that person is thrown outside where there is weeping and wailing and the gnashing of teeth. If you’re merely waiting, and not working, you’re NOT improving the master’s assets. THIS IS UNTHINKABLE FOR A CHRISTIAN.
So wait then as slaves committed to and commissioned to improve the Master’s assets, the extending of His Kingdom. Jesus is coming back and we WILL give an account.”
____from article by D S Carson
…(ps note) **This also coincides with what Sara & Gary taught this morning…the WORK of the Kingdom IS: Evangelism, Prophesying, Pastoring, Teaching, Exhortation.
Most interesting excerpts taken from D S Carson’s article. Not sure I really understand it, ie, to judge if or how to tell if I am investing properly in the work of God. Should do more or less, give more or less, etc. It’s a big thought.
Interesting questions, Sara. Maybe it’s easier to judge what we’re NOT doing to invest in the Kingdom….that is chasing after our own assets.
A case in point is what happened to Solomon in the latter years of his reign. He chased after the gods of his many heathen wives and pursued the customs of those opposed to Jehovah God. And even though Solomon completed many worthwhile imprssive works for God in the beginning and many projects in his life, it became a “chasing after the wind and smoke” .(Ecclesiastes)
Still don’t get it. Do you mean my own personal assets have nothing to do with what I do for God? What or who’s assets do I use to judge my tally? I am sure I am missing a point somewhere here but not sure what it is.
Are you saying it is a matter of the purity of heart when we invest in the Kingdom of God whether it be in our own property for people to meet with God or whether it is solely for our own benefit? Are you saying if a house is divided that it can’t stand and your reward in heaven is gone? In other words we place our money in the offering plate and our heart in the world. Therefore if we clothe, attire, or dress or invest in God’s we’d better be ready to do what God would have us to do to serve man than to serve self and sit on our hands and do nothing to bring one person to God. God invest or dresses us to dress other is that what you are saying? Is this what you are saying or should I keep searching?