Ambition
Jesus said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” … “Who is he, sir?” … “He is the one speaking with you.” … “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped Him. John 9:35-38
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the Truth?”… “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:7, 25
Running the Race or Sitting on the Sidelines?
Found at Bible Gateway – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ex.%2030;John%209;Prov.%206;Gal.%205&version=NIV1984
Exodus 30 The Holy One needs nothing (Rev 4:8). Brilliantly He gives detail-specific commands for my benefit on how to safely communicate with Him: Through His provided Atonement, Jesus Christ His Son, the Lamb. (v.6, John 1:29) IF I come to God in the Only Way He provides, THEN I have access to submit to the Greatest Reward on and off the earth (Genesis 15:1).
God commands me (1 Peter 2:9): you “must burn fragrant incense”. God demands my unceasing prayers to Him (1 Thes 5:17). My personal thoughts, feelings, needs, intercessions, jokes, questions, … ~A sweet fragrance God desires! (Rev 8:3-4, Ps 56:8) Amazing! So humbling! I should run to the one Man who always wants to hear me! Who loves me all ways!!
v.11-38 – I rejoice in You my Lord!! You used to require people to repeatedly pay for their own ransoms with their atonement money. –> But You substituted once, for all, Your sinless Son, the Lord Jesus, to ransom me from the eternal plague of sin and give me eternal life. When I accepted Your Atonement, You changed me totally! You anoint me with Your Holy Spirit. Eternal Praise is Yours! (Mark 10:45, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 10:1-18, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Cor 5:17, Revelation 7:14, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51, Psalm 34)
John 9 + Proverbs 6
Oh, how I have been blind! Oh my sins! Thinking I see, but being utterly unaware. Crashing into things, getting burned, and paining others: Because I have not consulted You or ingested Your Truth. Please forgive me Master. Even now, I know there are so many “blind spots” in me that are not conscious of You. Have me keep coming to Your Word, desirous for You to wash my eyes, heart and renew my mind and surrender to You my newly found sin. Enable me more to humble myself and hate what You hate. (Ephesians 5:26, Romans 12:1-2, Luke 16:13, John 13:13-17)
Galatians 5
“The only thing that counts is FAITH expressing itself through LOVE.” v.6
I must live in Tangible, Action-Moving Faith in the trustworthy God’s Plan. This pleases the Holy God. I must live God’s Way, in His Love by His Holy Spirit Power and Wisdom. (Hebrews 11:1,Luke 17:6,Hebrews 11:6,Mark 10:27,Romans 12:1-2,Romans 8:28) (Isaiah 55:9,John 14:15,21,23, John 15:10,1John 5:3,Galatians 5:25)
By Surrendering my mind/heart’s control to the Atonement, the Lord Jesus Christ, I am now I am Free from enslavement to sin and death! Free to Serve the Living Lord Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit Power and Guidance! This is the FUN part!! Loved and loving! Freedom to Love! No condemnation by God nor fear of man! Keep me aware of this Lord!! (Romans 8:1-2,Romans 6:15-23,John 8:31-32,36, 1John 4:18,Proverbs 29:25,Luke 12:5,Proverbs 3:5-7)
Story –
Joyously making the team, I had trouble keeping up. Discouraged, I internally gave up. It showed. I began sitting on the bench. Soon I hardly cheered for my teammates. UNTIL the game against our RIVALS! No longer stagnant on the seat, I jumped up, cheering voraciously. Next practice I was unrecognizable. Why? I understood “the Big Picture“. The fire of “war” welled up and continued throughout the next year, when I was undefeated.
On earth it is no different – A competition for souls is at stake. Teams: The devil and God. Goals: hell or heaven. Hell is the default. (Romans 3:21-26) While God is the heart-warmer and soul converter, I, the new creature in Christ, am an ambassador for their salvation! (2Cor 5:17-21) Commanded to run the race and live the victory Jesus Christ has planned for me with gratitude! Souls are going to hell without Jesus Christ. May I be ambitiously diligent!
Prayer –
Father, Thank You for all You have done and do for me continually! My works are never perfect, yet You still love, cherish and treasure me!! I choose to Vibrantly LIVE in Your Holy Spirit power! To Faith-fully Love You, willfully obeying You for Your good pleasure and delight! It is impossible to do unless my emotions are tied into Your healing heart. Please make me more aware of my sin. Enable me more to reject and abhor my mindset sin patterns in exchange for living Yours. Forgive me for the ones I am privately confessing to You now. Heal those I have harmed. Thank You for making me clean!
Equip, enable and empower me to serve as You choose! Quicken me to be used by You masterfully for the salvation of souls. I pray for Your work in hearts and lives, for them to worship You in Spirit and in Truth, and for me likewise! Enliven me to point others to Christ and Your Word and to testify, witnessing often so others will surrender to You and be saved from hell. Please enliven the entire Body of Christ to do this!! Awaken Your people!! Alert me to the enemy’s tactics, so no one will keep me from obeying the Truth. Fill me with Your Spirit so I keep in step, bearing only Your fruit, with Your joy as my Strength. By faith I eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which I hope!
Crystal (PsalmThirty4)
Sixty-six books in a year 