What an enormous joy and privilege to serve our mighty God and King. May we never forget that salvation and sanctification are the holy work of God’s grace and have never and can never come from man. It is not what a man says or does that saves a soul but, rather, God alone. Our job is to live that disciplined life and be helpers to ourselves and others to be wholly yielded to God.

Oswald Chambers reminds us that, “One life wholly devoted to God is of more value to God than one hundred lives simply awakened by His Spirit.” Unless you are wholly a servant unto the Lord, you may become an irritating dictator instead of an indwelling disciple!

Jesus never dictates to us. Whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He always prefaced it with an “if”, never with an emphatic “you must”. Discipleship carries an option with it…you get to choose!

Hopefully, we all will learn by God’s wisdom and Jesus’ example that we cannot “make” things happen but, rather, live the joyful, free life He has for us and let God do what He does best…rule and reign. Endure the fire—it’s producing pure gold!

Look up; forever look up! Can we say as Paul did in Philippians that:

• We have learned to be content in whatever circumstances we are in?
• We know how to get along with humble means as well as in prosperity?
• We have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry; of having abundance and suffering need?

It is plainly stated in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 

And don’t stop there. Don’t stomp your feet and complain because something hasn’t changed or you didn’t hear anything yet or get anything yet.

No…slow down. You need to let the next verse seep in. This is a promise, a contract, a portion of God’s covenant agreement from God. He cannot lie…He will do it! “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Is this sinking in yet? While we wait for God’s response, He will give that peace of His – not ours. Our peace comes only when the answer comes, His peace exists through the whole ordeal! This peace isn’t just a “feel- good” peace. It’s a peace that guards our hearts (protects those sensitive feelings about the situation) and guards our minds (so we won’t be blasted with stinkin’ thinkin’ while we wait on God). And all of this, it says, is done in Christ Jesus. No one is going to snatch, remove, stain, destroy or steal anything guarded by Him!

We have sometimes been foolish to try to work out things with our limited wisdom and biased judgments. Let’s change and do it God’s way. Read Philippians 4:6-7 again and ask God to sink it deep into your soul. Endure the fire—it’s producing pure gold!

How great and wonderful is our God. He has given us all the tools of salvation, starting with His Son, Jesus. Being saved in that great redemption removes the death sentence that we were born into, but it doesn’t end there…you must continue to know and grow in the ways of God.

If you say you love Him but do not obey His commands-He says you’re a liar (1 John 2:4-5). If you say you love Him and yet continue to walk in darkness, you lie to yourself (1 John 1:6).

Take heart though, the Lord tells us in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Thank you, Lord, for we have all fallen short many times, but do not give up…it is God working on you and He will have His completed, finished result! Endure the fire—it’s producing pure gold!