Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest Devotional of the Day — Home Page Matthew 5:30 "If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell" For years I thought this verse was literal, but I learned today that it is not. Jesus is using hyperbole — extreme exaggeration for emphasis — to teach the seriousness of sin. So, we do not need to amputate any limbs; but we do need to apply strict discipline to the habits and choices that sabotage our walk with the Lord. Some things may not be sin, but if they pull our focus from Him, they need to be limited or removed. Anything that weakens our obedience, distracts from our focus, stirs up old patterns, or dulls our spiritual sensitivity is not right for our new walk with the Lord. These distracting activities must be removed with the strictest discipline if we are to grow and mature in Him...
Today's Reading: My Utmost for His Highest Devotional of the Day — Home Page Philippians 3:12 "I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me" Have you experienced the Grip of God? I have... and it is profound. If you have been there, then you are still there... in His grip. Chambers says we do not choose to work for God but we do so because He has "laid hold of" us. And we do not choose what we are called to do, He does. So... you may know the true call of God if this is the case. A true call is from God, God chosen, God ordained. Not chosen by that person, not decided by that person, but by God. When someone is truly called — when they are in the grip of God — there is a steadiness about them that does not come from personality or ambition. They do not choose the work; the work chooses them. There is a quiet compulsion, a sense that they must do what God has laid on them, even when it is difficult, unseen, or costly. ...