Truth Matters From Pastor Dean Brdlik, June 29th 2023
Giving us an inspired insight, the Apostle Paul reveals one of the inevitable experiences of sanctification...namely, we know we should put aside worldly language, pursuits, entertainments, hobbies, habits (that might seem innocent or innocuous to those around us even to ourselves). We know there are personal thought patterns and pursuits either leading us to sin and taking away our commitment to Jesus Christ. Paul realized this aspect of sanctification when he wrote: “7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)
Paul’s rather strong statement was not nearly as strong as Jesus’ hyperbolic statement: “29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away... 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. (Matthew 5:29-30)
Today’s My Utmost for His Highest challenges us on this aspect of our becoming more like Jesus Christ:
“Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off his right hand, but that “if your right hand causes you to sin” in your walk with Him, then it is better to “cut it off.” There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says that if it hinders you in following His precepts, then “cut it off.” The principle taught here is the strictest discipline or lesson that ever hit humankind.
When God changes you through regeneration, giving you new life through spiritual rebirth, your life initially has the characteristic of being maimed. There are a hundred and one things that you dare not do— things that would be sin for you, and would be recognized as sin by those who really know you. But the unspiritual people around you will say, “What’s so wrong with doing that? How absurd you are!” There has never yet been a saint who has not lived a maimed life initially. Yet it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God’s sight than to appear lovely to man’s eyes but lame to God’s. At first, Jesus Christ through His Spirit has to restrain you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. Yet, see that you don’t use your restrictions to criticize someone else.”
Sometimes Chambers reminds me of that insightful TV detective Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) when Columbo would say, “Oh excuse me, there’s one more thing.” In today’s Utmost, Chambers says, “Oh excuse me, there’s one more thing”---“Jesus Christ through His Spirit has to restrain you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you. Yet, see that you don’t use your restrictions to criticize someone else.” I have told our ECC congregation that the sanctification is not “monolithic”,,,that is, we don’t all struggle with the same issues, but struggle and be victorious we must. My prayer for you and me this day is this: Lord, today we bring before You those internal struggles that keep us from living our utmost for your highest. By the power of Your Spirit, we need Your help to remove these impediments. Like Paul and our Lord’s counsel, we need to be ruthless with ourselves. We want to become more like You Lord. That’s our prayer and our quest. Amen.
Walk with the King today and be a blessing.
