Psalm 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:
Yesterday I set before you a series of verses in which the term “I will” appeared. For the most part those verses did not indicate any specific action that was done but rather a condition of the heart. A willing heart lays at the bottom of command performance.
In our opening devotional in this series we saw the apostles sent out by Jesus under His authority. Jesus commanded and their performance was put into question in the one case set before us. If we were to examine the text and see that the apostles had not properly prepared themselves for those terms of service, to do the Master’s bidding, then it could be said they did not know His ways.
These men had spent nearly three years with Jesus and observed all that He did yet did not “know my ways”. The failing, if we are to believe Psalm 95, was one of the heart. All the knowledge and training in the world cannot duplicate the command performance of a prepared heart.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
May I offer that a contrite heart, one that is crushed, cares not for things of this world. If we are to be men and women after God’s own heart, then those things which weigh heavily on God’s heart, will crush ours. This is not worldly care, human compassion, human interests, or human emotions, it is Godly sorrows too much for us to bear alone.
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
We hid as it were our faces from Him for the pain was too much to bear. To do His will we need to meet Him face to face and not turn away from His will for us.
Sounds impossible doesn’t it. But He has not given us the spirit of fear…..
To further quote a song referenced in Lifelines:
“Not my own way I choose , in my way I might lose the joy that yet for me awaits.” Submission to HIS will, that is where peace is found.
As to yesterday, Exodus 3:3 came to mind:
“I will go over and see this strange sight- why the bush does not burn up.”
When the Lord seeks to reveal something to me, do I go and see?
I love Isaiah’s response when asked “who shall go for us?”…”here am I, LORD, send me.” Isaiah had realized his condition, he was willing to let the Lord “fix” the condition and he became a “vessel fit for the Master’s use.” When my heart is in tune with God’s will, I will also be a “vessel fit for the Master’s use”. See Isaiah 6 verses 6-9.
This is a beautiful post and comments this morning…I see so many things tied together. Fred, your LIFElines on “Submission to HIS will” and Larry, the title of your blog “His Cup” ties together in the song…..”Take my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord”. I want to be emptied of myself so my Lord can FILL me through His Spirit and use me in ANY way He chooses…..it may not even be visible to everyone.
As you pointed out, Larry, its a matter of the heart. Jesus said “Father not MY will, but YOUR’S be done”….beautiful example.