Greetings again my Brethren. Many of my friends ask me what God is doing in the earth these days and I reply why ask me ask God, but if I would let them know what I feel the LORD is doing in the earth these days I would say what He is always doing, looking for faithfulness. The year 2020 was horrible for some; the pandemic, some lost their businesses some even lost their lives. Sadly I did a funeral for a dear woman of God who use to be the best of friends with my mother. Mrs. Vivian Winstead Severe (age 92) was a lady of the heart who did not know when to stop giving. I have known Mrs. Vivian for close to 50 years, always a lady of God and always a giver. But for other folks 2020 was another year. In both situations the LORD saw them and was working in their lives according to their faithfulness to him. Now I am not saying Mrs. Vivian was not faithful on my word no, but bound up in our faithfulness is the LORD’s plan for our lives out from the decisions we make. Mrs. Vivian ran her course and ran it well. The LORD has a plan and course we must run it was just Mrs. Vivian’s time to go see her Savoir as we all shall some day. Our plan and course is set in God’s heart (where we all came from) but whether we run the course and fulfil the plan the LORD has for us is not up to the LORD, His power or authority, but our faithfulness. One thing for sure the call of the Master will inevitably be revealed in us where our first loyalties lies. How faithful are we when the LORD tells us to do something? Does He have to speak a second or third time? Real faithfulness (and I would say maturity in God) to the LORD is seen when we obey and do as He asks the first time. My teacher Charles Haun tells the story of his teacher John Wright Follette’s office. On the wall behind his desk is a sign that read, “Yes LORD.” and as you sit in the chair in front of his desk (which the legs were cut short so all you could do was look up) the sign was the focal point of the counselling session. Well the truth is that is all the LORD wants to hear come out of our mouth “Yes LORD” when He asks us to do something. He does not want to hear our feeble excuses or our ideas of a better way to do things, oh no all the LORD wants to hear is “Yes LORD” His ears and heart is tuned to two words and will not settle for anything less. We must learn this lesson quite well if we are going to answer our call and walk with Him. It is no different with our earthly children when we ask them to do something we know they can do, “Yes Dad or Mom.” The LORD knows if we can handle it and what He is doing and asking. Saying no (which is just rebellion) or suggesting something else is another way of saying God You do not know what you are doing. In Luke Jesus was talking to some folks (maybe disciples) who desired to follow Him, “And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:59-62) In both cases Jesus knew the people could easily answer His request. It was not a question of not having the ability after all, all they had to do was “follow me” which takes no special skill or talent, but it takes a willingness and a desire to be faithful. I find interesting in both cases it is people that prevent them from following Jesus, the first is their father and the second their status is not mentioned. It is other people we will follow instead of Jesus. In Matthew Jesus really minces no words with His disciples to draw out of them faithfulness, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:33-38) We need to read this again especially now as times in America are getting a little more perilous. It will be our family and friends not our enemies that will challenge our faithfulness to God. Both in Luke and Matthew Jesus tells the disciples they are not worthy (G #514, deserving, comparable, or suitable in drawing praise) of Him if they do not take up their cross (not Jesus’ cross) and to follow Him. and in Luke Jesus says they are not “fit” (G #2111, not physically or spiritually healthy if they start and then fall away from Him. This we must never do.
Next month we will continue looking at some areas we may not think about when we respond to the call of God in our lives. Do you hear Him calling? Please know God is calling. Walter Beuttler said if you build God a temple He will inhabit it. Have you built God a temple? If you do He will abide and wait for you. Written by David Stahl
