Elizabeth Dianne: November 2021

Friday, November 12, 2021

My Rights vs. 1 Corinthians 13

A
good barometer to see how my Christian life measures up to what God said it should be is 1 Corinthians 13, especially verses 4-7.

Some questions I can ask myself are these.

1. Does my love suffer long with others? Am I patient?

2. Do I let provocation from others control me? Do I react as they act?

3. Am I slow to anger?

4. Am I willing to put up with a great deal of irritation brought on by others?

5. Can I endure criticism and untruth with grace and mercy?

6. Do I have poise under fire?

7. When undergoing a great trial, do I give in to despondency?

8. Do I show kindness towards others? Do I take the initiative to do good things for them even when undeserved?

9. Do I show mercy to others? In the book of James we read that mercy triumphs over judgment.

10. Am I harboring bitterness, wrath, or anger in my heart towards others?

11. Am I tenderhearted towards others?

12. Am I willing to forgive others even as God in Christ forgave me?

13. Do I rejoice at the success of others?

14. Do I delight when others are honored or esteemed?

15. Do I envy others because of their success, beauty, wealth, or talent?

16. Do I deliberately detract from others and in doing so, try to make myself look better?

17. Do I want others to be envious of me?

18. Do I climb over others at their expense to propel myself to the top?

19. Do I show graciousness towards others?

20. Do I forget self and give honor to others?

21. Do I demand to have my own way?

22. Do I put selfish interests before others?

23. Do I insist on my own rights?

24. Am I self-serving?

25. Am I possessive, demanding or obstinate?

This is a very hard-hitting list but one that I want to face head on and see what work God wants to do in my heart, mind, and spirit. What do I need to repent of? What actions can I take to correct and alter my course where I have failed.

Lord, help us not to fear reality but to face it head on knowing that you are willing to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Give us a willing heart to answer these questions truthfully and let You do a great work within us.

Monday, November 8, 2021

The Price of True Discipleship

G
ood morning, lovely friends and fellow sojourners of the Christian Way. It is a beautiful, perfect temperature day here. Hope you are enjoying your day wherever you are.

Last Friday I told you that I would give you another "health chapter" but I feel I am being led away from that.

Too much talking about 'self,' and not enough about God and His ways.

I did tell you that I was on a 40 day fast of "my rights" as a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yes, I have failed miserably at times and being sorely tried and tempted at times.

The book of James tells us that "each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."

All of this I am trying to place in the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In 2003, through a series of readings by Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, I was led to fast for 40 days. I kept a journal during that time and it was one of the most enlightening and productive periods of my Christian life.

God taught me so much. Maybe not for all, but for me, I had to be willing to give up my rights to myself at all times to be able to stay on a fast like this.

There was lots of prayer, journaling, rejoicing, commiserating, abandonment, and cleansing during those days. I will always be grateful for that time.

I have read that Bill Bright fasted 40 days each year for a number of years. His ministry has reached millions of people all over the world and it would be interesting to know the number of souls that will spend eternity in heaven because they were exposed to Jesus through his teachings and because of the sacrificial prayer offered up for them by him.

Recently, I was looking for a good book to read and came across Bill Bright's book, Dare To Be Different. Much of the book I knew from reading other things by him but once again, I was challenged to fast for 40 days.

Because I am older now and experiencing a few health problems, I decided to research "fasting for an older person." I could not find any good information on that and decided on my own that it probably would not be the wisest choice.

However, I did pray about what I could fast and it seemed that God was pointing me in the direction of "fasting my rights to myself."

That is what I chose to do. I am about halfway through the 40 days and have definitely benefitted from it spiritually. I have made mistakes, had to alter, correct my course and get back on the straight and narrow to be able to stay on this particular fast.

As I stated last Friday, I intend, and am praying, for this to be a life-style, not just a temporary 'fast.'

I thought it interesting that in my devotional today, I read this by Oswald Chambers.

Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself.

The one essential element in all our Lord's teaching

about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest.

The price of true discipleship according to Oswald Chambers it seems is to abandon ourselves to God, no bargaining, and a total giving up of our 'rights' to ourselves.

God, help me where I fail and help me be committed to these principles.