My Utmost for His Highest - May 9th - Grasp Without Reach

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is one who keeps the Law. - Proverbs 29:18

    There is a difference between an ideal and a vision. An ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision has. The people who give themselves over to ideals rarely do anything. A man's conception of Deity may be used to justify his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah argued that because God was a God of justice and of mercy, therefore everything would be all right (see Jonah 4:2). I may have a right conception of God, and that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of rectitude because the vision imparts moral incentive.

    Ideals may lull to rain. Take stock of yourself spiritually and see whether you have ideals only or if you have vision.

    "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" (Andrea Del Sarto by Robert Browning)

    "Where is no vision . . ." When once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless, we cast off certain restraints, we cast off praying, we cast off the vision of God in little things, and begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating what we have out of our own hand, doing things on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on the downward path, we have lost the vision. Is our attitude to-day an attitude that springs from our vision of God? Are expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done? Is there a freshness and vigor in our spiritual outlook?

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My Utmost for His Highest - May 2nd - The Passion of Patience

For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay. - Habakkuk 2:3

    Patience is not indifference; patience conveys the idea of an immensely strong rock withstanding all onslaughts. The vision of God is the source of patience, because it imparts a moral inspiration. Moses endured, not because he had an ideal of right and duty, but because he had a vision of God. He "endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)" A man with the vision of God is not devoted to a cause or to any particular issue; he is devoted to God Himself. You always know when the vision of God because of the inspiration that comes with it; things come with largeness and tonic to the life because everything is energized by God. If God gives you a time spiritually, as He gave His son actually, of temptation in the wilderness, with no word from Himself at all, endure, and the power to endure is there because you see God.

    "Though it tarry, wait for it." The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have grasped. It is a a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. "What shall I render unto the Lord?" said the Psalmist. "I will take the cup of salvation. (Psalm 116:12-13)" We are apt to look for satisfaction in ourselves--"Now I have got the thing; now I am entirely sanctified; now I can endure." Instantly we are on the road to ruin. Our reach must exceed our grasp. "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. (Philippians 3:12)" If we have only what we have experienced, we have nothing; if we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience. Beware of the danger of relaxation spiritually.

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

Hmm. The vision of God is the source of patience. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. 

My Utmost for His Highest - March 26th - Vision by Personal Purity

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. - Matthew 10:8

Purity is not innocence, it is much more. Purity is the outcome of sustained spiritual sympathy with God. We have to grow in purity. The life with God may be right and the inner purity remain unsullied, and yet every now and again the bloom on the outside may be sullied. God does not shield us from this possibility, because in this way we realize the necessity of maintaining the vision by personal purity. If the spiritual bloom of our life with God is getting impaired, in the tiniest degree, we must leave off everything and get it put right. Remember that vision depends on character--the pure in heart see God.

God makes us pure by His sovereign grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and with other points of view, it is those that are apt to sully. Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer courts as well are to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gives us by His grace. The spiritual understanding is blurred immediately the outer court is sullied. If we are going to retain personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, it will mean there are some things we must scorn to do or to think, some legitimate things we must scorn to touch.

A practical way of keeping personal purity unsullied, in relation to other people is to say to yourself--That man, that woman, perfect in Christ Jesus! That friend, that relative, perfect in Christ Jesus!

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

- Sullied - to soil, tarnish, especially by disgracing

Proverbs 6:16-17 - Three Things the Lord Hates

Proverbs 6:16-17
¹⁶ There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
¹⁷ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,

Promise: Three Things the Lord Hates

Time: It seems that Proverbs was written and then compiled sometime between the tenth and sixth centuries B.C. Proverbs was probably written during the reign of Solomon, 971-931 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

This is interesting. Obviously, Solomon seems to be speaking to a group of people, reminding them of what God hates. Chapter 6 has been summarizes as parental counsel. It is interesting, it starts with son being snared by the words of your mouth. Be on guard for what your mouth can lead you to do. We need to careful with our words. And then there is a warning to the sluggard and the speaker brings up the ant. How in some ways humiliating that he looks at the smallest creature whereby a baby's footprint could smash it and yet he looks to that creature as an example for hard work. The ant keeps working, no matter the obstacles, the ant is working. The ant is either working or sleeping. Get up. Stop just sleeping. Wake up and get busy. Then, he addresses one with a perverse mouth. This person is a wicked man, a worthless person. This chapter is shaping up to be a chapter about the mouth.

Then he emphasizes 6 things the Lord hates, but it's not just six, it's seven. This isn't a new section, just a new subject. He is continuing his counsel.

And today i look at the first three:

• Haughty eyes - This is thinking more highly of myself than I ought. At the start of the day, I must understand who I am. I am a child of God. I am a child. He is God. He is my father. I am not to think more of myself than is necessary. This doesn't have anything to do with self-esteem which is believing in myself. I have no reason to not believe in myself because God loves me and I am his child. I have confidence in who I am, for sure, but here I am simply realizing that God is always in charge. I need to be careful that I don't put to much credence on my own work, thinking that I control outcomes. I surrender to God and he is in charge. This is the opposite of the fear of God. It is being humble. I can definitely say, "I can do this" but not "I'm good." Only God is good and I can do this because God is on my side. This pride is the beginning of all other sins. The only reason I disobey God's commands is because I think I can. I want it my way. And my eyes are the giveaway. In Ephesians 4:2, Paul begins with a list of virtues and he begins with "Humility" or the opposite of pride.  
• Lying tongue - The speaker now mentions the tongue. After beginning with pride, the beginning of all other sins, he mentions once again the tongue. Earlier, at the beginning of this chapter was a warning about being snared by the words of our mouth. But, lying wasn't the focus there, but rather it was more being careful about our words and those words getting ourselves in trouble. And then there was a warning about having a perverse mouth. Once again, the mouth is ugly and can degrade people, belittle them. Those were warnings about the mouth. And now, he addresses a lying tongue. Jesus is the Truth. If I speak untruth then I am in opposition to God and I show no regard for God's character. Lying harms me and it can harm other people. I admit, I have struggling with lying most of my life. I really struggled with it as a kid, all growing and through college. I can remember specific ways that I lied. I felt it necessary to just tweak the truth. I wanted people to see me a little better so I changed words. Its horrible. I didn't trust that the person God had made was really good enough to present themselves before others. The reason I am a liar is because I practice lying.
• Shedding of innocent blood - It is one thing to have pride and to think that your way is always the better way, but to then carry out the act and take away the life of another. The horrible thing I see about abortion is a person deciding which life is more important. A choice was made to have sex and now people are deciding the result needs to be removed. This verse speaks of innocent blood. It is not speaking of war, but is speaking of taking someone's life when they haven't done anything wrong. As I read the paper and hear of bombings and slayings and murders, repeatedly there are innocent lives being hurt. This 23 year old boy that went to a bible study and then opened fire on those there is someone thinking that he must decided who is worth keeping around. It's just not that far from abortion. We stare at this young man and give him the death penalty while the potential money is told, she had every right to make that choice. Are not both parties innocent?

Promise: Be careful about my thoughts, my mouth, and thinking I am in control.

My Prayer: Lord, help me to be guided by your truths. On my own, I am selfish and think I know what is best for me. Keep me centered on You, truly humble, and understanding that I am your child at all times. I can never get away from you nor do I want to. Guard me from haughty, prideful eyes, that think I know what is best. And forgive me for my lying tongue, for not trusting in the person you have made in me. And forgive us as a society for the taking of innocent lives.

Zechariah 6

Message: Vision of Four Chariots and then the crowning of Jeshua, the High Priest

Time: Written during the building of the temple -- 520-516BC

What the Lord is Saying: 

4 Chariots (red horses, black horses (north), white horses (west), powerful dappled-gray horses (south)) coming from behind 2 bronze mountains. This represents the 4 spirits of heaven who stand before the Lord. This could depict our Creator's thorough knowledge of all that takes place on the earth. They are going to do his work. They are going to patrol the earth. The black horses have vented the anger of My Spirit in the north.

This vision could be a statement from the Lord to His people that the people can work on the rebuilding of the temple and he will keep things calm throughout the earth. Enemies would be kept at bay. 

-------------------

Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring gifts of silver and gold from the Jews. Meet them and make a crown of the silver and gold to be worn by Jeshua. The passage then speaks of the Branch, but it appears to be distinct from Jeshua. The Branch will build the temple of the Lord (future temple, not the current one we have been talking about). He will receive royal honor and rule as king. He will serve as priest.

The crown didn't remain on Jeshua's head, but instead was placed in the temple as a memorial. 

Promise: Christ will rebuild His temple. Christ will rebuild His Church. He is the architect. He will finish the job no matter the opposition. The Church must be honored it all its forms. 

Zechariah 5

Message: Visions of people's sins

Time: Written during the building of the temple -- 520-516BC

What the Lord is Saying: The visions continue from Zechariah to Zerubbabel the governor and Judah the High Priest -- to encourage the rebuilding of the temple.

This time Zechariah sees a flying scroll with 2 sides. One side basically reminds the people of the command, "Do not steal." The other is the remind to not use the Lord's name as a curse word or blasphemy. The other vision was of a basket filled with sins. And two women flew and took the basket of sin away.

In these two visions we see the responsibility we each have to not sin, but we also see that the Lord removes sin from His people. Sin results in poor outcomes for people. But God has removed sin for having a hold on people for eternity. This signifies the final purification of God's people.

It is interesting that with the basket, sin is removed, but it is taken some place else. Sin will reside in a place where people that love it will reside with it. People in hell will be there because they want to be there. They prefer sin over God.

Promise: Hell is a real place. And the people there will be where they want to be. Living in sin.

Zechariah 4

Message: A lamp stand and 2 olive trees.

Time: Written during the building of the temple -- 520-516BC

What the Lord is Saying: What is the significance of these visions? They obviously serve multiple purposes. Each vision depicts something that is to be communicated. But, there is also an overall message.

(1) There is a confirmation that Zechariah or the angel has been sent by the Lord. Zechariah and what he hears and learns can be accepted because it comes from the Lord. "Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven's Armies has sent me."

(2)  The Lord takes great joy in the work of His people. "the Lord rejoices to see the work begin."

(3) The Lord wants to be praised. He is the author and we are to praise the author. "May God bless it! May God bless it!

Now in this story, there are two things that are seen in the vision. Both times the angel is startled or maybe even puzzled as to why Zechariah doesn't understand their meanings. Obviously, the situation at hand is the building of the temple.

(1) A solid gold lamp stand. This represents the Lord's strength and force which is His Spirit. When His Spirit, nothing stands in its way.  The people need to realize that God is there with them, giving them His strength to build the temple.

(2) Two olive trees. This represents two heavenly beings that stand guard in the court. Perhaps Revelaton 11:3-12 answers who these two beings are, standing guard.

Promise: The Lord is protecting us at all times. O if we would just see this and take confidence in this. And believe Him.

Zechariah 3

Message: The vision of being presented as a new man, snatched out of the fire, and ready to serve.

Time: Written during the building of the temple -- 520-516BC

What the Lord is Saying: Another vision. Zechariah was shown Jeshua, the high priest. Satan was there accusing Jeshua. And the Lord comes to the rescue, offering protection to his chosen.

Jeshua dirty clothes, dirty covering, sins were taken away and he was given fine new clothes. The Lord declared that Jeshua had been rescued like a burning stick from the fire. He was given new clothes. He was made a new creature.

The call to Jeshua was then to follow the Lord, serve Him carefully and then the Lord would give him authority over the Temple.

In the future, the Branch will come and the sins of the people and land will be removed in a single day. Neighbor with neighbor will sit.

-- Here we can see a picture of Jesus our Lord and being justified by faith, receiving righteousness and it being imputed to our record. 

Promise: God alone removes the guilt of sin and clothes His people with pure garments, a righteousness not our own, making peace with us in Christ.

From Tabletalk, November 27, 2013 -- "Just as Solomon and Zerubbabel, sons of David, built God's temple during the old covenant period, so does Jesus Christ, the final son of David, build God's temple today during the new covenant period. Unlike the temple of old, however, Christ does not build merely with human hands. As the God-man, He is the divine temple builder who is building His church into a holy temple, a clean sanctuary that will endure forever."

Zechariah 2

Message: Vision: Future prosperity and the angels are called home

Time: Written during the building of the temple -- 520-516BC

What the Lord is Saying: Zechariah sees another vision. This time he sees a man with a ruler in his hand. The man was headed to Jerusalem to measure its width and length. Then the angel with me saw a second angel that told me to hurry that man for Jerusalem will be full of people one day and there won't be room enough for everyone. And the Lord states that He will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem. He will protect his people, even though they are large in numbers.

The Lord reminds his people that he will protect them. He won't be distant, but he is coming to live among them. God is near. He will come. The Lord is active. All humanity will know that God is with His people.

Promise: The Lord will protect His people. "The Lord loves us so deeply and thoroughly that He will not let those who impenitently rise up against us finally get away with it. God never forgets His children. (Tabletalk, November 25, 2013)"

Zechariah 1

Message: Zechariah is sent to encourage the people to rebuild God's temple and gives them a vision of things to come.

Time: Zechariah 1-8 - Written during the building of the Temple (520-518BC); Zechariah 9-14 - Written after the temple was completed (480-470BC); Zechariah 1 - 2nd yr of King Darius's reign (Darius reigned 34 years)

What the Lord is Saying:

God speaks through Zechariah (and Haggai) to stir up the hearts of the people and renew their labor in building the temple. Haggai focused on the religious life of the people; Zechariah focuses more on the national and political. His ministry extended over 2 years. 

The rebuilding of the temple is significant because as long as the temple is left unfinished, the people were being disobedient to the Lord's commands regarding old covenant worship. And so the real problem may look like an unfinished temple, but in reality it is a problem of the heart of the people. Their sin reigns in them. They care not of the Lord's commands. 

Zechariah 1 - the message is to return to the Lord. Previous leaders have called Israel/Judah to return to the Lord or turn from your evil ways. Evil acts yield not a prosperous life.

Zechariah will see 8 visions (not dreams). Here we have the 1st one.

• An angel was talking to Zechariah, explaining the vision
• Man sitting on a red horse, standing among myrtle trees in a small valley
• Behind him were riders on red, brown and white horse. 
• The man sitting (rider) on the red horse explained
• These are the ones (riders) sent to patrol the earth
• Riders Report -- We have been patrolling and the whole earth is at peace
• Angel's Response is a Prayer
• O Lord of Heaven's Armies, you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah for 70 years. When will you show mercy? 
• The Lord spoke kind/comforting words to the angel
• The Angel to Zechariah
• The Lord says, "My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong."
• The Lord says, "My anger is for those other nations enjoying peace and security. I was angry with my people, but the other nations inflicted a greater pain on my people than I intended."
• So, "The Lord is returning to show mercy on Jerusalem. My temple will be rebuilt. Jerusalem will be reconstructed. The towns of Judah will overflow with prosperity. The Lord will comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own."
• Four animal horns
• These are the nations that scattered Judah/Israel/Jerusalem
• Four blacksmiths
• Coming to terrify those nations, throw them down and destroy them

Promise: The message to rebuild the temple is really a message to the people to confront their sin and remember the Lord's commands. The Lord does this through Zechariah by calling them to recognize their evil, their sin and then to turn from their evil ways -- to repent. The immediate response is the simple recognition that evil acts disobey God and we must ask forgiveness. God wants a heart yielded to Him and then our deeds show our love to the Father and those deeds result in a prosperous life. But, the deeds aren't there to yield God's acceptance.

Daniel 10

Message: Daniel receives a vision and a visitor that gives him strength to hear.

Time: Third year of Cyrus the Persian (~535/536 BC)

What the Lord is Saying: Daniel has another vision concerning future times - war and hardship. The vision came at a time of mourning for Daniel.

The vision. Daniel was standing on the bank of the Tigris River with other men, but Daniel and only Daniel saw this:

A man dressed in linen clothing.
The man had a a belt of pure gold around his waist.
His body looked like a precious gem.
His face flashed like lightning.
His eyes flamed like torches.
His arms and feet shone like polished bronze.
His voice roared like a large group of people.

From: http://www.preceptaustin.org/daniel_10_commentary.htmThe apostle John gives a description of the glorified Christ which has five similarities to Daniel's vision which are included here in parenthesis...
Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His breast with a golden girdle (waist girded with a belt of pure gold). 14 And His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow (face had the appearance of lightning); and His eyes were like a flame of fire (eyes were flaming torches); 15 and His feet were like burnished bronze (feet like...polished bronze), when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters (sound of his words like the sound of a tumult). (Rev 1:12-15-see notes)

And then this man spoke. When this happened Daniel fainted, no strength, pale and very weak, his face to the ground.

His words, "Don't be afraid. Your humble requests of prayer to God have been heard. I am here to answer your prayer. My way was blocked for 21 days by the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Michael, the archangel, helped me. So, now I am here to speak to you."

Daniel was speechless. Then the man touched his lips and he could speak.

"Lord, I am in anguish from this vision I have seen. I am weak. It doesn't make sense that I could be speaking to you, the way I know myself."

But, he said to Daniel, "Don't be afraid. You are very precious to God. Have peace. Be encouraged. Be strong." As the man spoke, Daniel felt stronger and wanted to hear more as strength had come to him.

The man said, "I am here to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia and after this the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece. But first, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth."

Promise: God makes us strong. He is in control. We are his witnesses and get to witness what He is doing and how he is involved in the world we live in.

Daniel 8

Message: Daniel's Vision of a Ram and a Goat followed by Gabriel explaining the Vision

Time: The 3rd year of the reign of Belshazzar

What the Lord is Saying:

Daniel was at the fortress of Susa (Elam) beside the Ulai River.

VISION
He saw a ram with 2 long horns beside the river. The younger horn was longer. The ram did as it wished, butting everything to the west, north, and south. No one could stand against him nor help his victims. He became great.

Then a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land, above it, not touching the ground. It had 1 large horn b/w its eyes, rushed at the ram, breaking off both his horns after striking him. The ram was taken and couldn't be rescued.

The goat became powerful. At his height of power, the large horn broke off, giving rise to 4 horns pointing in the four directions of the earth. From one horn came a smaller horn, extending to the South and East--toward the land of Israel. Its power reached the heavens, attacking the heavenly army, throwing some to the ground. It challenged the Commander of heaven's army, cancelling daily sacrifices and destroying the Temple. The army of heaven was restrained from responding. The horn succeeded.

Then 2 holy ones talked to each other, one saying, "How long will these events last? How long will the Temple and heaven's army be trampled on?" The other replied, "2,300 evenings and mornings (over 6 years) and then the Temple will be made right again."

EXPLANATION
A human voice told Gabriel to tell Daniel the meaning of the vision. Daniel (called Son of man) was told the event related to the end times.

The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia. The male goat, the king of Greece. The large horn b/w his eyes the 1st king of the Greek Empire. The four new horns replacing the one means the one kingdom will break into 4 kingdoms, but none as great as the first.

At the end of their rule with their sin at its peak, a fierce king will rise to power. He will destroy leadership, be deceptive and arrogant, destroying many without warning. He will take on the Prince of princes, but will be taken down, but not by human power.

The vision of 2,300 evenings and mornings is true, but it won't happen for a long time.

RESPONSE
Daniel was sick for days after hearing this, greatly troubled, while performing his duties as king.

Promise: Good will prevail.

Ezekiel 10

Message: The Glory of the Lord leaves the temple. The glory of Israel was over them.

Time: Ezekiel sees a vision of the glory of the Lord, departing. 

What the Lord is Saying: Ezekiel sees some sort of vision of the glory of the Lord. He sees the angels and is told to take a handful of burning coals and scatter them over the city. From what I've seen so far in Ezekiel, he is receiving pictures of the judgment that is coming on Israel and Judah by the Chaldeans. Man thinks this judgment is coming from men, but it needs to be clear that this is the judgment from God worked out through men. And in no way does this mean that the men that are carrying it out are somehow holy. God uses what he wants to judge.

But, it is clear her that the Lord is at work. The angels had four faces, an ox, a human face, a lion face and the face of an eagle. Each of these forms obviously represented something. 

The glory of the Lord is seen leaving the temple. God is leaving these people by way of a chariot. This is significant. His presence is departing from them. 

Promise: The Lord carries out his plans. People think they know everything about God and try to keep God under wraps, but the Lord can move away from people. We must always trust in Him and surrender to Him.

Ezekiel 8

Message: Ezekiel is carried away by the Son of Man to see the abominations done by the chosen Israelite's.

Time: Ezekiel, before the elders of Judah, in his house.

What the Lord is Saying: Ezekiel saw a form of man before him, a vision of God, and the Son of Man took Ezekiel up with him to look to the north and see (an image of jealousy) the abominations being committed by the people of Israel. Ezekiel saw all the idols that the people had been worshiping. Before him were the leaders committing evil, women weeping for Tammuz (this signified that paganism had deeply affected the women of Israel), men with their backs to the temple worshiping the sun (this was obviously another pagan ritual to honor the sun with their backs to the temple). And there was also the idea that they think it is a big deal, but it is not.

Problem: People willfully reject the Lord, choosing anything else to worship.

Promise: God will be honored.