I have really enjoyed going through our M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan together. I love how we are able to have glimpses of the whole narrative of the Bible through this plan in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. I pray that the Lord has been revealing to you His power through His Word. For those of you who are new to NCFC and would like a systematic plan to read the Bible in a year, please ask any of the greeters and/or pastors for a reading plan card. It is truly awesome!
On top of this plan, I often enjoy reading blogs, articles, and other resources about the “hot” topics of Christianity. It’s helpful for me as a pastor to see what other pastors are thinking about as well. Recently, I stumbled across “My Utmost For His Highest”, a day to day devotional written by Oswald Chambers, a Scottish evangelist, teacher, and author. Here is a devotional that I was very moved by:
“I have appeared to you for this purpose . . .—Acts 26:16
The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).
When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ.Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).”
I am constantly reminded and in awe that we are able, by Christ crucified, to have a relationship with Almighty God. Think on it… a relationship that involves communication, happiness, sorrow, laughter, tears, intimacy, etc. It’s available to you and me! What an amazing thing that Christ came down to reconcile creation to Creator, to give us hope and purpose and furthermore use us for His glory. I find these promises in the Word of God, the Bible, that we so often take for granted. I encourage and challenge you to read the Word and pray for faith to know that this is God’s very words spoken to and for us that we may have life and life to the full. God bless.
From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
January 27, 2013