Saturday, January 12, 2008

FWD: Morning Manna (Jan. 13); BP: Phil. 2:5-16; RBTTY: Mt. 9:18-38; Gen.

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 



-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:17:13 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Jan. 13); BP: Phil. 2:5-16; RBTTY: Mt. 9:18-38; Gen.
 

January 13                                                                                                                                         “Let”

 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.”

                                                                                                                                              Philippians 2:5

     It’s a little word, but its implications are mind-boggling and life-changing.

     Let.”

     It’s a three-letter word, but more powerful than the largest atomic bomb that’s ever been or ever will be assembled.  Why is that?  Because it’s a combining of God’s Word with our will—a surrendering of ourselves to Him “as a living sacrifice, wholly, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable worship/service” (Rom. 12:1).

 

     Look at the word again:

     “Let.”

     Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “allowing to be used, to permit, a removing of a barrier or hindrance, giving permission or access to, etc.”  Thus, it’s an intentional act of surrender—a willing “release,” if you will.  And, anyone who’s walked the “highway of holiness” (Is. 35:8) knows that this will not happen easily—and it certainly won’t happen without a fight (Rom. 7:7-24).

 

     The “flesh” wars against the spirit.  The mind wars against the will.  Our “old man” struggles with the “new man.”  The world, the devil and our three, spiritual Achilles’ Tendons (“the lust of the flesh, eyes and pride of life”I Jn. 2:16) all combine to try and prevent us from “letting go and letting God” or “losing control to His control.”

 

     Thus, it’s clear that today’s Manna will not—yea, cannot—become a reality in our lives without our willing it to be so.  “Letting His mind be us” requires our being “transformed in our mind” (Rom. 12:2) through daily Bible study and prayer.  This means setting aside a regular time each day to get alone with our Lord. . .which means turning off the television. . .getting away from the computer. . .putting down that book or magazine. . .and intentionally “seeking first the Kingdom of God” (Mt. 6:33).

 

     Likewise, even then, the battle will rage in our mind.  We’ll read a few verses and just as quickly realize we don’t even remember what we read.  Why?  Because we’re distracted.  Our mind’s wandering.  We’re thinking about other things.  That’s why we must “cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ” (II Cor. 10:5). 

 

     To do this we must focus. . . “chew the cud” on each word, phrase and/or section (Ps. 1:2). . .asking the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Word.  Slowly, but surely, our minds will cease racing and our hearts will grow calmer.  His Presence will ease our troubled mind and lift the burdens from our heart.

 

     Only then can we understand what it means to “let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).  And, only then can we effectively “let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in Heaven” (Mt. 5:16).  May today be the day we pray, “Let it be, Lord, let it be.”

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