"Nevertheless, even many of the leading men believed in Him [as Savior and Messiah], but because of the Pharisees they would not confess it, for fear that [if they acknowledged Him openly] they would be put out of the synagogue (excommunicated); for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God." (John 12:42-43).
We've all learned the Scripture,"For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words, the Son of man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the [heaven-ly] Father and of the angels." (Luke 9:26). Like gentle lambs, we follow near and far; you are counted among them. But isn't our faith in view of the unbeliever intended to be beyond initial identification with salvation?
The problem isn't renunciation of faith in front of the lost; we claim Christ, and that's great. Thesinfulness of our condition is that we deny Him among each other. We shrink back from following Him, not to the cross [we have died to sin] but in the completion of our experience in His victorious resurrection and ascension. We recoil because we're afraid of looking like fools in front of other believers.
We shun walking in the power of the Holy Spirit [lest we be put out of the synagogue], so we reason things out in our own minds concern-ing His work in the earth. Weren't we told when we got saved, "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17-18).
"They will"; He commanded it. Yet for fear of their faces, we have turned back; traditions of men making His Word to no effect. (Mark 7:13). It's not my intention to make the gifts of the Spirit our aim, merely that we walk in the full provision of both the cross and resurrection. It's His will. We know that love is the more excellent way; do everything with unselfish hearts bathed in the love of God. But from love...do. "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." (James 2:17). Faith worketh through love. (Galatians 5:6).
So it's not the power we pursue but Jesus, the giver of all good things, and His unconditional love. "By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another." (John 13:35). But while we're seeking, let there be an expectation of finding Him in His glorified condition. Find Him in the unhindered power He wills to work in and through you; don't be afraid to walk in the boldness of it.
Do you live a life in the demonstrative power of the resurrection of Jesus? If your life is luke-warm, devoid of power, He will surely spew you out. Does your faith hide in the shadows so as to draw no undue attention? "But my righteous one shall live by faith; and if he draws back [shrink-ing in fear], My soul has no delight in him." (Hebrews 10:38).
If you've come to Jesus at night like Nicodemus, step boldly from the cover of darkness into His marvelous light and be baptized into new life. Abide in Him as He abides in you. Be one with Him as He and the Father are One. Ask what-ever you will in His Name, and the Father will give it to you. (John 15:7). Ask that you would live and move in the full provision of His passion and resurrection, His ascension and intercession.
John me next Friday for another Devotional In His Word
No comments:
Post a Comment