The Opposition of the Natural | My Utmost For His Highest

The Opposition of the Natural | My Utmost For His Highest:

"Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good. It is the good that opposes the best."

As we grow in grace in this journey, we might discover the pace slowing and a little more labored. It's funny how we don't realize just how wrong we are about what we believe is right. As Oswald Chambers points out in this devotion, "The things that are right, noble, and good from the natural standpoint are the very things that keep us from being God’s best." The very fact that we believe our moral compass is true and right is at the root of our condition from the beginning. We all easily identify sin in it's various forms! Yet we fail to see the very thing that keeps us from being God's best.

This point in your walk may have already passed where you had to face this reality. How did you deal with it? Did you face this moment truthfully under God's light? Did you confess it and leave it at the cross? Did you hedge and fall back on your morality and say, "I didn't hear that right" or ignore it all together?

Are you facing this point in your journey right now? Is the Holy Spirit speaking to you that you haven't yet denied yourself? Jesus said, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me." This means everything. Anything we put ahead of Christ is sinful. The work we face, moment by moment and day by day IS keeping our focus on Christ.

Knowing Christ and keeping our eyes focused on Him as we do everything in this life is our greatest challenge. As we journey in this light and path, HE provides us with courage, grace and strength. Apart from HIM we will fail and live defeated lives. He came to provide for us restoration to the Father and in HIM a victorious life here as well. In HIM is victory and peace and loving grace.

Ask our Father today, right now for HIS help in dealing with anything that we're holding onto that stands in our path as an obstacle to HIS best for our life. His best should be the best that we seek and we will only reach this point with HIM. "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from ME you can do nothing." (emphasis added)

In Chris alone we journey to live in His presence and in doing so we draw closer. This journey defines who we are and how we define our life and success. Seeing who we are through the eyes and heart of God and not self.

Blessings & Peace

~Robert