For Thought and Meditation - Monday, November 15

Good morning all. Today's message reminded me of how much further I need to go. Have a safe and blessed day.

“What Is That to You?”
By Oswald Chambers
Peter…said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" Jesus said to him, "…what is that to you? You follow Me." —John 21:21-22

One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, “He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn’t.” You put your hand right in front of God’s permissive will to stop it, and then God says, “What is that to you?” Is there stagnation in your spiritual life? Don’t allow it to continue, but get into God’s presence and find out the reason for it. You will possibly find it is because you have been interfering in the life of another— proposing things you had no right to propose, or advising when you had no right to advise. When you do have to give advice to another person, God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit. Your part is to maintain the right relationship with God so that His discernment can come through you continually for the purpose of blessing someone else.

Most of us live only within the level of consciousness— consciously serving and consciously devoted to God. This shows immaturity and the fact that we’re not yet living the real Christian life. Maturity is produced in the life of a child of God on the unconscious level, until we become so totally surrendered to God that we are not even aware of being used by Him. When we are consciously aware of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, we have yet another level to reach— a level where all awareness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is completely eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint— a saint is consciously dependent on God.

awesome message and devotional!!! Youch!!!!!!

Amen, I praise God for all He gives me and does for me!

Dont think for a second that I dont read these each and every day sir. i love my devotional each day and it starts here! every single day!

Ditto, i look for these every morning befor I start my day. Very encouraging. Keep em coming!

Thanks guys. I'm doing my best. It's as important to me as it is to you. I'll keep it up as long as the "river don't rise" and the internet stays connected.

Am I understanding this correctly? If it is God's plan to have someone suffer, we are not to interfere.

So, if suffering is part of God's plan for a person, are we moving against God's will when we try to address it?

I would like some help in understanding this. PM's are preferred as I do not wish derail this post.

Thanks,

Don, your not derailing at all.
I believe:
"God will advise through you with the direct understanding of His Spirit."
Go in peace.

I too have a hard time grasping this! I ask for Gods' leading in these events, but am I stepping out of bounds by acting? Sometimes these great philosophers are too deep for poor simple me to understand.