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There is a bumper sticker that reads: “I
am not ashamed to be seen with God.” I like that, but the real issue is
not how we are seen, but where we are focused. In your walk as a Christian
the most important thing is what you are seeing. David didn’t “see”
the giant. The three Hebrew children didn’t “see” the furnace. They
avowed their sights were on the “living God
of Israel.”
We are told, “Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and he
shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
We have God’s promise, “for
He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up
nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in
any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold
on you)! [Assuredly not!]”
Amplified Bible
Now we can put this Word into our minds,
using our imaginations to “see” God, (Isa. 26:3) and know that He is
with us. The Christian must be present to Him. It is not enough for
the Christian to know that God will never leave him; to know Jesus promised
“we (My Father and I)
will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
No. The Christian MUST BE PRESENT TO GOD in all life’s
circumstances. (See our album:
BEING PRESENT TO GOD) This
is a matter of “setting the mind”
(Romans 8:5-9; 12:2; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:2)
Do you remember when Peter walked on the
water toward Jesus? "And Peter . . . walked on the water to go to Jesus.” What
happened before Peter began to sink? “But
when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid." Peter
took his eyes off of Jesus and began to set his mind on the circumstances
more than on Jesus.
The wind was actually boisterous, the waves
were actually high, but Peter did not see them at first. He did not reckon
with them, he simply recognized his Lord and stepped out in recognition of
Him, and Peter walked on the water. I’ve never walked on the water.
Have you? Then he began to reckon with the actual things, and down he went
instantly. We can never afford to take our “eyes” (our imagination) off of
Jesus. We must ALWAYS be present to Him.
We step right out on God over some things,
then self-consideration enters in and down we go. If you are recognizing
your Lord, it is not your business how and where He engineers your
circumstances. As soon as you look at the “giant” to measure him, you are
overwhelmed, you cannot recognize Jesus, and the rebuke comes: "Wherefore
didst thou doubt?" Let actual circumstances be what they may,
keep recognizing Jesus, stay present to Him, maintain complete reliance on
Him.
If you debate for a second when God has
spoken, it is all over. Down you go. Never begin to say - "Well, I wonder
if He did speak?" Be reckless immediately; fling it all out on Him. You do
not know when His voice will come, but whenever the realization of God comes
in the faintest way imaginable, recklessly abandon yourself to Him. It is
only by abandon that you recognize Him. You will only realize His voice more
clearly by recklessness. Stop trying to see your RESPONSIBILITY in
this life. Better to have a RESPONSE-TO-HIS-ABILITY in you. Get out
of the boat immediately. Walk with your “eyes” on Him. Beware not to turn
toward the “boisterous wind.” Fix
your eyes on Jesus and remain present to Him.
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