He rose from the table, and advancing, basin and spoon in hand, to the master, said somewhat alarmed at his own temerity-
"pleas, sir, I want some more."The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupified astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder, and the boys with fear.
"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.
Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."
The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms and shrieked aloud for the beadle.
(Dickens, 1837).
The interpretation of the dramatic response Oliver received in a country like Nigeria would be "HEEY! ABOMINATION O!", and believe it or not this is the Christian experience that many of us have had.
How dare you desire to know God beyond what the Pastor has taught! Have your quiet time in the morning, pray before you sleep at night all the other 'involve God in every part of your day' is just overrated, it's for the fanatics! "O so you are now one of those extremely spiritual ones huh?". "Leave all this biblical stuff till Sunday, haven't you had enough already?".
The truth is most of us are far from satisfied. We know there is much more of God to be seen, but we are so scared of advancing in Him because of how we will be ostracised by those around us especially and unfortunately by our "siblings" in Christ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9EyuNFN0vg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Look back at your life and try to remember the times you made giant leaps of advancement in your relationship with God. How many friends where as comfortable with you as they had been before. I'm sure a few but definitely not the majority.
Are you hungry for more of God? I am! In fact I told Him about it last night, told Him I needed to see Him with much more clarity, told Him I was no longer satisfied with where I was. Told Him: "Father I have read about You and seen You manifest in my life over again. I have seen that you are absolutely awesome and amazing, but I know I have seen less than a micro glimpse of You, so here I am again asking for more."
The amazing thing about our God is that He is not like the master in Oliver's situation. God says "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it" (Psalms81:10b), He says "I will pour water on thirsty land..." (Isaiah44:3), "If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink"(John7:37), "All the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out" (John6:37).
Come boldly (Heb4:16) and freely receive unlimited access to the unlimited God who alone is able to limitlessly satisfy your hunger for more. The well will never run dry, you will never thirst again as long as you stay connected (John4).
Just like Oliver, do not let the fear and the reservations or even the disapproval of others get in the way of your getting the true nourishment and satisfaction you need. They will stay unsatisfied and malnourished while you go from strength to strength. Pray for them but do not let them hold you down. Remember, God is not like the unkind master who hurt Oliver because of his audacity to ask for more. He will not reject your plea, but instead He will welcome you with open arms and fill you to the point that you will begin to overflow, and then be used by Him to feed others. (John7:38).
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt5:6). We should have the Psalms42:1&2 attitude all day, and every single day for the rest of our lives.
Today as always Be Spekky...Be Spectacular!
How dare you desire to know God beyond what the Pastor has taught! Have your quiet time in the morning, pray before you sleep at night all the other 'involve God in every part of your day' is just overrated, it's for the fanatics! "O so you are now one of those extremely spiritual ones huh?". "Leave all this biblical stuff till Sunday, haven't you had enough already?".
The truth is most of us are far from satisfied. We know there is much more of God to be seen, but we are so scared of advancing in Him because of how we will be ostracised by those around us especially and unfortunately by our "siblings" in Christ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9EyuNFN0vg&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Look back at your life and try to remember the times you made giant leaps of advancement in your relationship with God. How many friends where as comfortable with you as they had been before. I'm sure a few but definitely not the majority.
Are you hungry for more of God? I am! In fact I told Him about it last night, told Him I needed to see Him with much more clarity, told Him I was no longer satisfied with where I was. Told Him: "Father I have read about You and seen You manifest in my life over again. I have seen that you are absolutely awesome and amazing, but I know I have seen less than a micro glimpse of You, so here I am again asking for more."
The amazing thing about our God is that He is not like the master in Oliver's situation. God says "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it" (Psalms81:10b), He says "I will pour water on thirsty land..." (Isaiah44:3), "If anyone thirsts let him come to Me and drink"(John7:37), "All the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out" (John6:37).
Come boldly (Heb4:16) and freely receive unlimited access to the unlimited God who alone is able to limitlessly satisfy your hunger for more. The well will never run dry, you will never thirst again as long as you stay connected (John4).
Just like Oliver, do not let the fear and the reservations or even the disapproval of others get in the way of your getting the true nourishment and satisfaction you need. They will stay unsatisfied and malnourished while you go from strength to strength. Pray for them but do not let them hold you down. Remember, God is not like the unkind master who hurt Oliver because of his audacity to ask for more. He will not reject your plea, but instead He will welcome you with open arms and fill you to the point that you will begin to overflow, and then be used by Him to feed others. (John7:38).
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matt5:6). We should have the Psalms42:1&2 attitude all day, and every single day for the rest of our lives.
Today as always Be Spekky...Be Spectacular!
No comments:
Post a Comment