Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 202
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
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All
of us love baby chicks! Barbara and I
cannot go to a couple of hardware and country stores in our town at certain
times of the year without checking to see if they have any baby chicks in the
store. They are so cute…so tiny…so
vulnerable. The last time we saw some
there was one little chick being attacked by others in the container…I looked
for a store employee who came and “rescued” the little fellow. Chicks need nurturing and protection. Jesus speaks of this in today's text…
DAY 38
Chicks!
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones
those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together,
the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.
--Matthew 23:37
An interesting thing
about eggs is that not every hatchling is equally successful. One chick will
come out first, a second starts out painfully slowly, one can only get his head
out, and some never come out. Yet all are given birth by, and loved by, the
mother. I have noticed the same thing to be true in Christians. Some come in
glory, some struggle, some never come, and some just die. I am saying this only
to acknowledge my ignorance; I neither have answers nor believe faith calls for
answers. I have engaged in discipleship all these years and have found
believers I could place in all of the above categories, for I know there are those who love
Jesus and just do not get very far. The legalists would call them lost.
Yes, they will straightforwardly call them lost until they find in their own
families those who are “lost.” Any who have ever had a suicide or an early death
among their loved ones know what I am talking about. I have personally known people who committed
suicide. I will not say that most of them were unbelievers. To me, they were believers who just
could not get any more than their heads out of the shell; for a variety of
reasons they just never could rise above their circumstances, lying emotions,
or the voice of the enemy. Yet I believe that I will see them in heaven.
Others may have a different opinion. Remember, I am not saying that I
understand; I am only making observations. Anyone who has risen above difficult things in his own life
should ask why; what was it that enabled him to do so? I do not believe he will rightfully
credit anything other than the grace of God. Well, amen. I believe that all the chicks
were given birth by and loved by the Father.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
In
this day’s writing Michael draws our attention to a very interesting
scripture. Its context is Christ talking
about “the teachers of the law and the Pharisees” and the seven “woes” to them He
mentions just prior to our text verse…for abusing the people. In all, Jesus speaks of the “loading down”
and “wearing down” of the people instead of edifying and being constructive in
their teaching and “ministry.” The end
result: people in bondage. Jesus always
wants to come and bring freedom and protection.
Jesus is a 180-degree difference from these teachers and Pharisees.
Notice
two crucial items Jesus mentions:
1.
the legalists kill and stone THE PROPHETS & THOSE SENT TO THE PEOPLE
2.
I wanted to gather your children and YOU WERE UNWILLING
God
SENT the prophets and others to teach, guide, and protect. The legalists hated them, and were UNWILLING
to let the people hear them. No wonder
our Lord had such disdain (Webster Dictionary: “a feeling of strong dislike or
disapproval of someone or something you think does not deserve respect”) for these religious
leaders.
And
Michael points out legalists he has known who have called those who commit
suicide as “lost/unbelievers.” I love
and appreciate Michael saying “I will not say most of them were unbelievers…they
were believers who just could not get any more than their heads out of the
shell…” I know Michael had that
perception and understanding because he believed and taught that being a
believer/Christian is about the new birth, not anything we do in this life. Legalists who call someone who has committed
suicide an unbeliever raise all sorts of doubts about their ever having been
spiritually born again. All “chicks” who
are a Christian have been “given birth by and loved by the Father”!
And
Michael points out three aspects of life that can be difficult, if not
devastating:
1.
circumstances
2.
lying emotions
3.
the voice of the enemy
These
three are why the teaching of Michael Wells IS SO important for the multitudes
around the world who have been misled and mistreated.
And
Michael gives us the bottom line as to how those who have been fortunate to
rise above such difficulties should respond and reply:
“Anyone
who has risen above difficult things in his own life should ask why;
what was it that enabled him to do so? I do
not believe he will rightfully
credit
anything other than the grace of God.”
Oh, how sweet, Amazing Grace. Unfathomable riches of God.
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital
“C” by logging onto www .leemccm.blogspot.com
NOTICE: another blog on
Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. You can access by logging onto
www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches,
TX 75963 936-559-5696
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