Day 181 - Lesser Versus Greater

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries                         LMCM

Nacogdoches, Texas                                                           Gal. 2:20  KJV

Thoughts on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 23

         

Michael’s book is available through:

Abiding Life Ministries International

Littleton, Colorado

(303) 972-0859       almi@abidinglife.com

Michael Wells could pinpoint like none other a small difference, a small focus, which when the “lesser” was preferred over the “greater”…Michael could show just why so many lives were snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  May we seek fellowship with Christ above all else, and let “all that needs to happen” happen!

DAY 181

Lesser Versus Greater

For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. --Romans 1:25

In seminars I like to emphasize the denial of self and spend a good bit of time examining and understanding the self that is to be denied. Denial of self is important to ministry and to the lives of every believer. The way of self is not the Way! Daily there are families, lives, and churches being destroyed because of self. However, we have a saying that lesser truth must always give way to greater truth. The denial of self, exchanged life, and abiding are all truths, but not the greatest truth. Every believer must be careful not to worship a lesser truth but allow the lesser truth to bring him to the greatest truth. We can run the risk of worshiping and serving something created rather than the Creator.

I once read a list of what it means to live in self-denial. The problem was that self-denial was portrayed as the greater truth. The article emphasized that we must be forgotten, neglected, disregarded, bear every annoyance, be content with bad food, never refer to ourselves, look for correction and reproof, sound out every bit of rebellion in our hearts, and so on. True, but a lesser truth, for there was nothing in the article about Christ. As we fellowship with Him, all the above that needs to happen does happen. 

I will not spend the day focused on self-denial. As I have mentioned before, there are two ways to be controlled by self. One is by making every attempt to satisfy it, and the other is through doing everything to avoid it. Either way, it is worshipped by having attention. God is always to be the focus, and to the surprise of many, there are elements of self with which today He is not concerned about dealing. We must make the greater truth our focus, and then we may be assured that all lesser truth will not be neglected.

Every time I hear or see Michael mention “focus,” my mind instantly goes to “the hands” illustration he so often used.  Those of you who know Michael remember:  “The right hand is Jesus, the left hand is my problem.  When my focus is on my right hand/Jesus, then I can’t see my left hand/problem (he would shift the left to be ‘behind’ the right where the left hand was hidden).  But when my left hand/problem becomes my focus, then I can’t see my right hand/Jesus (of course that meant he shifted his left hand in front of his right hand, to where his right hand was hidden).  And when Jesus is my focus…”  Whatever he was trying to emphasize, he got the point across with that “hand” illustration.

Crazy…life is that simple.  God has made it that simple.  FOCUS ON GOD and FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD is our work.  God takes care of all the rest.  We have to learn how much HE wants to do for us.

Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point               Red – GP, Greatest Promises

Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches           Pink – PV, Priceless Victory

Lee McDowell Christian Ministries

P. O. Box 633244    Nacogdoches, Tx 75963                                    936-559-5696