Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 78
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
I
was relating recently in a sermon how “the peace of God” is of priceless value. It takes most Christians a long, long time to
come to the realization that if all we had was “the peace of God,” we would be
as “rich” as we could possibly be.
Michael
draws our attention to three of the most relative aspects of enjoying life as a
Christian…”a deeper love of God, a keener awareness of His grace and power, and
a renewed life of worship.”
Soak
on “the Hub” mentioned in Michael’s words and see if all three become a greater
reality for you!
Day 19
Back
to the Hub
And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:7
A
brother in Christ told me of his experience ten years ago when he woke up after
a stroke to find himself paralyzed on one side. He described his frustration,
anger, and bewilderment at his condition. Next, he related the end results of his stroke: a deeper love
of God, a keener awareness of His grace and power, and a renewed life of
worship. He concluded by exclaiming, “I wish everyone could know the
Lord this way!” I observed
his countenance and thought how if I could guarantee everyone who attended a
weekend seminar what this man had, I could charge a $10,000 registration fee
and pack the place. However, if I had to announce that the registration fee to
bring people back to the center was not $10,000, but a stroke, I am quite sure
that registration would drop off drastically.
The registration fee back to the center is
different in tone and severity for every person,
but might include something like the loss of a loved one, dealing with a
rebellious child, exhaustion from raising small children, illness, job
insecurities, or myriad other circumstances
that make us realize we need God alone in His rightful place back in the hub.
In Him alone we find our rest,
and no emphasis, doctrine,
or experience we previously looked to for producing abundant life can tempt us
back to be trusted. When others beckon us out by a new Jesus-plus
emphasis, we think, Enjoy your detour; I
am not leaving the center. We
learn that nothing is bad that follows Him or arises from our relationship with
Him, but anything
that goes ahead of Him, purportedly supporting Him, is to be avoided and feared.
We become voices for the
center. I often ask myself the question, “Michael, what do your friends
know you for? What emphasis stands out?” It prompts good reflection, for I want to be known for
promoting life in Christ with nothing that must be passed through before
getting to Him.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
It’s interesting that the Holy Spirit speaks through Paul to tell us “the
peace of God…will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” This is after he has said for us to “rejoice
in the Lord always” and “be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
(Phil. 4:4, 6) And then I think back to
God speaking to us through Isaiah in Is. 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” So, from virtually one end of the Bible to
the other, God’s peace and our mind are uniquely linked when we are centering
around the “hub” Michael so eloquently speaks of in this day’s writing.
One item worth great notice: Michael’s words speaking of the “registration
fee back to the center.” Yes, none of us
would “up front” choose one of those things mentioned, or a stroke, or
_______________ (there are other circumstances some could mention), yet those
who have “paid the fee” would never choose to go back to the “front” and miss
out on the three great results that have come for having gone through our
circumstance with God’s hand gripping ours all the way.
Look at the summary Michael gives us:
·
We need God
alone in His rightful place back in the hub
·
In Him alone we
find our rest
·
Nothing can
produce what God can produce for us
·
Nothing bad
follows Christ
·
Nothing bad
arises out of our relationship with Him
·
We become voices
for the center when we have Jesus as the hub of our life
I think all of us join Michael in “wanting to be known for promoting
life in Christ with nothing that must be passed through before getting to Him.” Amen.
To
access ALL past weekly blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com Look to the
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NOTICE: a new 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
leemccm@gmail.com
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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