Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength (Vol. 1) - #
286
Michael’s book is
available through:
ABIDING LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Littleton, Colorado
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Michael’s writing, Day 253, is a REALLY
interesting and REALLY great one. I
wonder how many of us follow the wisdom of this venture into truth?
DAY 253
Take the Blame!
Then let me bear the blame before my father forever.
--Genesis 44:32
There is much said
today about the person who is a blame-taker.
We are told that blame is something that we are not to wear, and indeed, so few
believers are willing to take the blame for their condition, yet there is a measure of integrity
that comes from being willing to take blame.
Often when I have
been discipling a person God has revealed something about him He was not yet
revealing to the person. Therefore, I did not mention it but stored it in the
back of my mind. I know
that I have no right to bring out a shortcoming that He is not revealing, for
with His revelation will always come the power to overcome it. When He
reveals a failure, it is not a burden, for His power accompanies it, and with the power comes hope.
My point is that
oftentimes others have annoying, carnal, self-centered behavior that we see and
they cannot. Why? Obviously, it is to work something in us. However,
instead of looking to the Lord and within, we make the mistake of looking to
them and wondering at their condition.
Have you ever thought that you are to blame for your
response to carnal persons? That their behavior is revealing your heart and
carnality? Has their behavior revealed bitterness, lack
of love, and your own carnality? You are to blame for your response! Do not fret about seeing others’
behavior; your behavior is the issue. When you are tempted to reject
others who offend you, remember there is probably a bigger fish to fry, and
that fish is you!
There is another aspect of blame-taking that is
legitimate. II Samuel 12:4-7, “‘Now a traveler came to the
rich man, and he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, to
prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; rather he took the poor man’s ewe
lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’ Then David’s anger
burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the LORD lives,
surely the man who has done this deserves to die. And he must make restitution
for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.’ Nathan
then said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel, “It is
I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand
of Saul.”’”
Would David have judged another man’s failure had he
known he was going to hear, “You are the man”?
Unfortunately, I have spent a good part of my life judging others. I once had
the opportunity to question an elderly saint, “Why do believers not finish
well?”
He took a pen in his
hand and asked, “Who holds the pen, who keeps it from falling, and who moves it
from place to place?”
“You do,” I
responded.
He then “walked” the
pen over to “look” at another pen that was lying down and had the upright pen
say, “You pathetic pen! Look at you lying there; what a failure you must be!”
Then the elderly gentleman dropped the pen he was holding and said that the pen
is like a man who is
touched by the glory of God, held by the glory of God, and moved by the glory
of God, but then who takes the credit himself. All God need do is let go, and the man is as flat as
those he judges.
Man lives in pride, becoming a god unto himself and a god to others! A
chill ran down my spine, for I could hear the voice of the prophet saying, “You
are the man.” The only reason
I have not left my family or have ever ministered to others or had a revelation
of grace is that the glory of God was holding me. When I see hypocritical
believers, those caught up in adultery, those with rebellious children, or
those steeped in carnality, I just want to shut up! If I stand, it is not because of my
own great strength and wisdom, but only because of the glory of God.
We can have no pride except in His goodness and glory.
As abiding believers, we
do not want only to preach that there is nothing the nearness of Jesus will not
cure; we want to demonstrate it, showing that we believe in the glory of God.
“Lord, I take the blame for judging! But I have come to a place where I am
extremely frightened and want nothing to do with judging.”
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Well, amen.
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