It's About Honoring Jesus in Meeting Mr. Jesus Christ

October 19, 2013 Oh Lord I cry out to You, be closer to me, reveal yourself, strengthen our bond for I am alone, in that place where only the intimacy of being with you can fill my soul, comfort my mind and restore me whole. The earth has shaken and those who are my rock have rolled into places, some even crevices where the darkness is such they too are alone with you. It is your season Lord, to quite, to bring solid one-on-one time with you. Just as the leaves are fast to change and fall, exposing the beauty you do create, too you show how quickly I can become dormant or even dead if my soul does not partake in your bread morning and night.

I am in a quite place, my own desert to have time alone. I need to be alone, with you Lord, (that time when others see my withdrawing, they mean well and desire to see my hurts abolished- for it makes them feel comforted that they might have helped a fellow Christian's heart, I still can do more than shut them out) -only you can heal me from the utter emptiness that fills me now.

I come to you now my God, Saviour and Lord. Stay with me during this time I take away to listen, pardon my transgressions, though they are few I have been headstrong in giving them up. I seem to hold fast to them, especially with those who won't tolerate my childish game and silence me to time out, thinking time,. Redeem the broken slats I have caused in the bridge between my mentor and me, strengthen the bond that teaches, restrain the one that builds distance. Keep my mind of repentance, armor my saints against my childish and hurt ways. Grow my faith Lord that all you have given me is to better me and only you will take away what takes me or others off the path you have built. I lift my head to you and offer great thanksgiving for all the mercies you have rained down on me, for all the times you abide in me when any other would have cast me to the ground. Lord, Lord, oh my Lord, teach me to love you the way you love me. Amen

The Christian journey is not an easy one. I was told this week I need to just be focused on being in love with and honoring Jesus. So true, not so easy for an arrogant person like me.

These are lessons God sent me this week among others. To me they are random, but when on the page Providence cannot be denied. Bless all those who read on.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

"Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine."—John 21:12.

In these words the believer is invited to a holy nearness to Jesus. "Come and dine," implies the same table, the same meat; ay, and sometimes it means to sit side by side, and lean our head upon the Saviour's bosom. It is being brought into the banqueting-house, where waves the banner of redeeming love. "Come and dine," gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because the only food that we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is Himself. Oh, what union is this! It is a depth which reason cannot fathom, that we thus feed upon Jesus. "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him." It is also an invitation to enjoy fellowship with the saints. Christians may differ on a variety of points, but they have all one spiritual appetite; and if we cannot all feel alike, we can all feed alike on the bread of life sent down from heaven. At the table of fellowship with Jesus we are one bread and one cup. As the loving cup goes round we pledge one another heartily therein. Get nearer to Jesus, and you will find yourself linked more and more in spirit to all who are like yourself, supported by the same heavenly manna. If we were more near to Jesus we should be more near to one another. We likewise see in these words the source of strength for every Christian. To look at Christ is to live, but for strength to serve Him you must "come and dine." We labour under much unnecessary weakness on account of neglecting this percept of the Master. We none of us need to put ourselves on low diet; on the contrary, we should fatten on the marrow and fatness of the gospel that we may accumulate strength therein, and urge every power to its full tension in the Master's service. Thus, then, if you would realize nearness to Jesus, union with Jesus, love to His people and strength from Jesus, "come and dine" with Him by faith. C.H. Spurgeon

Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. Jeremiah 24:4-7

And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 1 Tim. 6:2

One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple. Psalms 27:4

Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the Lord. 1 Samuel 26:20

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

"Thy paths drop fatness."—Psalm 65:11.

Many are "the paths of the Lord" which "drop fatness," but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, "My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me." Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy-seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong—if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly grace. Much alone, and you will have much assurance; little alone with Jesus, your religion will be shallow, polluted with many doubts and fears, and not sparkling with the joy of the Lord. Since the soul-enriching path of prayer is open to the very weakest saint; since no high attainments are required; since you are not bidden to come because you are an advanced saint, but freely invited if you be a saint at all; see to it, dear reader, that you are often in the way of private devotion. Be much on your knees, for so Elijah drew the rain upon famished Israel's fields. There is another especial path dropping with fatness to those who walk therein, it is the secret walk of communion. Oh! the delights of fellowship with Jesus! Earth hath no words which can set forth the holy calm of a soul leaning on Jesus' bosom. Few Christians understand it, they live in the lowlands and seldom climb to the top of Nebo: they live in the outer court, they enter not the holy place, they take not up the privilege of priesthood. At a distance they see the sacrifice, but they sit not down with the priest to eat thereof, and to enjoy the fat of the burnt offering. But, reader, sit thou ever under the shadow of Jesus; come up to that palm tree, and take hold of the branches thereof; let thy beloved be unto thee as the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, and thou shalt be satisfied as with marrow and fatness. O Jesus, visit us with Thy salvation! C.H. Charles Spurgeon