ICS Daily Devotions
Practice Makes Perfect
A life of sanctification and consecration is a lifelong process and very much dependent on how much an individual is willing to die to their flesh and submit to the Lordship of Christ. If we do not renew our minds on these two aspects of our lives, then we may remain as spiritual infants. In fact, if we were to look at the timeline of our lives, we will see there are some recurring challenges that could be results of a lack of these two. Some of the challenges we face in life as Christians could be lessons in faith, lack of consecration and sanctification, and they reveal our character and the depth of our relationship with God.
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
George Müller was a German Christian who lived in England and was the director of Ashley Down Orphanage. He cared for 10,024 orphans in his lifetime, started 117 schools, and offered Christian education to 120,000 children, mostly orphans. Walking along the street, he saw parentless children living on the streets or in state-run poorhouses where they were treated badly. He felt God calling him to open an orphanage to care for the children.
George prayed, asking God to provide a building, people to oversee it, furniture, and money for food and clothing. God answered his prayers. The needs of the orphanage were met each day. Sometimes a wealthy person would send a large amount of money, or a child would give a small amount received as a gift or for doing chores. Many times, food, supplies or money came at the last minute, but God always provided without George telling anyone about these needs. He just prayed and waited on God.
Our lives are made up of one decision after another, some minor, some major. We must invite God to journey with us as pray through these decisions so that we don’t make a misstep. He should not only be the Saviour, He must also be the Lord of our lives. And this should be seen in the relationships we keep; in the activities we partake. We should be reflecting the light that we have received from Him and hopefully becoming more Christlike as we mature in our walk with Him.
One of the ways we practise this is by emulating George Müller. He waited on God and followed God’s leading, instead of going ahead, leading the way and asking God to bless his deeds.
John 5:19 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’.
Jesus kept really close to God and only did what He saw the Father do. May we be like Christ in this, and not put the cart before the horse.
Sermon Series: A Firm Footing
