My Utmost for His Highest in Crewe, England [Great Britain], United Kingdom "Going Through Spiritual Confusion/By Spiritual Confusion” by Oswald Chambers for Monday, 12 September 2016

My Utmost for His Highest in Crewe, England [Great Britain], United Kingdom "Going Through Spiritual Confusion/By Spiritual Confusion” by Oswald Chambers for Monday, 12 September 2016

Ye know not what ye ask.[Matthew 20:22]
There are times in spiritual life when there is confusion, and it is no way out to say that there ought not to be confusion. It is not a question of right and wrong, but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only by going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants.
The Shrouding of His Friendship (Luke 11:5-8). Jesus gave the illustration of the man who looked as if he did not care for his friend, and He said that that is how the Heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think He is an unkind friend, but remember He is not; the time will come when everything will be explained. There is a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller communion. When God looks completely shrouded, will you hang on in confidence in Him?
The Shadow on His Fatherhood (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus says there are times when your Father will appear as if He were an unnatural father, as if He were callous and indifferent, but remember He is not; I have told you — “Everyone that asketh receiveth.” If there is a shadow on the face of the Father just now, hang onto it that He will ultimately give His clear revealing and justify Himself in all that He permitted.
The Strangeness of His Faithfulness (Luke 18:1-8). “When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?” Will He find the faith which banks on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand off in faith believing that what Jesus said is true, though in the meantime you do not under stand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you ask.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

The root of faith is the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest snares is the idea that God is sure to lead us to success. [My Utmost for His Highest, March 19, 761 L]

Bible in One Year: Proverbs 13-15; 2 Corinthians 5
Proverbs 13:1 A son who heeds his father’s discipline is wise,

    but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2 A [good] man enjoys good as a result of what he says,

    but the essence of the treacherous is violence.

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

    but one who talks too much comes to ruin.

4 The lazy person wants but doesn’t have;

    the diligent get their desires filled.

5 A righteous person hates lying,

    but the wicked is vile and disgraceful.

6 Righteousness protects him whose way is honest,

    but wickedness brings down the sinner.

7 There are those with nothing who pretend they are rich,

    also those with great wealth who pretend they are poor.

8 The rich man may have to ransom his life,

    but a poor man gets no threats.

9 The light of the righteous [shines] joyfully,

    but the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

10 Insolence produces only strife,

    but wisdom is found with those who take advice.

11 Wealth gotten by worthless means dwindles away,

    but he who amasses it by hard work will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

    but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 He who despises a word will suffer for it,

    but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of a wise man is a fountain of life,

    enabling one to avoid deadly traps.

15 Good common sense produces grace,

    but the way of the treacherous is rough.

16 Every cautious person acts with knowledge,

    but a fool parades his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into evil,

    but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame are for him who won’t be taught,

    but he who heeds reproof will be honored.

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

    but turning away from evil is abhorrent to fools.

20 He who walks with the wise will become wise,

    but the companion of fools will suffer.

21 Evil pursues sinners,

    but prosperity will reward the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,

    but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 The fields of the poor may yield much food,

    but some are swept away because of injustice.

24 He who fails to use a stick hates his son,

    but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 The righteous person eats his fill,

    but the belly of the wicked is empty.

14:1 Every wise woman builds up her home,

    but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2 A person with upright conduct fears Adonai,

    but a person who is devious scorns him.

3 From the mouth of a fool sprouts pride,

    but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean;

    but much is produced by the strength of an ox.

5 An honest witness will not lie,

    but a false witness lies with every breath.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

    but knowledge comes easily to someone with discernment.

7 Keep clear of a fool,

    for you won’t hear a sensible word from him.

8 The wisdom of the cautious makes him know where he is going,

    but the folly of fools misleads them.

9 Guilt offerings make a mockery of fools;

    but among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

    and no stranger can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

    but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There can be a way which seems right to a person,

    but at its end are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart can be sad,

    and joy may end in sorrow.

14 A backslider is filled up with his own ways,

    but a good person gets satisfaction from himself.

15 One who doesn’t think believes every word,

    but the cautious understands his steps.

16 A wise person fears and turns away from evil,

    but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

17 He who is quick-tempered does stupid things,

    and one who does vile things is hated.

18 Thoughtless people inherit folly,

    but the cautious are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow down before the good,

    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor are disliked even by their peers,

    but the rich have many friends.

21 He who despises his fellow sins,

    but he who shows compassion to the humble is happy.

22 Won’t those who plot evil go astray?

    But grace and truth are for those who plan good.

23 In all work there is profit,

    but mere talk produces only poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,

    but the folly of fools is just that — folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

    but a liar misdirects [judgment].

26 In the fear of Adonai is powerful security;

    for his children there will be a place of refuge.

27 The fear of Adonai is a fountain of life

    enabling one to avoid deadly traps.

28 A king’s glory lies in having many subjects;

    if the prince’s people are few, it is his ruin.

29 Being slow to anger goes with great understanding,

    being quick-tempered makes folly still worse.

30 A tranquil mind gives health to the body,

    but envy rots the bones.

31 The oppressor of the poor insults his maker,

    but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

32 The wicked are brought down by their wrongdoing,

    but the righteous can be confident even at death.

33 Wisdom is at rest in a person with discernment,

    but in fools it has to call attention to itself.

34 Righteousness makes a nation great,

    but sin degrades any people.

35 A king shows favor to a servant with good sense,

    but his wrath strikes one who shames [him].

15:1 A gentle response deflects fury,

    but a harsh word makes tempers rise.

2 The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well,

    but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.

3 The eyes of Adonai are everywhere,

    watching the evil and the good.

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

    but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,

    but he who heeds warnings is prudent.

6 The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure,

    but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

    not so the hearts of fools.

8 Adonai detests the sacrifices of the wicked

    but delights in the prayers of the upright.

9 Adonai detests the way of the wicked

    but loves anyone who pursues righteousness.

10 Discipline is severe for one who leaves the way,

    and whoever can’t stand correction will die.

11 Sh’ol and Abaddon lie open to Adonai;

    so how much more people’s hearts!

12 A scorner does not like being corrected;

    he won’t go to the wise [for advice].

13 A glad heart makes a face happy,

    but heartache breaks the spirit.

14 The mind of a person with discernment seeks knowledge,

    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 For the poor, every day is hard;

    but the good-hearted have a perpetual feast.

16 Better little with the fear of Adonai

    than great wealth coupled with worry.

17 Better a vegetable dinner with love

    than a stall-fattened ox with hate.

18 Hot-tempered people stir up strife,

    but patient people quiet quarrels.

19 The lazy person’s way seems overgrown by thorns,

    but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son is a joy to his father,

    and only a fool despises his mother.

21 Folly appeals to one who lacks sense,

    but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.

22 Without deliberation, plans go wrong;

    but with many advisers, they succeed.

23 People take pleasure in anything they say;

    but a word at the right time, how good it is!

24 For the prudent, the path of life goes upward;

    thus he avoids Sh’ol below.

25 Adonai will pull down the houses of the proud,

    but preserves intact the widow’s boundaries.

26 Adonai detests plans to do evil,

    but kind words are pure.

27 The greedy for gain brings trouble to his home,

    but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,

    but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil stuff.

29 Adonai is far from the wicked,

    but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.

30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart,

    and good news invigorates the bones.

31 He who heeds life-giving correction

    will be at home in the company of the wise.

32 He who spurns discipline detests himself,

    but he who listens to correction grows in understanding.

33 The discipline of wisdom is fear of Adonai,

    so before being honored, a person must be humble.

2 Corinthians 

5:1 We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth is torn down, we have a permanent building from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven. 2 For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan with desire to have around us the home from heaven that will be ours. 3 With this around us we will not be found naked. 4 Yes, while we are in this body, we groan with the sense of being oppressed: it is not so much that we want to take something off, but rather to put something on over it; so that what must die may be swallowed up by the Life. 5 Moreover, it is God who has prepared us for this very thing, and as a pledge he has given us his Spirit.

6 So we are always confident — we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord; 7 for we live by trust, not by what we see. 8 We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.

9 Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him; 10 for we must all appear before the Messiah’s court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.

11 So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Moreover, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are. 12 We are not recommending ourselves to you again but giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about a person’s appearance rather than his inner qualities. 13 If we are insane, it is for God’s sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake. 14 For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead), 15 and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised. 16 So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation — the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! 18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, 19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to God! 21 God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.”

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My Utmost for His Highest © 1927 in the U.K. by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. © 1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. Copyright renewed 1963 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. All rights reserved. United States publication rights are held by Discovery House, which is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries.

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