Sunday, January 13, 2013

Our own way must be overcome. Pride, self-sufficiency, must be crucified and the vacuum supplied with the Spirit and power of God...This must be our attitude—Not my will, but Thine, O God, be done. This is true conversion...

The direction given to Moses was, “See ... that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 8:5). Although Moses was full of zeal to do God’s work, and he could have the most skillful, talented men to carry out any suggestions he should make, he must not make a single thing, a bell, a pomegranate, a tassel, or a fringe, or a curtain, or any vessel except according to the pattern showed to him as God’s ideal.... Forty days the communications were given to him, and when he descended to the foot of the mount he was ready to give the exact pattern that was shown to him in the mount....
Where many have erred, was in not being careful in following God’s ideas, but their own. Christ Himself declared, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do” (John 5:19). So utterly was He emptied of Himself that He made no schemes and plans. He lived accepting God’s plans for Him, and the Father day by day unfolded His plans. If Jesus was so wholly dependent, and declared, Whatsoever I see the Father do, that I do, how much more should human agents depend upon God for constant instruction, so that their lives might be the simple working out of God’s plans! ...


Our own way must be overcome. Pride, self-sufficiency, must be crucified and the vacuum supplied with the Spirit and power of God.... Did Jesus Christ, the Majesty of heaven, have His way? Behold Him in travail of soul in Gethsemane, praying to His Father. What forces these blood drops of agony from His holy brow? Oh, the sins of the whole world are upon Him! It was separation from the Father’s love that forced from His pale and quivering lips the cry, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). Three times was the prayer offered, but followed by Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). This must be our attitude—Not my will, but Thine, O God, be done. This is true conversion.  HP 147


Both in public and in private worship it is our privilege to bow on our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. Jesus, our example, “kneeled down, and prayed.”
Luke 22:41. Of His disciples it is recorded that they, too, “kneeled down, and prayed." Acts 9:40
. Paul declared, “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 3:14. In confessing before God the sins of Israel, Ezra knelt. "I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God," Ezra 9:5. Daniel “kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God.” Daniel 6:10.  Pr 206



"Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths.  Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.Psalm 25:4-5 (King James Version)