The simple things are most precious

:: Do you walk in white? Oswald Chambers January 15, 2006

"Buried with Him...that...even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Romans 6:4

No one enters into the experience of entire sanctification without going through a "white funeral" -- the burial of the old life.  If there has never been this crisis of death, sanctification is nothing more than a vision.  There must be a "white funeral," a death that has only one resurrection -- a resurrection into the life of Jesus Christ.  Nothing can upset such a life.  It is one with God for one purpose, to be a witness to Him.

Have you come to your last days, really?  You have come to them often in sentiment, but have you come to them really?  You cannot go to your funeral in excitement, or die in excitement.  Death means you stop being.  Do you agree with God that you stop being the striving, earnest kind of Christian you have been?  We skirt the cemetery and all the time refuse to go to death.  It is not striving to go to death, it is dying, "baptized into His death."

Have you had your "white funeral," or are you sacredly playing the fool with your soul?  Is there a place in your life marked as the last day, a place to which the memory goes back with a chastened and extraordinarily grateful remembrance.  "Yes, it was then, at that 'white funeral,' that I made an agreement with God."

This is the will of God, even your sanctification.  When you realize what the will of God is, you will enter into sanctification as naturally as can be.  Are you willing to go through that "white funeral" now?  Do you agree with Him that this is your last day on earth?  The moment of agreement depends upon you.

My devotion for today from, again, My Utmost for His Highest.  This will be my third year of going thru this devotional and I still do not tire of it.  And the only time that it seems "a word in due season" is not as fresh is when there is an area in my life which I've not  buried at my own "white funeral."  Those areas that rise back up in our life, after salvation, and maybe we are not even aware of the crisis they bring forth in our lives.  I know that I've had a some.  Of which I am not proud, of which I am ashamed.  Of which I thank God from the bottom of my heart that His grace is sufficient for me.  It is sufficient, more than so, to wash me clean.  And to justify me in His sight, in spite of the law.  For by the law is the knowledge of sin.  And without the law, how would I know the sins in my life.  But sin shall not continue in my life so that grace may abound.  As Paul says, "Certainly Not!" 

And here is where I am reminded and comforted by the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus, My Lord.  The security in Christ is what makes living this life of simplicity so wonderful.  I can walk in newness of life because Christ died for me and my sin.  I began my walk as a Christian by simply accepting Jesus Christ by faith.  Now I am free to express my security in Him by allowing Jesus to work in and thru me.  Jesus died to conquer sin and death for me, and for you.  I will let Him conquer the selfishness so common in today's world, and so common in me.  Will you?

On this day, will you embark on this journey, this adventure of the Christian life?  This is an adventure like no other.  Will we have our own white funeral today and allow the newness of life in Christ Jesus to bring .....

• Understanding of God and His Nature      Romans 1-6
• Faith and endurance for our continual battle to overcome self-centeredness      Romans 7:1-8:2
• Delight in the journey of accepting that God really loves you, us, warts and all    Romans 8-11
• The discovery of new life that comes with each decision to honor God          Romans 12
• The balance of doing right without rules, while needing rules to show us how to do things right     Romans 13-16
• The experience of the Christian walk as a lifetime of discovery and ever-deepening devotion. Learning how we can please this God who adores us so deeply, the book of Romans is one of the wonderful chapters of this instruction manual called "The Word of God, The Holy Bible."  

To quote Paul in Romans 8:38-39  "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  These strong words come from Paul to the Christians in Rome.

Security in Jesus is a certainty every Christian can count on.  Because of this security, I can live for God without fear of His abandoning me.  God's certain loves gives me the confidence to do right, no matter how hard it is.  God's steady care helps me to know that no matter what I face, I'm never alone.  Better days are coming.  And through this knowledge, confirmed in me by the Holy Spirit's presence within, I find simple peace.  A peace that passes all understanding.  And a peace that is a treasure beyond measure.  A peace that brings simplicity to my life.  (paraphrased from my study of the notations in the New King James Version of my "Woman's Life Bible")

I remember my white funeral, the very month, date, year and time.  I wrote it in my Bible.  But my daily walk brings a new determination that I will not walk after the flesh thereby crowding my mind with the things of the flesh.  Rather, my daily walk brings a new determination to live according to the Spirit of God that dwells within me and my mind will then be filled with the things of the spirit.  And to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  Romans 8:5-6

By saturating ourself with God's Word, when we awaken in the middle of the night with anxiety, we can hear the voice of God whisper to us, "My child, this will all work out for good because you love Me and are called according to My purpose."   Romans 8:28  This truth has brought me peace amidst the storms more times than I can count.  To live our life simply keeps us safe, secure, humble and focused on the truly important things of life.  Won't you walk with me on this journey?  You won't be sorry.  Lighten your load by giving it ALL to Him.  He loves you so.

Simply serving Him in Spirit and in Truth,

Sherri

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