Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 96
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life
Ministries International
Littleton, Colorado
Notice: this email is part of a
BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”. Why a blog? So that many can receive the weekly thoughts
I express on Michael’s writings in an easy manner.
We
live in a day and time where it seems far too many Christians are “living to
man” instead of “living to God.” This is
confirmed by checking out all their life decisions. Therefore, the multitudes are in bondage, no
different from those who don’t know Christ.
Michael takes us through some of the ways in which this is expressed,
and also gives us God’s way and the path to freedom.
DAY 190
Living to Man
The fear of
man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the
LORD. Proverbs 29:25, 26
Living
to and for men is one of the worst kinds of bondage, for anyone living to man
cannot live to God, the Giver of freedom. We have a saying, “I love you,
but I do not live to you. I live to God.” I will again preach of my own
weakness: I determined some time ago that I would no longer meet with
politicians. Why? I always compromise! I have met wicked men in places of
authority and found myself compromising. The men should have been rebuked. If
Jesus did not go to the “leaders” in His day, then what business do I have
going? There is just something about being in the presence of image that shakes
me. It is my weakness; I am sure some can withstand it, but I cannot; I end up
living to man. There are
several ways to live for man: giving glory, taking glory, giving judgment,
receiving judgment, showing partiality because of worldly resources, groveling
at the image or position of “greatness,” discussing man’s “secret” failings,
refusing to ask a question, avoiding a confrontation, or reacting to criticism.
I have done it all, and I tell you it is a miserable way to live. What makes it so miserable is the
awareness that there is another way to live, free from man-pleasing; however,
this freedom comes through faith. We must believe completely and unreservedly that we have
a God who provides for us in every way, financially, physically, emotionally,
and spiritually. We must believe that He opens doors, provides the way, and
gives us wisdom. We must believe that He gives us everything needed, and that
in Him we will find everything that we have
looked for
elsewhere in vain. For it is only in seeing that God meets all of our needs
that frees us from the root of living for men, that root being the belief that
man can provide something that we need. If assurance, significance,
value, and worth come from God, what does man have to offer? If man has nothing to provide
that we need--no praise, position, or possession--then we are free not to live
to man. Again, living for the approval of man has at its root the belief that
man can give us something that God will not. Therefore, we compromise
our own eternal goal to get something perishable, even though what man offers
always seems to come at a high price. When we live to men, we must ask
ourselves what their favor will give us: our name on a piece of paper, a
conversational piece of name-dropping that will elevate us when in a social setting,
a job interview, or their approval over our work? Once we move in faith toward the Provider of all, we will be
free, free indeed. It
is great to trust God and not trust man, it is beautiful to acknowledge that
God provides, and it is wonderful to let the heart become a graveyard
for criticism because of the understanding that people’s praise would not fill
the void that only Christ can fill. Now, some will say, “Then we can be
hermits; we do not need men!” Not at all! We need them in order to love them.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Isn’t it interesting the scripture Michael uses for this day’s writing
starts with the declaration: “the fear of man brings a snare”? A snare has something or someone in
bondage. How is it that with all the
scriptures that speak of the awesome power of God compared to the weakness of
man…so many Christians are “snared” by “the fear of man”? Unbelievable, isn’t it!
“Exaltation” and “justice,” certainly two things most would readily
admit to desiring, are “from the LORD.”
Why look elsewhere, especially to man?
I love Michael’s three statements of what “we must believe.” Then…we can “move in faith”! And be free, free indeed!
All the rest is garbage.
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living
Life With a Capital “C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
leemccm@gmail.com
P. O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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