A Bush With No Fire!

"True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23)

Whatever direction the theological wind may set there are two things of which we may be certain: One is that God will not leave Himself without a witness. Saving truth will never be completely hidden from the sight of men. The poor in spirit, the penitent, will always find Christ close at hand ready to save them.

The other is that the Holy Spirit is the true conservator of orthodoxy and will invariable say the same thing to meek and trusting souls. Illuminated hearts are sure to agree at the point where the light falls.

Our only real danger is that we may grieve the blessed Spirit into silence and so be left to the mercy of our intellects. We'll have bush, pruned and trimmed and properly cultivated, but in the bush there will be no fire.

Mere wisdom makes us hard and cold, but wisdom set on fire with love and energized by power through the Holy Spirit will enable us to bless the world.

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Knee, Adore and Obey

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me ... If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:6, 15)

Truth is forever the same, but modes and emphases and interpretations vary. It is a cheering thought that Christ can adapt Himself to any race or age or people. He will give life and light to any man or woman anywhere in the world regardless of doctrinal emphasis or prevailing religious customs, provided that man or woman takes Him as He is and trusts Him without reservation.

The Spirit never bears witness to an argument about Christ, but He never fails to witness to a proclamation of Christ crucified, dead and buried, and now ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The conclusion of the matter is that we should not assume that we have all the truth and that we are mistaken in nothing. Rather we should kneel in adoration before the pierced feet of Him who is the Truth and honor Him by humble obedience to His words.

The first principle and condition of divine guidance is a surrendered spirit. Next, there must be a readiness to obey. He will not give us light unless we mean to follow it.

~A. W. Tozer~