Holy Wounds

"Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be doe" (Luke 22:42)

There are people within the ranks of Christianity who have been taught and who believe that Christ will shield His followers from wounds of every kind.

If the truth were known, the saints of God in every age were only effective after they had been wounded. They experienced the humbling wounds that brought contrition, compassion and a yearning for the knowledge of God. I could only wish that more among the followers of Christ knew what some of the early saints meant when they spoke of being wounded by the Holy Spirit.

Think of a moment about the apostle Paul. I suppose there is no theologian living or dead who quite knows what Paul meant when he said, "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus" (Galatians 6:17). Every commentary has a different idea. I think Paul referred to the wounds he suffered because of his faith and godly life.

If you are to sit with Christ upon His throne, you must go with Him through  His Gethsemane.

~A. W. Tozer~

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Holiness Is God

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ... and purify your hearts" (James 4:8)

God Himself is the holiness and the purity we need. Some people think of holiness as something they have for a time, but suddenly God allows them to lose it. Holiness in the Christian life is nothing else but the Spirit of God dwelling, filling, satisfying the surrendered, committed, trusting believer.

When will we admit and confess that holiness comes with the presence of God? When will we believe that a true encounter with God brings purity of heart?

Christ is not just our Sanctifier. He is our sanctification. He Himself is our holiness. If Christ lives within our hearts, then just as the fire dwelt within the burning bush in living encounter and experience, so we will be cleansed and pure. How could it be otherwise if Christ who is holy and pure lives out His life in us?

We must consent to the work of cleansing. We must pass sentence upon our sinful heart and give God the right to cleanse it. God will not take one step till we have handed ourselves over to Him unreservedly.

~A. W. Tozer~