6/1/2022 • Desk of Dennis Piller
What would you name a book about you?
If you were going to write a book about your life? What would you name it? Could you stop for a minute and write some of the chapters of your life. And then place some bullet points underneath each one of them to describe what that chapter was about?
Might there be one that would read finding God? The gospel in my life? Or dying to myself so that I might live for God. How about unanswered prayers. Or how about praise reports? How about what I gave to God in my attitudes, my feelings, my actions, and my obedience?
Oh, some might see these things as insignificant. But can anything given to the Lord be considered waste? I’ve been doing some reading in some old books by Watchman Nee, he said we want to be seen as useful, helping the poor, converting sinners. Although God wants those things of us he doesn’t want that to be our singular aim. Our aim is to worship him, to bring glory to him, to bless him – to waste our lives on him. And when we do that God is blessed, we will be satisfied and satisfy the needs of sinners
What are the chapters of your life telling you about yourself? Or is this something less than an exercise but merely just another five-minute read on another day?
This exercise is part of the realization that we can’t do anything apart from God. Nothing! He does the work through us and by this he gets the glory. Paul said it best, "we can do nothing but Christ crucified". Our only action is to pour out everything… the most precious things in my life before him and let him do the rest. Our hearts, wills, desires, dreams, our actions.
Complete reliance upon God!
I’ve written enough poetry in my life and have even assembled most of them together in two binders. But I’ve never put them into a book. I’ve always wanted to write a book but never felt I was good enough, smart enough, deep enough to do that. But as I think about these questions that I’m asking you, I, just like you, have been writing a book every day of our lives be it a good thing or every bad thing
And I have realized at different crossroads in my life that I have changed along the way, my attitudes, my aspirations, my hopes, and my dreams have changed. I’m sure that’s true of you too.
I can honestly say that I have chosen the God road many times along my way but I would be hesitant to say that you would find a thoughtful, deep book written about a Christian living his life for Christ as opposed to living in my own efforts of self-will and too often self-glorifying actions. Although always trying to live for Christ.
But I am also certain that it’s never too late to begin a new chapter.
Never too late to surrender again.
But I have struggled like you, to crucify that old fleshly part of me. Watchman Nee said, "we do not wash and iron clothes that we are going to throw away. The flesh is too bad to be cleansed: it must be crucified. He said, a clear conscience is never based upon our attaining: it can only be based on the work of the Lord Jesus in the shedding of his blood. And I love this, he said, the reason why we so readily accept Satan‘s accusations is that we are still hoping to have some righteousness of our own. And finally, one more quote of his, and here I feel is the secret: not asking how I can get sap out of the vine into myself, but remembering that Jesus is divine: the root, stem, branches. twigs, leaves, flowers, fruit. All indeed."
And finally, he said, "we do not try to produce fruit or concentrate upon the fruit produced. Our business is to look away to him. As we do so he undertakes to fulfill his word in us. How do we abide? Look at Christ and see yourself in him. Rest in the fact that God has put you in his Son, and live in the expectation that he will complete his work in you. It is for him to make good the glorious promise that "sin shall not have dominion over you!" Romans 6; 14
Start adding some new chapters to your life's book. Invite Jesus in. Name some new chapters and then add the components that will make it so. Then ask God to empower you in them to glorify him.
The Father's House – Cory Asbury (Lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjVi0CDicEQ
