May 17, 2018 
Black seeds without beauty
(J.R. Miller)
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42
“Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:6
The first condition of consecration, must always be entire readiness to accept God’s will for our life. It is not enough to be willing to do Christian work. There are many people who are quite ready to do certain things in the service of Christ, who are not ready to do anything He might want them to do.
God does not send us two classes of providences — one good, and one evil. All are good. Affliction is God’s goodness in the seed. It takes time for a seed to grow and to develop into fruitfulness. Many of the best things of our lives — come to us first as pain, suffering, earthly loss or disappointment — black seeds without beauty — but afterward they grow into the rich harvest of righteousness!
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11
Being totally committed to Christ. Asking for ALL of God. Being filled with His Spirit is the only way forward for the Christian Church. ‘works’ alone are useless. Things done to please God are a waste of time. There are plenty of good works programs…….Lions, Aid Programs, etc etc. Being a follower of Christ is different. We should be working His Way, Under His Directing. We should have the mind of Christ . The scriptural references for this are found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 2……The Gospel is Heavenly Wisdom. 14. The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. V.16 For who has known the mind of the Lord that He may lead and instruct him? But we, we have the mind of Christ. (only, only when we open up our whole lives and let God be God in fullness…. Father, Son and Holy Spirit can we ever be true followers of Christ and live according to His Will and not our own good intentions.