The First "Prospect"
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 09:31AM I don't know if any of you are like me. I seem to be able to properly diagnose others need for the Lord rather quickly. I understand what they need to do to remove the speck in their eye that keeps them from living as I think they should. Pretty amazing that I can see around the plank in my own eye like that huh. This morning I was reminded, yet again...(it seems I need a continual reminder) by the words in an old book called "Day by Day" by Vance Havner, of MY need for Him.
The First “Prospect” – Yourself!
If my people…shall humble themselves…
II Chronicles 7:14
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.
Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
The churches of Macedonia…first gave their own selves to the Lord.
II Corinthians 8:1, 5
Dr. Torrey’s first rule for revival was, “Let a few members of any church get thoroughly right with God themselves.” Then they might go after others, but not until then. In their zeal for new members too many churches urge old members into visiting and canvassing “prospects,” when first they need to get right with God themselves. We have no business going out to win others until we have faced our own condition first. Such activity may keep us from first giving ourselves to God. We may become occupied with others and thus dodge our own need. When Christians are right with God they will win others. Our revivals are stressing an “ingathering” of others, when God wants us to humble ourselves, deny ourselves, give ourselves. A drive for “prospects” before we do that is no revival at all.
What God reminded me was that our visits to others and going and doing is good and we should continue with them, but too many times we go in our own power, put on our church face and church tongue, and speak of a loving Savior that we "know" in theory but not in practice.
When asked what the most important commandment was, Jesus replied with "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind...Love your neighbor as yourself." This was the centerpiece for all the law and prophets. What would it be like if a few of us fell head over heels in love with Jesus? I want to find out!
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