What to Renounce ...

What to Renounce

"We have renounced the hidden things of shame ..." 2 Corinthians 4:2

I shared this particular passage with you back in September of 2007, but it bears repeating. I trust that the Spirit of God will speak to your heart today as He did to mine as I re-read it from Oswald Chambers', MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.

Have you "renounced the hidden things of shame" in your life— the things that your sense of honor or pride will not allow to come into the light? You can easily hide them. Is there a thought in your heart about anyone that you would not like to be brought into the light? Then renounce it as soon as it comes to mind— renounce everything in its entirety until there is no hidden dishonesty or craftiness about you at all.

Envy, jealousy, and strife don’t necessarily arise from your old nature of sin, but from the flesh which was used for these kinds of things in the past (see Romans 6:19 and 1 Peter 4:1-3 ). You must maintain continual watchfulness so that nothing arises in your life that would cause you shame.

". . . not walking in craftiness. . ." ( 2 Corinthians 4:2 ). This means not resorting to something simply to make your own point. This is a terrible trap. You know that God will allow you to work in only one way— the way of truth. Then be careful never to catch people through the other way— the way of deceit. If you act deceitfully, God’s blight and ruin will be upon you. What may be craftiness for you, may not be for others— God has called you to a higher standard.

Never dull your sense of being your utmost for His highest— your best for His glory. For you, doing certain things would mean craftiness coming into your life for a purpose other than what is the highest and best, and it would dull the motivation that God has given you. Many people have turned back because they are afraid to look at things from God’s perspective. The greatest spiritual crisis comes when a person has to move a little farther on in his faith than the beliefs he has already accepted.

Brothers, is there something in YOUR life today that the Holy Spirit is placing His finger on right now? If so, do what the passage says: Renounce it, and by faith, live in the victory He has provided for you through Jesus Christ. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 25-26; 2 Corinthians 9

Great Quote: "My peace I give unto you"; it is a peace all over from the crown of your head to the sole of the feet, an irrepressible confidence. "Your life is hidden with Christ in God," and the imperturbable peace of Jesus Christ is imparted to you." -- Oswald Chambers

Please check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George Hutchison. It is very timely: http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/ Thanks for checking it out!