A Place of Rest

Recently I was reading out of My Utmost for His Highest in my morning devotions. It talked about how Satan uses an elevated mood to pervert an experience of God. Sin is insidious as something like maybe smoke. It creeps in every nook and cranny and leaves behind its smell. Christ wants us to be continually elevated in the things of Himself. Pride wants to elevate us also. Just as Satan wanted to elevate himself above God and also tempted Christ by taking Him to a mountaintop and the pinnacle of the Temple. Both elevated places.

The difference becomes evident when you get there. Rather than clinging to the pinnacle or the small spot on a mountain, God takes you to a vast tableland. With the pinnacle or mountain spot, these are temporary things that mankind will never hold unto. The recent trends are to validate with our own meaning and purpose ourselves and practice self-help with elevated habits and following our own sinful hearts. Pride says go only with what you feel. As a result, the pride brings about division and arguments. Pride causes someone to forge their belief as a solid mold and cast it at the heads of those who are not enslaved by it.

With the tableland there is no intentionality in what you do but intentionality in knowing the person of Christ. It's not about obedience to rules but to surrendering to Christ. It is freedom and rest in Him. It is a vast area that allows God elbow room to transform us into His image. It becomes are life. When we are elevated in Christ, it is who we become through Him not about what we are doing for Him. Though that does come as a result or byproduct. It begins with spending time with Him to know Him. Allowing Him to speak to us from His Word (Romans 10v17). Coming humbly to the throne of grace to speak to Him and receive mercy (Hebrews 4v16).

When we surrender and Christ has His way, He will say ...Come up hither and I will show thee these things... (Rev. 4v1). Jerimiah 33v 3 He tells us, call unto me, and I will answer thee and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.