• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Faithful with a Few

  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Christ

Compartmentalized Christianity – Hiding Parts Of Your Heart From God?

By //  by Sherrian Crumbley

When I was younger, I compartmentalized many things, and there were areas of my life and myself that never “touched”. As a pastor’s kid, there was my public life where I was polite and smiled and played my role. Privately,I was a whole other person.

Compartmentalized

As a Christian, I treated God the same way. I didn’t realize it until looking back, but clearly my attitude was “Come into my heart…oh, not that corridor!” or “Yes, Holy Spirit please sanctify me…but let’s not go there”. I clearly wanted a religion and relationship that was on my own terms, and a transformation that was based on my own comfort.

One of the scriptures that come to my mind with this is Revelation 3:20:

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

As I stated before, in my post on the wilderness, Christ here is speaking to believers as this letter is written to the church at Laodicea. It’s important to point this out because this scripture is often used for evangelistic purposes. Here, Jesus (whom the recipients have) is at the door asking to be let in. He was confronting a people who clearly had not allowed Christ to permeate their whole being!

I bring this up on this website, because many times our finances are one of those compartmentalized topics. I’ve known many believers who are comfortable as long as they’re tithing, but refuse to invite God to the finances that the church can’t see. They are ashamed of their debt and bad decisions. Many are too proud to ask the church for help when emergencies happen. Others know that the consequences of some of their financial decision-making was wrought in sin, but it becomes easier to justify those actions, than repent.

Finances are a great example of this, but the breadth of this behavior goes so much deeper. Many of us have it in our minds that God doesn’t have anything to do with the mundane occurrences in our daily lives. The truth is, not only does He have a part to play in every detail, but we should also invite God into every detail.

There is nothing we put our hands to that shouldn’t be prayed about. There isn’t a conversation we enter that doesn’t need the Lord’s leading so we guard our hearts from slander, gossip, or the selfishness of our own opinions. There isn’t one decision that should not be taken to God in prayer where we surrender to His will above all else.

Having a recognition of God in everything we do allows us to be open to the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work in our lives and sensitive to His leading. It also allows us to recognize God’s magnificence and the wisdom to be humbled by it.

Many of us have places in us where we need to let the Light in. For some, it may be areas of hurt that are tender to the touch. For others it could be ignorance that every area of our life should be a reflection of the life of Christ in us. There are so many scenarios where Jesus is standing at the door.

My brother or sister who is reading this, please be encouraged that Jesus sees, He cares, and He understands those undisclosed areas of your heart and life.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.


Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

My prayer for us, as believers, is that we would yield every area of our lives to the Lord. I pray that we allow the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work in us, so that we will continuously grow into the image of Christ.

“Christ says ‘Give me All. I don’t want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work: I want You. I have not come to torment your natural self, but to kill it. No half-measures are any good. I don’t want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree down. . . . Hand over the whole natural self, all the desires which you think innocent as well as the ones you think wicked — the whole outfit. I will give you a new self instead. In fact, I will give you Myself: my own will shall become yours.'”
-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

 

Have you noticed this tendency to compartmentalize things in your own life?

Have you realized there were situations and circumstances you were dealing with while leaving God out of the picture?

What are some steps you have taken to ensure God is at the forefront of the various aspects of your life?

 

 

Filed Under: Christian Living, Devotion Tagged With: Christ, christian living, Devotion, Hebrews 4:15, Jesus, Laodicea, Proverbs 3:5-6, Revelation 3:20

The Blessing Of Salvation!

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about the need and blessing of salvation, by James Smith, courtesy of Grace Gems:

(James Smith, “The Voice of Mercy in the House of Affliction!” 1855)

Salvation

The Blessing Of Salvation!

Salvation is . . .
the greatest blessing that God can bestow;
deliverance from the greatest misery;
exaltation to the greatest happiness;
the greatest change in man’s state and character which can possibly be effected;
the greatest display of the love, wisdom, grace, and power of God!

Salvation is the very blessing that you need. The blessing which you must receive–or be eternally undone!

Salvation is a blessing for the PRESENT, for it is deliverance . . .
from the guilt of sin–which makes you miserable;
from the power of sin–which makes you unholy; and
from the love of sin–which proves you to be God’s enemy.

Salvation is a blessing for the FUTURE: it secures to you safety and happiness in time–and glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life when time shall be no more!

Salvation is a blessing which comprehends every other blessing.
If the man is saved–then all good things are his.
If the man is lost–then nothing good is his.
To be saved, is . . .
for the soul to be restored to a right relationship to God;
to be put in possession of unsearchable wealth;
to be raised to the highest honor; and
to be entitled to eternal glory!

No word is as sweet as salvation–as no word is as dreadful as its opposite, damnation! Reader, there is no intermediate state between these two extremes.

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Bible, blessing, Christ, cross, deliverance, Devotion, God, grace gems, james smith, salvation

The Most Healthy State Of A Christian

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

“I am poor and needy–come quickly to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay!” Psalm 70:5…

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a reminder about the importance of prayer and humility in the life of a Christian, by Charles Spurgeon, courtesy of Grace Gems:

Prayer

(Charles Spurgeon)

“I am poor and needy–come quickly to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer. O Lord, do not delay!” Psalm 70:5

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness–which is a very beneficial lesson for such proud beings as we are. If God gave us blessings without constraining us to pray for them–we would never know how poor we are. But a true prayer is . . .
an inventory of our needs,
a catalog of our necessities,
a revelation of our hidden poverty.

While prayer is an application to divine wealth–it is also a confession of human emptiness. The most healthy state of a Christian, is to be . . .
always empty in SELF and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies;
always poor in SELF–and rich in Jesus;
as weak as water personally–but mighty through God to do great exploits.

And hence prayer, while it adores God, it lays the creature where it should be–in the very dust!

Prayer is in itself, apart from the answer which it brings, a great benefit to the Christian. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise; so for the great race of life, we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. Prayer plumes the wings of God’s young eaglets–that they may learn to soar above the clouds!

Prayer sends God’s warriors forth to combat–with their sinews braced and their muscles firm. An earnest pleader comes out of his closet, even as the sun arises from the chambers of the east–rejoicing like a strong man to run his race.

Prayer is that uplifted hand of Moses–which routs the Amalekites more than the sword of Joshua. Prayer . . .
girds human weakness with divine strength,
turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and
gives the peace of God to troubled mortals.

We have no idea what prayer can do!

We thank you, great God, for the mercy-seat–a choice proof of Your marvelous loving-kindness. Help us to use it aright throughout this day!

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Charles Spurgeon, Christ, Christian, Devotion, God, grace gems, humility, prayer, Psalm 70:5

I Know Their Sorrows! – Devotion

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

O Jesus! Do not allow me to dwell on my sorrows–but direct my heart into Your love!…

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting a reminder that God intimately knows our sorrows and is able to comfort us, by James Smith, courtesy of Grace Gems:

I Know Their Sorrows

(James Smith, “The Pastor’s Evening Visit”)

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are” Hebrews 4:15

“I know their sorrows!” Exodus 3:7

The Lord is acquainted with all the sorrows of all His people. We do not suffer unnoticed. He sympathizes with us–and will sanctify sorrow to us. When we suffer–Jesus sympathizes!

Beloved, He knows our sorrows, and He will be our Comforter. Let us lay them before Him. He will be gracious unto us at the voice of our cry. When He hears–He will answer. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He once suffered–He was “The Man of Sorrows, and familiar with suffering.” He is able to support us who now suffer.

His sorrows are ended–and ours will be over soon! Weeping may endure for a night–but joy comes in the morning! We shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. We shall enter into His joy, be filled with His love, and so be forever with Him!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain!” Revelation 21:4

O Jesus! Do not allow me to dwell on my sorrows–but direct my heart into Your love!

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Christ, comfort, comforter, Exodus 3:7, grace gems, Hebrews 4:15, james smith, Jesus, love of God, Revelation 21:4, sorrow, sorrows

It Takes Both Of These Elements To Make True Religion

By //  by Khaleef Crumbley

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout” ~ Luke 2:25

Each Sunday, I try to post a devotional thought for you to meditate on. Sometimes it will be something out of my own studies and prayers. Other times – like today – it will be from another source.

Today, I am posting about what makes true and godly “religion”, by J.R. Miller, courtesy of Grace Gems:

True Religion Just Devout

True Religion: Being Just And Devout

(J.R. Miller, “Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ” 1890)

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was just and devout” Luke 2:25

He was just in all his dealings with men–and devout in his dealings toward God. It takes both of these elements to make true religion.

Some people are just–and not devout! They are scrupulously honest in all their dealings–and yet they never think of God, or of their duties to Him. They do not bow to Him in prayer, nor do they ever lift their hearts to Him in praise. They do not love Him.

They confess no obligations to Him. Their whole religion simply is honesty toward their fellow-men–while they utterly ignore God, their Creator and Redeemer, in Whom they live, from Whose grace every blessing in their lives flows, and upon Whom they are dependent every moment for breath and existence. It is readily seen, that such religion is no religion at all.

While we are just and honest in our transactions with men–it is to God that we owe the first and highest duties. We are His creatures; we are saved, if at all, by His grace; we owe to Him obedience, faith, love, honor, service. So we must be devout as well as just.

On the other hand, there are some people who profess to be devout–who are not just! They attend upon ordinances, they sing and pray; and then they go out into the week-day world, and are hard, unjust, greedy, and oppressive! It is very evident that this kind of religion does not please God. He wants our praise and honor–but He wants us to honor Him by our lives and actions, as well as by our lips.

There are two tables of commandments; and the second table commandments are as binding as the first. We are to love God with all our heart (the first table)–but we are also to love our neighbor as ourselves (the second table). While we are devout toward God–we are to be honest, true, unselfish toward men. The two things must go together, and must never be torn asunder!

Filed Under: Devotion Tagged With: Christ, christian living, Devotion, devout, grace gems, j.r. miller, just, Luke 2:25, true religion

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Copyright © 2021 · Mai Lifestyle Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in