Manifest

5/14/2020

2 Corinthians 4:1 “That life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”

The writing of Oswald Chambers challenges me every day, and today his words hit me right between my eyes. He asks, “Do I manifest the essential sweetness of the Son of God, or the essential irritation of ‘myself” apart from Him?’” Ouch! Translation in my head, “Does my lack of faith, attitude, and selfishness inhibit my showing love to others, especially those closest to me?” The truth is – and I am being totally honest here – most of the time, yes. Only when I am rightly aligned with the Holy Spirit and the will of my God do I truly love those around me the way He wants me to, without any guile, pretense, or need of payback. Oh, what a selfish creature I am!

Most of the time, the recipient of my lack in this area is my poor husband; he has DEFINITELY experienced an absence of essential holy sweetness. I guess you could say that is because I am totally myself around him, but that certainly is no excuse. If anything, he deserves more of that essential sweetness than anyone else in my life. Ugh! I have some work to do, but I can find my way through digging into God’s Holy Word and prayer. Chambers says, “There must be no debate. The moment you obey the light, the Son of God presses through you in that particular; but if you debate you grieve the Holy Spirit.” I must obey and not debate, for that is what a respectful and loving child should do. My Heavenly Father only wants the very best for me and from me, just like my earthly father did. Am I not a reflection of Him, after all? No matter what He expects of me, His grace is sufficient to carry me onward. Chambers charges me to, “…let the word of God always be living and active in you.”