In the wilderness for God

THE TWO ASPECTS OF

BEING USED BY THE LORD

---------------

We have said that if a person desires to be used by the Lord, he must realize that his natural life is unusable in the Lord’s hand and that he himself is totally corrupt before the Lord. The natural life is nothing but a thornbush, and the self is nothing but leprosy. However, every truth in the Bible is twofold, showing us something in one aspect and then something else in another aspect. Both aspects are true. Any doctrine that is not two-sided is defective. Concerning our being useful in the Lord’s hand, there are two aspects. One aspect about which we have heard much is the tearing down of the self. Formerly, you may have felt that you were talented and very capable or that you were better than others. But now you have seen a vision that your natural life is nothing but a thornbush and your self, nothing but leprosy. Once you realize this, you will spontaneously fall down and collapse. To collapse is to be broken. Actually, God always shines upon us and leads us in the principle of breaking. On one hand, the Bible shows us that a person who serves God must be adequately broken. It is true that his natural life, self, temperament, and disposition need to be touched by the Lord, broken, and torn down. On the other hand, the Bible shows us that something must be built up in a person who serves the Lord. This building up refers not only to the inward constitution of the Lord’s life but also to the development of his character. What does this mean? We must cover this in more detail.

First, we need to see that God would never use what is of us for the work that He wants us to do, just as the flame of fire burned upon the thornbush without consuming it. We cannot add anything to God’s work. However, when God does use us, we must be fit for His use. Although the thornbush was not the material that fueled the fire, it nevertheless upheld and showed forth the flames. Brothers and sisters, please remember that when God uses you to accomplish His work, you cannot add anything of your own, since all that you have does not avail in God’s work. Yet on the other hand, it may be questionable whether you can be used by the Lord and whether His work can be carried out through you.

For example, when I put a Bible, a hymnal, and a cup of water on a table, the table will never add a drop of water to my cup, a verse or a chapter to my Bible, or a hymn to my hymnal. But here is a problem: if the table is tilted, I will not be able to put a cup on it. In one sense I do not use the table at all, because it does not add anything to my Bible, my cup, or my hymnal. However, there is the question of whether I am able to place my Bible, cup, or hymnal steadily on the table.

So never assume that you are clear about the Lord’s teaching and say, “Well, we are just thornbushes; we have no function in God’s work, and we cannot add glow to His fire. We are just persons upon whom God’s flame can burn as brightly as He desires. Anyway, He does not use us as fuel. We are merely bushes with no responsibility. ” I am afraid that many saints hold such a concept. If you do, you are wrong. It is true that the table does not add anything to the contents of the Bible, hymnal, or cup when I put them on top of it. However, if the table is not set properly, so that it is level and stable, I will not be able to use it at all. On one hand, I do not utilize anything of the table, yet on the other hand, I must use it. Similarly, even though God does not use what is of us, our proper condition and situation qualify us to be used by Him.

Character

4 Character Building

(LSM)

I have lived for almost 12 years 100 miles away from the closest locality. I live in a small rural town in the middle of no where. I truly feel I am in the wilderness. And despite many attempts to get out of here, the Lord has kept the doors closed for me and my family. Countless times I have cried out to the Lord, longing to be with the saints, longing to be in a local church life. But here we are, in the wilderness, hopefully for God. For His glory! We are just here quiet, hidden. But we still love you Lord. If this is where we are to remain, then so be it for Your glory, for Your name.

In the wilderness for God!

Just a common bush aflame!

Thus may I be, blessed Lord,

For the glory of Thy Name.

Make us that Lord. Nothing seen but the Flame.