Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
Psalms 40:8, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”
The very nature of God’s move has nothing to do with the realm of coercing.
It has everything to do with a group of people participating in the life of another Person who is absolutely willing–“I delight to do Your will, O My God” (Psa. 40:8; cf. Heb. 10:7).
Willingness is not merely what is described in a dictionary–wanting to do something.
No, that is the shell.
The kernel and life- content of willingness is Christ.
Just as all the virtues of the fruit of the Spirit are Christ, so also willingness is Christ.
So whenever willingness is in you, you have met Christ in your being.
You have met Him in the form of His disposition of willingness.
That is His life.
It is the nature of His life within us.
It is the way He feels.
In the Old Testament, when the tabernacle was being constructed, it was done only by those who had a willing heart.
Exodus 35:5 says, “Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,”
To offer something to the Lord is not merely an outward act.
“Whoever is of a willing heart” reveals the nature of the people’s offering and the nature of God’s corporate testimony.
This is what makes God known on the earth.
This is the way He is made known.
He is not made known in a forced environment, but in an atmosphere of freedom, an atmosphere where willingness can spring forth.
This is because love cannot exist without an atmosphere of freedom.
Love freely gives.
Love freely goes out.
Love freely serves.
If you put me under a demand to love by telling me, “You must love me”–that does not express an atmosphere of freedom.
That expresses the law of Moses: “Thou shalt.”
It is the law.
What expresses God is an atmosphere of freedom, willingness, and love.
This atmosphere characterizes our relationships in the church life.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
THURSDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Karen Slane – Foot Surgery Yesterday
Tony Breedlove – Heart Surgery Yesterday
Dan Haines – nerve damage in upper right arm which prevents his mobility
Terrell Loyd
Jodi Bateman
David Burnette
Dwight Byrd
Daniel Cooper
Sandy Paschal
Amy Garner
Lamar Knight
Jim Mabe
Charlene Palmer
Lorraine Elliott
Eric Ward
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Sandra Graham
Doris Loyd
Linda Alexander
June Cronan
Jillian Gray
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Brandon’s Dad
Darlene Thaxton
David Harrison
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Easton Fielder
Erik Magusson
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
June Cronan’s Sister
John Austin
John McClain
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Michael Stanley
Ricky Gipson – Ashley’s Brother
Rose Fuller
Scott Nix
Tom Witcher
James Garner’s Friend
Kim McClain’s Mother
Lonzo Christin
Ashely Burn’s Sisters
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Larry Barker
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Mary Sims
Marynell Ford
Pastor & Mrs. Driskell
Ricky Stubbs
Roseleigh Osborn
Scott Lanier