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Vance Havner Devotionals
(1).
Consider Jesus
"…
consider him…" (Heb.12:3)
The
eleventh chapter of Hebrews is an impressive roll-call of faith's
heroes but the list is complete only when Christ is considered. It is
ever thus. No life is great that does not point to Christ. these great
names from Able through the prophets are but sign-posts that lead at
least to him.
It is so with Scripture. In these pages many verses are called to mind.
Start from any of them and the path leads to him. "they are they which
testify of hi."
So, no matter what the theme or text, we are really considering him,
for by him all Scripture consists. Satan will go to any lengths to keep
you from considering the Lord. IF he can put you to riding the hobby of
a favorite doctrine; if he can get you to look back at yesterday's
failures, or ahead to tomorrow's dreads, or around at the array of
circumstances or within at your own weakness and poverty-anywhere but
looking unto Jesus-then he is satisfied. And remember that he has many
masks and will come so like an angel of light that you are scarcely
aware at first that you are not considering Christ.
These pages are written that from many diverse pints along the "T and O
Trail," the Trust and Obey, we might pause a moment and take a fresh
look at him "lest we be wearied and faint in our minds."
(2). "Arise, and Walk"
"Arise
take up thy bed and go unto thine house." (Matt.9:6)
Jesus asked
the palsied man to rise and carry his bed, though that was the very
thing this man couldn't do. Yet that is exactly what he did! The lame
man at the Beautiful Gate obeyed the same command, and the man with the
withered hand stretched it forth for healing!
The moment he obeyed and the will made its effort, the power to perform
came into action. If the sick man had waited until the felt like rising
he would never have been healed. We put off obedience until the feeling
sweeps over us; we must have the power before we undertake the
performance. That is why there is so much abstract theorizing about
faith and so little faith. There is no real faith until it gets into
the will and we undertake the very thing we know we cannot do, but
undertake it in the name of and at the command of another. Immediately
divine power goes into action and what with men is impossible becomes
with God possible.
Does this sound trite? You have heart it, read it before? Yes, but have
you done it? Nothing is so needful as to familiarize ourselves with the
familiar! "All things are possible to him that believeth" will do you
scant good if you leave it in your mind unexercised. Have you actually
risen, taken your bed, burned bridges and walked at his command, doing
all things through Christ who strengthens you?
(From
Consider Jesus and other brief devotionals Vance Havner, foreword by
Dennis Hester, Baker Book House, 1987, p.7. 88)
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Dennis J.
Hester
The Vance Havner Foundation
P.O. Box 52
Shelby, North Carolina 28151
Office: 704-480-0494
Fax: 704-480-0494
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J. Hester 2003. All Rights Reserved.
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