Lost In God

They have not been lost in God, else they would be able to take in their stride all things as nothing. Watchman Nee

When I read this quote it struck me how we need to become lost in God.  If we are lost in God, the things of this earthly life will not mean much to us. 

For those of you who don’t know who Watchman Nee is, here is a little history.  Watchman Nee was a Chinese Christian author and church leader.  He was born in 1903 and became a Christian at the age of 17.  He didn’t attend any theological schools or Bible institutes.  Everything he learned was by studying the Bible and reading various Christian books. He traveled throughout China planting churches in rural communities and holding Christian conferences. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith and remained there until his death in 1972.

 

Can you imagine spending 20 years in prison because of your faith?  When you put it in this perspective, we don’t really have a hard life do we?  I have the freedom to worship where I choose, practice my faith in whatever way I see fit and the opportunity to share my faith with others without fear of being imprisoned.

This history of Watchman Nee reminded me of Paul and Silas who were beaten and imprisoned for their faith.  The story is that a slave girl was possessed of a spirit and she brought her master profit by fortune-telling.  The young woman followed Paul and would cry out, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” Paul became so annoyed that he turned to her and said to the spirit, ““I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” and the spirit came out of her.  When her masters realized that their money train had some to an end, they took Paul and Silas to the magistrates and were beaten and thrown into prison for their faith.

Today we don’t have to worry about being thrown in prison for our faith, but we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.  As I watch schools and courts fighting over the use of the name of God in everything from state and public buildings and schools to not allowing children to bring anything to school or wear anything that professes their faith, we might see the day when we will be persecuted for our faith.  How strong we are in that faith will make the difference in how we handle imprisonment if it ever happens.

The following is a quote by Watchman Nee that I think sums up what Jesus Christ did for each of us so that we could have everlasting life in Heaven.

“Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.”  Watchman Nee

       

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, I want to be lost in You. I want my life to be punctuated with thoughts of You. Through the process of studying Your Word and meditating on it, your promises of life everlasting will color everything I do.  I love the stories in the Bible that show that every day people accomplished great things for You.  Help me to be one of those people.

Scripture:  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:18-31