Mere Container

Sitting in the Portuguese Sun

As I sat in the Portuguese, morning sun reading a book, I am surrounded by peace and beauty.  The scent from garden flora and fauna lift me and invigorate me.  I am content.  I was reading about being a mere container for God and as I turned saw this earthen pot laying on its side visibly displaying its empty contents.  That God would confirm His word with a visible cue was enough for me to know that He is so very near.

There is only God

As I sat in the Portuguese, morning sun reading a book, I am surrounded by peace and beauty.  The scent from garden flora and fauna lift me and invigorate me.  I am content.  I was reading about being a mere container for God and as I turned saw this earthen pot laying on its side visibly displaying its empty contents.  That God would confirm His word with a visible cue was enough for me to know that He is so very near.

There is only one Person in the end – God Himself.  All came from Him, all return to Him.  His one and only Word – His Son was in the beginning.

In Him is the true church, which is His body and in Him is the end ‘that He might gather together in one all things in Christ’.

Alpha and Omega. He is life. He is light. He is love

The first essential truth is that no created being has the life in himself.  As creatures we are created to contain the life, not to be ‘it’ in themselves: the essence of idolatry is to claim to be what only God is.

What God has done in the beauty and wonder of His creation is to make creatures of infinite variety which each in their own measure can contain God in them and manifest His glory.  But containers are not the thing in itself.  All creatures are on the receiving end of life.  They all receive air and sunlight, rain and food.

Man, the crown of His creation, made like God Himself in his faculties but not his attributes.  A thinking, feeling, willing being, a spirit clothed in soul and body.  But not God.

The true life, light, love, wisdom, power, meekness, humility, selflessness, holiness is God Himself and none other.  Man can only live this other quality of life, eternal life, God’s type of life, only by receiving God to live His life in him.

In the marvel of His creation man can freely, intelligently and delightfully contain the living God so that God lives His own divine life out through the living agency and co-operation of a human personality.

But the human being never advances one iota beyond being a mere container of God for time and eternity.  Never will there be one atom of goodness, wisdom, love, eternal life or divine power which he can call his own so that he can say ‘I am holy’, ‘I am wise’, ‘I am mighty’.

That is the deadly sin of all history – idolatry

The human created personality can only find its meaning and slip into gear, when it is immersed in the Divine – His Spirit in our spirit.  His mind.  His will.  His feelings expressed through the power of our soul.  

His actions through our body; then only is the human self-released from itself in spirit, soul and body to manifest the fullness of the Divine self, the wisdom, the power, the beauty of Him who is Love.

For real life, eternal life, is love – self-giving, others serving, self-ignoring love; and that love alone is wisdom, light and power and God alone is that love.

God’s power is love power.

The human self is only the container, a co-operator, a manifestor but never the One Himself.      

Taken from The Deep Things of God by Norman Grubb

Within You (based on Luke 17:21)
The Kingdom of heaven is with you;
Accept now the fullness of His grace
For you are sons and daughters of the living God
Not limited by time and space.
 
The Kingdom of heaven is within you.
In you God has chosen to make His home
He has appointed a pathway for you;
Do not allow your heart to roam.
 
The Kingdom of heaven in within you
What joy there should be in your heart!
All the resources of heaven and earth are yours;
Not just a tiny part.
 
The Kingdom of heaven is within you;
It is not below you or high above.
You have received the pearl of great price;
Live now in the joy of His love.
By the late Andrew Feakin (passed away 16th March 2019)

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:20-21

Peace, I speak peace over you. I am the Lord you God, who brought you out of captivity and into My marvelous light. I am your Rock and your Shield. Your very present help in times of trouble. I alone know the end from the beginning. I am your rescuer. Trust in Me to work My purposes out in your life. Do not fear man, or what man can do. I hold you. You are Mine and none can snatch you from My hand. Be strong. Be in peace. Perfect love casts out all fear. So be filled to overflowing with My love and let love flow over to others from you. For love truly conquers all. I am all you need. / So let My light shine through you to banish the darkness and bring My victory into every situation.