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Dead Wood Burning
by Mike Barres

We had some tree work done at our house recently. Some large dead trees needed to be cut down. Despite trying hard to protect the living trees around the dead ones, some of them were damaged as the old dead ones fell. As I was burning the debris left after the project, some of the branches had been alive and some were long dead. As I broke them up and put them in the fire, I was reminded of two things. Dead branches break easier and burn better.

Have you ever heard of someone being referred to as "on fire" for the Lord? Some Bible verses that lend themselves to that concept:

[Jesus said] "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot" (Revelation 3:15 NKJV). [John the Baptist said] "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11).
Just like dead wood burns best, those who have died to self "burn" best for Jesus. Self can get in the way. We want our way, our will, our desire, our plans, and our priorities. When we die to self, we want His way, His will, His desires, His plans, and His priorities. Jesus said it this way: "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

Paul described the process in this way:

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1).
When we are yielded and surrendered to Jesus with a humble heart, the Lord sees that we are broken to self. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart -- these, O God, You will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

If we are dead to self, it is easy for God to transform us from our will and plans, to His will and plans. If self is still on the throne of our lives, then breaking us and transforming us will be much harder. God has said, "I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:19). In other words, it's better to humble ourselves and have a "broken and contrite heart" that is open to the Lord's work in our lives, than for the Lord to have to break us before He can transform us!

James tells us:

He [God] gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
So let's die to self and humble ourselves before the Lord. If we do, He will work His transformation and we will burn brightly for Him.

Posted: 08/04/2009
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200908/20090804_deadtrees.html

(c) 2009 Mike Barres .

Word for Today - July 28, 2009

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Don't Lose Your Peace
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You...
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
One of the greatest promises in the Bible is, 'You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.' Who are you trusting to solve the problem, God or yourself? You need to live by the principle 'Do your best, then let God do the rest.' Too many of us have the idea that it's wrong to enjoy ourselves while we have problems. We grow up believing that if we can't do anything else, the least we can do is worry, act stressed out and be miserable. The Bible addresses this: 'Do not [for a moment] be frightened... for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign... from God' (Philippians 1:28 AMP). This Scripture teaches us that when adversity comes (and it will) we must stay in peace. Satan doesn't know what to do with us when he can't get us upset; we've taken a powerful weapon out of his hands. 'For such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a... sign... from God.' Keeping your peace doesn't exempt you from life's difficulties, it just allows God to have the last word. By trusting Him completely you are no longer at the mercy of circumstances, other people, or your own emotions and limitations.

Somebody quipped, 'In times like these it's helpful to remember that there have always been times like these.' The question is not will trouble come, but how will you handle it? The writer to the Hebrews says, '... We which have believed do enter into rest... ' (Hebrews 4:3). When things go wrong do what God leads you to do, then rest in Him and watch Him work on your behalf!

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