Bio's
"Remember your guides, who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith.." (Heb. 13:7).
"Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set" (Prov. 22:28, Douay-Rheims). "And no one having drunk old [wine] immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better'" (Lk. 5:39, ALT).
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Certainly the testimonies of those saints who have ventured into what are, for most of us, uncharted territories of the faith, are of great benefit to uplift and encourage. Indeed! What a powerful tool to promote and guide - that others would follow their footsteps into a deeper walk with the Lord.
The following paraphrase, taken from an old tract of G.D. Watson's, may also shed some light on a few of the more vital aspects that are part of a vibrant and intimate relationship with the Lord.
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Truly Like Jesus!
To be truly like Jesus is to be drawn into a life of crucifixion and humility. The path is not found by following other Christians; it requires stricter demands of obedience. Once on the journey you'll begin to notice, in numerous ways, others can do things the Holy Spirit will not let you do.
Others who are very religious and useful may push themselves, pull strings, and scheme to carry out their plans, but you cannot. Any attempts such as these, and you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others can brag about themselves, their work, their successes, their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you such liberty. If you begin to He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others might even succeed in making great sums of money, have a legacy left to them, or live in luxury, but you come to learn that God supplies your needs only on a day-to-day basis. He wants you to have something far better than gold: A helpless dependence on Him and His unseen treasury.
Others can be honored and put forward while you are kept back from the forefront, hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced under the shadow of His wing.
Others may become great, but you He will keep small. Others do a work for Him and get the credit, but you learn to labor without even knowing how much you are doing. Then, to make your work still more precious, He allows others to get the credit for work you have done. This teaches the true meaning of the Cross, humility, and the unfathomable value of being clothed with His nature.
Others do things and never seem distressed, but not so with you. The Holy Spirit keeps a strict watch over you and will, with a jealous love, rebuke you for careless words and feelings, or for wasting your time.
God is an infinite Sovereign that has a right to do as He pleases with His own. While He may not always explain the numerous things that puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, He takes you at your word. If you absolutely sell yourself to be His slave, He will wrap you up in His fervent love and let other people say and do many things that you cannot.
It is the privilege we have - the privilege of allowing God to tie our tongue, or chain our hands, or close our eyes in ways others are not dealt with. And when so completely possessed with the Living God that you are, in the depths of your heart, delighted over this peculiar, intimate, jealous guardianship and management of the Holy Spirit, you will have found the high and holy calling of God. OH! And one other thing. Each and every day you learn to fulfill more of His will for your life, you will also find, . . . you are becoming, . . . more and more, . . . truly . . . like Jesus.
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See for yourself! The life stories found in this section are of men and women who were captivated by something more precious than this world has to offer. But don't be fooled: Their walk with the Lord did not begin this way. The reason such people are recognized in our day as pillars of the faith is precisely because they spent years in training, learning how to yield to the One they came to know and serve - in love. They embraced a lesson so vital to becoming vessels meet for His use. And what is that? To be used of the Lord, for His purpose, one must submit to the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. In other words, one must be pliable in the Potter's hands.
May the Lord give us grace that, with time, and continuous devotion, we would allow Him to fashion us, so as to become vessels of honor - as servants who have not only grown, but matured, into the fullness of the stature of Christ - meet for His every use (1 Thes. 4:4; 2 Tim. 2:21; Eph. 4:13).
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"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," (Gal. 4:19).
". . in him we live, and move, and have our being; . . . , For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:28).
"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal 5:25).
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