Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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From the word of the Lord that came to me while visiting a friend
The Lord wants His children to look up to Him. No, not physically. He wants us to look up to Him in the sense of holding Him in high esteem, so that when He speaks, we consider what He says to be the best thing ever said. He wants His children to look up to him the way little boys look up to their fathers. He wants His children to think that whatever he tells them is always right. He wants them to like Him and to desire to be like him.
The Lord showed me while I was visiting a dear sick friend that His children do not look up to Him, except in words. They speak highly of Him, but when He speaks to them, they treat His voice with the same respect they may treat the voice of others around them whom they trust and love. His voice is not really dearer to them than the voices of people here on earth who look and sound good. In their hearts, His voice doesn’t over-ride their traditions if it conflicts with them; it doesn’t alter their personal opinions if it fails to agree with them. It doesn’t move them from their old habits if it reveals to them a holier course. They treat His voice as if it is just another one.
This is the attitude of the saints who will be saved in the end. They will say in their hearts to every person and every spirit on this earth, “Anything my Father says is better than anything your father says!” And they will mean it! They will feel from the bottom of their hearts that anything their heavenly Father does is better than anything that anyone else’s father can do. THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED TO MEET GOD IN PEACE LOOK UP TO THEIR FATHER!
When a child who looks up to his father hears someone suggest that another father may be as good or better than his, he gets riled up! He is prepared to defend his father’s honor and glory. He knows his father is the best one. He knows that his father never does wrong and always tells the truth.
Jesus showed me that God’s children do not feel this way about their heavenly Father. They talk this way, but they do not feel this way in their hearts. If they did, they would not practice any kind of baptism but His, teach no doctrine but His, share in no communion but His, would join no religious body but be content with being in the body of Christ. “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”
When the Lord showed me that His children do not look up to Him, it reminded me of Jesus’ observation of God’s children while he was here among us. He said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of these people, saying, This people draw nigh to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, saith the Lord.”
There are many voices around you. They are all calling to you, saying, “Come this way.” God’s voice is not just another one.