How often do we see people start off with a bang serving God only to see them fizzle like a flash-in-the-pan? Today's My Utmost for His Highest reading offers an insight into the kind of attitude we need to have to avoid this. The scripture reference is 2 Corinthians 3:18:

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Here is a quote from the devotion:

A servant of God must stand so much alone that he never knows he is alone. In the first phases of Christian life disheartenments come, people who used to be lights flicker out, and those who used to stand with us pass away. We have to get so used to it that we never know we are standing alone…. We must build our faith, not on the fading light, but on the light that never fails. When "big" men go we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, the one thing that remains is looking in the face of God for ourselves.

We are never called on to parade our doubts or to express the hidden ecstasies of our life with God. The secret of the worker's life is that he keeps in tune with God all the time.

In short, Oswald Chambers is suggesting we–prepare to be shocked here–keep our eyes focused on God. What a novel idea! Just as the Bible teaches, we shouldn't follow after men or what men believe. We should keep our eyes focused on God and what He wants us to do. That will see us through the valley.

There is a passage somewhere in The Pilgrim's Progress where Christian goes through a valley. I don't have the book infront of me right now, but I should have it posted in my online store soon (it is public domain and will be available for free download).

Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 

1 Kings 2:28

Joab stood the big test, he remained absolutely loyal and true to David and did not turn after the fascinating and ambitious Absalom, but yet to wards the end of his life he turned after the craven Adonijah. Always remain alert to the fact that where one man has gone back is exactly where any one may go back (see 1 Cor. 10:13). You have gone through the big crisis, now be alert over the least things; take into calculation the "retired sphere of the leasts."

"Kept by the power of God" – that is the only safety.

How often do we hear of "men of God" who are tempted and fall? How many of these men make the same mistakes over and over (or make the same mistakes others have made)? Why don't we learn from the mistakes of others? If someone has fell "over" some sin in the past, what makes us–me–any different?

In aviation, crashes are studied to the nth degree. They study the accidents to learn from them. That way, the knowlegde learned can be passed along to everyone else. They can take that information and learn from it. If Flight XYZ crashed because situation 1, situation 2, and action 5 caused it, current pilots will learn and not so action 5 when faced with similar situations. Why should we do nothing less in our Christian lives?

I heard a man speak about what Josh McDowel requires people to setup for him when he is in town. He has a male stay in the hotel room next to his. Any phone calls, any delivereis, anything that comes for Josh goes to the guy in the next room first. Think about this for a second. If he always does this, no one could stick an accusation on Josh of receiving inappropriate material on the road. He cannot do anything with the delivery person who comes because he never sees them.

Just like everyone else in this world, we are only human. We can fall. ""Kept by the power of God" – that is the only safety."

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

How many of us have read the parable in Matthew 25 and thought "Ok, I need to do something for God?" Well, Today's My Utmost for His Highest has a thought provoking view of this parable: 

The servant justified himself in everything he did and condemned his lord on every point…. Have we been slandering God by daring to worry when He has said: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"? Worrying means exactly what this servant implied – "I know You mean to leave me in the lurch." The person who is lazy naturally is always captious – "I haven't had a decent chance," and the one who is lazy spiritually is captious with God. Lazy people always strike out on an independent line.

Never forget that our capacity in spiritual matters is measured by the promises of God. Is God able to fulfil His promises?

I have never thought about this parable in this way, but it makes you think. Yes, we say we need to work for God, blah blah blah; however, do we really seek God? Everything points back to the fact that God wants a relationship with us. He doesn't care about rituals, He doesn't care about going to church, He doesn't care about any of the "standard" stuff. What He wants is for us to Love him, follow Him, and seek after Him.