This poem is precious to me.

Its tattered pages, tucked in my wallet

has been a source of comfort for many years,

as I sought the will of God for my life.

Others May, You Cannot.

If God has called you to be really like Jesus

He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility.

God's call will put such demands of obedience on you

that you will not be able to follow other people,

or measure yourself by other Christians.

At times, He will let other people do things

which He will not let you do.

Other Christians who seem very religious

will push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes

to carry out their plans.

You cannot, and if you attempt it,

you will meet with failure and rebuke from the Lord.

Others may boast of themselves,

of their work, of their successes,

 
but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing,

 
and if you begin it, He will lead you to despise yourself

and all your good works.

Others may be allowed to succeed in making money,

or may have a legacy left to them,

 
but it is likely God will keep you poor.

God wants you to have something far better than gold,

namely, a helpless dependence upon Him,

 
that He may demonstrate His faithful love for you

in supplying your needs day by day.

God may let others be honored and put forward,

and keep you hidden in obscurity

in order to produce some fragrant fruit

for His coming glory

which can only be produced in the shade.

He may let others be great,

but keep you small.

He may let others do a work for Him

and get the credit for it now.

The reward for your work is held in the hands of Jesus

and you will not see it until He comes.

The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you

with a jealous love.

He will rebuke you for the little words and feelings

or for wasting your time.

So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign,

and has a right to do as He pleases with His own.

He does not owe you an explanation of these mysteries.

But if you give yourself to be His child,

He will wrap you up in a jealous love

and give you the precious blessings for those who belong,

heart and soul, to Him.

Settle it forever, then,

that you are to deal directly with the Holy Spirit.

It is His option, to tie your tongue,

or chain your hand,

or close your eyes in ways

that He does not seem to use with others.

 
And when you are so possessed by the living God

that your heart delights over this peculiar, personal, private,

jealous guardianship and management

of the Holy Spirit over your life,

you will have found the vestibule of heaven.

What is your only comfort in life and death?

That I am not my own,

but belong, body and soul

 
in life and in death,

to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins

with His precious blood,

and He has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.

He also watches over me in such a way

that not a hair can fall from my head

without the will of my Father in heaven.

In fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to Him, Christ, by His Holy Spirit,

assures me of eternal life

and makes me wholeheartedly willing

 
and ready from now on to live for Him.

                             

                                    -Heideberg Catechism

An Encouraging Music Video of God's "Amazing Love"!