What Watchman Nee taught me...

Sit, Walk, Stand by Watchman Nee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A rare book, full of simple truths. I find it hard to believe I've never read one of Watchman Nee's books before.

That will definitely change.

Not only is his writing full of genuine sincerity, but somehow he's able to take all the complexities we Christians get distracted with and make them simple truths so easy to understand and believe.

God's word is "Stand!" "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." The Greek verb "stand" with its following preposition "against" in verse 11 really means "hold your ground." There is a precious truth hidden in that command of God. It is not a command to invade a foreign territory. Warfare, in modern parlance, would imply a command to "march." Armies march into other countries to occupy and to subdue. God has not told us to do this. We are not to march but to stand. The word "stand" implies that the ground disputed by the enemy is really God's, and therefor ours. We need not struggle to gain a foothold on it.

The verses he's talking about here happen to be from my favorite book of the bible, Ephesians. And they happen to be from my favorite chapter, chapter 6, so you can imagine my surprise when at 32 I'm still able to learn something profound and new about a well-loved and well-read book and chapter.

But perhaps my favorite part of this book came at the end, after Watchman Nee tells a story of how God moved to show His power to an entire island.

Nee and seven others took a trip to an island and asked God to let it rain on a day that was celebrated by all the islands inhabitants to their god. Of course, God shows up and it's awesome. What brought me to tears is what followed. Nee lost touch with one of the men who'd played an integral part in God's plan and when he ran into him years later, he asked the man if he still followed God. The man's response broke my heart, but not in the way you'd think.

"Mr. Nee!" he said, "do you mean to say that after all we went through I could ever forsake him?"

There is an incredible love and devotion behind those words. An unwavering, no-nonsense and no-room-for-doubt kind of faith that I want in my life and that I am pursuing like a pearl of great price or buried treasure.

If you haven't read this book and you call yourself a Christian, please, go buy it and read it now. Let this man's life be an example to you.

Read it!

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