Reaction & Overreaction
Where are those God has chosen and made ready for the times we are now in? I realize that wording may seem a little like dated vernacular, but I think it’s a good question. I am a touch alarmed, as you may be, that we fail to realize the world we live in is not our home and we are in fact “behind enemy lines.” To be shocked and disgusted by the evil of evildoers is a fool’s errand. We must realize our need for “personal ballast”—weight of character that stabilizes us against the wind, adverse circumstances, and apparent opposition. This is put another way in Scripture, being called maturity. For sure, we are not sufficient on our own, but in and through Christ, we are more than overcomers. Our sufficiency is from and through Him, the maker of heaven and earth. There is a grace in maturity.
Continue reading “Reaction & Overreaction”Building Your Own Thing
You remember Paul's comment about righteousness and how it was exclusive, don't you? Like either/or (see Philippians 3:9). The Pharisees were going about establishing their own righteousness, and thereby were failing to submit themselves to the righteousness of God, the very righteousness God was offering them. That would never do. In a way, the thought I am trying to cover here is like that, only different. What I am wanting to discuss has more to do with what we are “building,” as in an outcome, or result, of our lives. It's a similar trap to the Pharisees, a similar deceit.
It has to do with building your own thing and thereby failing to become a part of what God is building. This is kind of widespread in my view. It's not a few or a small percentage. Sadly, it's just not.
Continue reading “Building Your Own Thing”Self-Life vs Life of Service
The greatest among you shall be your servant … What's He talking about? Is He saying that the servants, literally those who serve us, are the greatest from His point of view? This is counterintuitive, and the mind of man will almost not have it. It has to mean something other than that. He must have something else in mind if we are to defend our personal superiority.
I think it can be safely said that no one is trying to be the most servile, or at least not many. Love God and serve people. We get into trouble when we get this backwards. Yes, we do serve God, but by and through our service to people.