5 We don’t preach ourselves, but rather the lordship of Jesus Christ, for we are your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Memory of the Month: Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Today's reading: ISAIAH 30-31 PHILIPPIANS 4
He Makes It True
My words do not make me a Christian. The Spirit within me makes me who I am. The fact that I have done this devotional exercise every morning for 11 solid years does not make me any more righteous. It is only meaningful if The Holy Spirit speaks through these words to someone to increase their desire for God's life in Christ Jesus. That is because Christ is to be all as we become less and less.
What makes you who you are? What belief drives you everyday? All people have a need for deep faith. It comes from the part of us that is created in the image of God. Because our souls are created by God and for Him, the soul of each woman and man craves His likeness. The vast majority of the world has not discovered the answer to the craving inside, so, they pursue everything under the sun to satisfy that craving.
Look around at all the activity that seems to move our world or occupy the masses. Look at the mess at our borders. People stream to this country for 'a better life'. It is profoundly a microcosm of the entire world-people working to a better life. People employ all their energies to step up to what they have accepted as 'something better'.
Look at our former President Trump. For the first time in 25 years, He is not listed on Forbes 400 richest Americans. He got to the top-the very top of what the world defines as the greatest place and now He is no longer on the 'richest' list. There are many explanations for this but the fact remains: he is not on the top anymore. This is not a slam on the man but a simple truth-the truth that it is not a man/woman's fortune or status that defines him/her, it's what motivates them.
The top of the world? Actually, the top of the world is a cold, barren lifeless place-back to reality. The truth is that the enemy can only offer the world in this lifetime. After that, what does the enemy offer?
So, what really motivates you? What is truth to you?
Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. If you try, you will wind up loving the first master and hating the second, or vice versa. People try to serve both God and money—but you can’t. You must choose one or the other.
Jesus used the word for riches, money, possessions or property. This is what we call success.
Do we serve God or success? This brings us back to what makes us who we are or 'who' makes us who we are. So it's either 'what' or 'who'. God is the only eternal 'who' with the only answer. Everything else is just 'what'.
No 'what' will ever fill your life with love and peace. No 'what' will give you God's grace.
Our words do not make us 'Christian'. Christ makes it so. Our work does not make us a success. Jesus makes it so and He does it for his own glory.
None are worthy of success until they are ready to completely remove their name from it and replace it with the name Christ Jesus.
Christ Jesus makes it so.
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Have mercy on me for the sin of self. I pray for the absolute desire for You to become all in my heart and mind.
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