Friday, February 5, 2016

When It's All Been Said And Done ... Just One Thing That Matters

My Utmost For His Highest
 
If I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. —Philippians 2:17
 
“Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well done.’ ” It is one thing to follow God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath their dignity." CHAMBERS
 
(John 12:43) “…. for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”  John is describing the actions of certain religious leaders who were followers of Jesus, but hid their faith from the Pharisees.  The principle at work is that we crave the acceptance and praise from others.  Some times to the extent that we will not be open about our faith … and at other times, we take credit for something that God has done through us.  Still at other times, we are jealous because some people are recognized and we are not.  All of the glory and praise goes to God.  None of it is ours.  Why do you look to others for affirmation of our worth,  when God has affirmed us in a way that cannot be matched … ever … God sent His Son to redeem us.  The answer is found in our old nature.  Our old nature is self-indulgent and has a ravenous appetite for those things that would seem to fulfill that self-indulgence.  I say “seem to” because our flesh will never be satisfied.  Doesn’t sound very “Christian” does it.  It’s not, but it happens all the time, even in Christians who appear to be serving sacrificially.  My point, we must be on our guard.  Temptation, in general, is choosing something other than God’s best.  That can take many forms.  Even not being recognized for something that you have done for the Lord.  ELGIN
 

“When It’s All Been Said And Done”  Don Moen
 
“When it's all been said and done,  There is just one thing that matters,  Did I do my best to live for truth?,  Did I live my life for you?
 
When it's all been said and done,  All my treasures will mean nothing,  Only what I've done for love's reward,  Will stand the test of time
 
Lord, your mercy is so great,  That you look beyond our weakness,  And find purest gold in miry clay,  Turning sinners into saints.
 
And I will always sing your praise,  Here on earth and ever after,  For you've shown me heavens, my true home,  When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone...”

 
 
Charley Elgin

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