It's Not About You!

 "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." —Luke 10:20 

"It's not about you." is the first sentence of the first chapter in the book "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. It is about the God who has a purpose for your life.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." -  Jeremiah 29:11

Every now and again, we all have an opportunity to experience something supernatural.  The movement of the Spirit of God.  Some mighty act of God precipitated through us or through someone else.  We are amazed and perhaps derive a sense of great joy – like the disciples.  But we must be careful – like the disciples.  It is very easy to lose focus on God, who is the source of all spiritual power, and focus on the event that is the result of that spiritual power.   And perhaps, even attribute credit to yourself or to someone else and not to the Source.  

A question that is very often asked of volunteer mission teams, that serve with us, at the end of their trips was “What did you get out of your time here?”  A simple question, but it focuses on the wrong point of the mission trip.  Maybe a better question might have been, “How did you see God at work during your time here?” We have had people give Martie and me credit for our service many times.  It is easy to begin to think that somehow, we were the reason some good happened.  But, in fact, the source of the “good” was God, not our abilities or sacrifices.  God is the source of our abilities, and our sacrifices are a result of our devotion to Him.  Jesus told the disciples not to rejoice in what they were doing, but in why they were able to do it.  

Listen.  It is OK to feel good about yourself.  But we must be careful that we don’t take credit for something that someone else, namely God, did through us.  Certainly, the world does not understand that. But that lack of understanding presents you with an opportunity to give God the glory. to point them to the Father and the Son.

And about that feeling.  I was talking to someone the other day.  He was telling me about how he had helped someone in need.  He said “It made me feel good inside.” I told him the feeling he had was not “Good” but “Right”.  When we are obedient to God’s leading and will, we have a sense of “Right Being” in our hearts.  That can be easily mistaken for good and that can be easily mis-attributed to our own action and credit.  Like the doing of a good thing somehow vindicates us – making us good.  Right– is what it feels like to be walking in obedience to the will of the Father.  Out of obedience springs the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace (Galatians 5:22-23) …. The result of that, in our flesh, is most often the human emotion of feeling good.  

It’s OK to have that feeling.  What is not Ok is taking credit for it.  Make certain that in all you do for God that you give credit where credit is due.  And you can feel good about that!   

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone