"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." - Matthew 19:29-30
Martie and I have been watching the Great British Baking Show for a few years. No profanity - no sexual overtones - no violence - Although the past couple of years sexual innuendo has increased and there is some profanity, although mild by today's standards - the "language frog" is in the pot and the water is being brought to a boil. Sad. But I digress! Something I have heard from a number of the finalists on the baking show, to include winners, was that they were amazed since they had very low self-esteem. And suddenly they discovered that they had mad baking skills - better than most home bakers in their country.
That got me to thinking about where we, as Christians, are to place our confidence. In ourselves, compared to other people or in the Lord. About whom the Lord considers who is great in contrast to the world's estimation of who should be esteemed.
"But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:25-28
Being great as a Christian means loving God first, to have set the world and what it values aside, including your own welfare, and seeking the good of others. To be like Jesus.
"But whatever gain I [Paul] had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death" Philippians 3:7-10
Can you say that about your life of faith? Or do you struggle to find significance in the world and among men. A.W. Tosier wrote: "A whole new generation of Christians has come up believing that it is possible to 'accept' Christ without forsaking the world."
It is certainly possible, but those Christians are what is known as a carnal Christians.
"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." - Romans 8:5-7
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
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