Brothers and sisters, what kind of impression do you want to leave after your departure from an organization, an assembly, or a country where you have served?
What will those people you’ve served with say about you? If you had the opportunity to choose, would you want to be remembered for your character? Some aspect of your ministry? The way you live your life of faith with your family?
Fortunately or unfortunately, it is not possible for us to make that choice. We cannot choose the impression people have of us. Remember what the scripture says: “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.”
Recently I listened to a pastor counseling a group of youth who were about to enter into the ministry of God.
He said: “If you want to impress people, tell them about your exploits, your success, and your blessings. But if you really want to make a difference and have a deeper and durable impact in their lives, then tell them about your battles, your failures, your fears, or your doubts.”
Those who present themselves as being above the fray, wise and above failure, isolate themselves. They are the first victims of their own attitude.
Many of them are entangled in tribulations without solution because they cannot admit that they also are concerned by life’s crises!
All the great men of the Bible, except Jesus Christ, one way or another, failed.
Nevertheless, God chose to use them with a purpose. They build us up so that when we fall down we may have the courage to lift our head again. Does that give us a pass to sin or to live any way we want? Certainly not!
Let’s not be known as experts of the law —“don’t do this, do that”— but rather experts of the unlimited grace of Christ. Let’s share the grace of God around us!
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips. —Proverbs 27:2, NIV
Prayer: Father! Help us to stand firm because we cannot make it without you!
Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.
1 Comment |Add a comment
Excellent message! Thank you!