How God Deals With Our Self-Centeredness
"Everything connected with getting our own way... is killed off for good." Galatians 5:24 TM
It's estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, "I, me, my, mine." But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centeredness doesn't give up without a fight. That's why Paul writes, "Everything connected with getting our own way... is killed off for good." Self interest won't just roll over and die; it must be killed. And it's a daily battle, because we have a tendency to cling to our own interests with a death grip. Jesus told His disciples, "Whoever desires to be first... let him be your slave" (Matthew 20:@7 NKJV). In those days a slave was considered to be the lowest employee among the household servants. That means you have been called to sacrifice your own interests in order to serve others. And if He has to, God will leave you with "a reminder" of what it took to get through to you in your particular areas of stubbornness and self-centeredness. For example, after his encounter with God, Jacob walked with a limp, but it was a constant reminder of his total dependence on God. And the great apostle Paul writes, "So I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations" (2 Corinthians 12:7 MSG). What's your handicap? A habit you battle? A fear that dogs your tracks? A difficult relationship? A financial shortfall? A physical ailment? Why doesn't God just take it away? Because He considers anything that makes you more dependent on Him and less dependent on yourself, a plus, and not a minus.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
It's estimated that the average person speaks about nine million words a year, and more than half are, "I, me, my, mine." But following Christ means dying to self, and self-centeredness doesn't give up without a fight. That's why Paul writes, "Everything connected with getting our own way... is killed off for good." Self interest won't just roll over and die; it must be killed. And it's a daily battle, because we have a tendency to cling to our own interests with a death grip. Jesus told His disciples, "Whoever desires to be first... let him be your slave" (Matthew 20:@7 NKJV). In those days a slave was considered to be the lowest employee among the household servants. That means you have been called to sacrifice your own interests in order to serve others. And if He has to, God will leave you with "a reminder" of what it took to get through to you in your particular areas of stubbornness and self-centeredness. For example, after his encounter with God, Jacob walked with a limp, but it was a constant reminder of his total dependence on God. And the great apostle Paul writes, "So I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations" (2 Corinthians 12:7 MSG). What's your handicap? A habit you battle? A fear that dogs your tracks? A difficult relationship? A financial shortfall? A physical ailment? Why doesn't God just take it away? Because He considers anything that makes you more dependent on Him and less dependent on yourself, a plus, and not a minus.
This message taken from: Daily Devotional - The Word for You Today
Recent
Archive
2025
January
"Forgiving each other ...as...God forgave you."EMBRACING UNCERTAINITY AND FOLLOWING GODBLESSING IS PROGRESSIVEIS GOD SHAKING YOU UP?PROBLEMS? DRAW CLOSER TO GODDON'T AVOID--ENGAGEYOU ARE COMMANDED TO LOVEJUST SOW THE SEEDSEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (1)SEE YOURSELF AS VALUABLE (2)PRAY ABOUT IT, THEN TAKE ACTIONTHE IMPORTANCE OF GOD'S WORDTHE LINK BETWEEN DISOBEDIENCE AND STRESSHAVE YOU TALKED TO GOD ABOUT IT?KNOW YOUR PURPOSE, KNOW YOUR PARTNERSHOW TO GET WHAT YOU WANTPARENTING, THE BIBLE WAYHOW TO BUILD YOUR SELF-ESTEEMSIGNS FOLLOW FAITHWORSHIP: GIVING YOURSELF TO GODCHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS, AND CHANGE YOUR LIFEFind Prayer PartnersHOW GOD SEES YOUBE GUIDED BY WISDOM, NOT IMPULSEHOW TO GIVEPAUSE AND REFLECTWHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (1)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES ABOUT MONEY (2)WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (3))WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (4)WHAT THE LORD TEACHES US ABOUT MONEY (5)SEEKING GOD
February
Practice Saying No To YourselfThe Best Is Yet To ComeThe Grandfather's Mistake Became The Grandson's MiracleHow To Conquer The Fear Of FailingLet's Respect Our DifferencesPass It On To OthersThrow It DownYou Are Called To Be Salt And LightExpect To "Wrestle"Use Your Gifts In Ministry To OthersKeep Trusting GodFear Is The Enemy Of GrowthChange Your RoutineYou Are Not Beyond God's ReachDon't Look At Christians, Look At ChristHave A God PerspectiveGod Uses Damaged PeopleUnderstanding The Word "Imputed"Governed By Christ's Love For UsToday Expect God's FavorGrowth Is About EnlargementKeep Praying And BelievingRefuse To Wear The LabelShake It Off, And Move ForwardWhen Others "Don't Get It"Righteousness Is A Gift, Not A Reward
March
Don't Break, Bounce Back (1)How Long Will You Live?Don't Break, Bounce Back (2)Put Away The Measuring StickKnow When To Let GoUse Your ImaginationConnect, Commit, CommunicateHow God Sees YouRearing Spiritual FruitConsult God On Your Daily To Do ListBorn To Believe (1)Born To Believe (2)Only Jesus Can Satisfy Your Soul"Forgive Them" And Delete ItPut God Between Yourself and the FoeBe True To The ScripturesThe Kids Are Watchcng You (1)The Kids Are Watching You (2)If You're A Leader, Read ThisPrayer and Your RASLearn To Say NoYou Can Learn To LoveAlways Agree With God’s WordGive God All The GloryDon’t Let A Wall Build Up Between YouTo Be Used By GodTell Them While You Still CanYou’re Almost ThereA Ministry Of Tears“Much More” Or “Much Less” (1)
Categories
no categories