“BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF YOU”. This used to be my motto. I never put any kind of value in my looks. I know a lot of people who are proud of their “looks”, but in my mind I didn’t give myself my looks- I have my parents to thank for that. If someone told me, “You’re pretty”, it does not mean much.
Especially now, in today’s social media “selfie” culture, narcissism is rampant. Like Narcissus, people are in love with their own image. Something needs to change. Not that someone can’t tell you that you are a beautiful person, but if you are posting a selfie fishing for compliments- there’s an issue. I want to ask you a question, why is it important for you to be viewed and esteemed “beautiful” by others? And posting a selfie with a Scripture isn’t covering up your vanity. Please continue to read.
NOW, if someone told me, “You’re so smart!” then I would light up like a Christmas tree because I put so much value in my accomplishments. I could completely control getting a 4.0 in college. I can control how much I read and study. “You’re strong!” I can control how much weight I lift and how much exercising I do. “You’re fast!” I can control how fast and how far I ran. These things were tangible markers that I could say, “I DID THAT! Look at me and what I’ve accomplished!!” Until I met Jesus.
Until Jesus said, “Die to everything that you’ve created and controlled, die to yourself and your ways, die to your strength, and follow Me”. Suddenly, my value had to be found in Christ. My strength had to be found in Christ. I came to the understanding that ALL I did was counted as loss. My “power” is faulty. There is nothing I can do of myself that has any lasting value.
“So Jesus answered them by saying, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself; but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way.” John 5:19
In the end, I cannot be a person with divided loyalty. I cannot elevated myself and my ways and elevate God and His ways at the same time. I cannot be loyal to myself and loyal to God at the same time. A person with divided loyalty is not completely convinced that God’s way is best. He treats God’s Word like any human advice and retains the option to disobey. He vacillates between allegiance to subjective feelings, the world’s ideas, and God’s commands.
Even JESUS, God in the flesh, did nothing of His own will. His humanity was controlled by the Divine. His strength, power, resolve; ALL came from the Holy Spirit of God that completely controlled His life. In like manner, this is God’s will for us: to be completely controlled and led by the Spirit of Truth. I glory in my infirmities because His strength is made perfect in my weakness. Now, my motto is “Believe in the power of the Almighty. For with Him, nothing is impossible! I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” What’s your motto?
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page