Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenantnot of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2Corinthians 3:5-6 (NIV)
I have no problem giving God the glory for anything good in my life. When I do something, which gives honor to God, or is edifying to those around me, I know it is from God, and its origin is from the Holy Spirit of God. Contrary, if it is something which does not glorify God, then I have no problem taking the credit for that; because without God in my life, this is the real me.
It is easy for me to agree with the Apostle Paul, when he stated, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells (Rom 7:18). I understand this principle, which states, I can never fully attain a righteous standing before a Holy God based on my keeping the commandments. It wont happen! It has never happened! Its not supposed to happen. The law, or the commandments, were simply to show us our need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.
So the result of my understanding is this; I can discern within my life, there will be no good thing coming from within me, unless it is by God. He will be the one initiating my willingness, and providing the ability to love, or to serve, others.
This is powerful for us to comprehend as Christians, because it lets us know; God is doing a work in us, on us, and through us. But we must also understand this; what He has started, He must finish! We seem to have a hard time with this, because we tend to like to get in the mix of things, and roll up our sleeves and try to help God. But He doesnt need our help. He needs our obedience and willingness to be used by Him.
The Spirit of God will start a work within the life of the believer, but we must guard ourselves from the temptation of attempting to control it or alter His leading. If we dont allow God to lead and to do the work, including finishing it, we will be tempted to replace His perfect and specific plans with our template and imperfect ways for handling these various situations. This leads us to a stagnant spiritual life, filled with routines, and practices, which will leave us in a rut.
We can see examples of this happening in the Book of Judges. God would start a revival by His Spirit, only to have it taken over by man-made religious practices. These practices perverted the real relationship, which God desired to have with His people. The society would suffer, as they turned from God and worshipped false gods; eventually crying out to God for help. He would start a work again with the Spirit and again man would attempt to finish in the flesh what was started in the spirit.
Cant we see where we have had the same thing happen within our Nation; within our cities, and within our lives? God starts a work within our lives, and we are blessed, only to attempt to refine the process ourselves by attempting to live a religious life. Suddenly, time has passed, and things are changing, and the feeling we once had of peace and love is replaced by fear, anger and anxiety.
What went wrong? We didnt allow God to do His work within our lives by continuing our relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. Gods Holly Spirit leading us in spending time with Him in the Word, and in prayer was replaced with legalistic practices. The result was we finally become depressed at our inability to do the right thing, and we lose hope; returning to sinful patterns. The problem was, our hope was placed in the wrong thing. It was placed in our own ability, and we didnt allow God to finish what He was doing through us.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
You see, the scriptures tell us, we are but jars of clay, or as I like to say, Cracked pots. We are not the focus or the source of wisdom; it is from God, who dwells within the life of a believer. God uses us to spread The Gospel Message, and He gives us the power to do the work He has given us. And, since we acknowledge this power is from Him and not from us, it should keep us humble, and it should motivate us to spend time with Him daily, because He is our power source.
Oh what a gift we were given so freely through the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross of Calvary. I cannot boast of competence in my ability, for mine is a competence through Christ!
Unleash the power Christian! Let God be God, and allow Him to use you to change the world in which we live. It happens one life at a time.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from reading the scriptures above? Where does our competency come from? What are we competent to do? Where do we get the power to do this?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to implement the truths of these scriptures in your life starting today? Will you allow God to do all that He desires through you?
APPLICATION: Take it one day at a time. Seek God in the morning in prayer. Spend time each day in the Word of God. Let Him speak to others through you. Tell Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit each day to empower you to do His will.
I have no problem giving God the glory for anything good in my life. When I do something, which gives honor to God, or is edifying to those around me, I know it is from God, and its origin is from the Holy Spirit of God. Contrary, if it is something which does not glorify God, then I have no problem taking the credit for that; because without God in my life, this is the real me.
It is easy for me to agree with the Apostle Paul, when he stated, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells (Rom 7:18). I understand this principle, which states, I can never fully attain a righteous standing before a Holy God based on my keeping the commandments. It wont happen! It has never happened! Its not supposed to happen. The law, or the commandments, were simply to show us our need for the Savior, Jesus Christ.
So the result of my understanding is this; I can discern within my life, there will be no good thing coming from within me, unless it is by God. He will be the one initiating my willingness, and providing the ability to love, or to serve, others.
This is powerful for us to comprehend as Christians, because it lets us know; God is doing a work in us, on us, and through us. But we must also understand this; what He has started, He must finish! We seem to have a hard time with this, because we tend to like to get in the mix of things, and roll up our sleeves and try to help God. But He doesnt need our help. He needs our obedience and willingness to be used by Him.
The Spirit of God will start a work within the life of the believer, but we must guard ourselves from the temptation of attempting to control it or alter His leading. If we dont allow God to lead and to do the work, including finishing it, we will be tempted to replace His perfect and specific plans with our template and imperfect ways for handling these various situations. This leads us to a stagnant spiritual life, filled with routines, and practices, which will leave us in a rut.
We can see examples of this happening in the Book of Judges. God would start a revival by His Spirit, only to have it taken over by man-made religious practices. These practices perverted the real relationship, which God desired to have with His people. The society would suffer, as they turned from God and worshipped false gods; eventually crying out to God for help. He would start a work again with the Spirit and again man would attempt to finish in the flesh what was started in the spirit.
Cant we see where we have had the same thing happen within our Nation; within our cities, and within our lives? God starts a work within our lives, and we are blessed, only to attempt to refine the process ourselves by attempting to live a religious life. Suddenly, time has passed, and things are changing, and the feeling we once had of peace and love is replaced by fear, anger and anxiety.
What went wrong? We didnt allow God to do His work within our lives by continuing our relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. Gods Holly Spirit leading us in spending time with Him in the Word, and in prayer was replaced with legalistic practices. The result was we finally become depressed at our inability to do the right thing, and we lose hope; returning to sinful patterns. The problem was, our hope was placed in the wrong thing. It was placed in our own ability, and we didnt allow God to finish what He was doing through us.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
You see, the scriptures tell us, we are but jars of clay, or as I like to say, Cracked pots. We are not the focus or the source of wisdom; it is from God, who dwells within the life of a believer. God uses us to spread The Gospel Message, and He gives us the power to do the work He has given us. And, since we acknowledge this power is from Him and not from us, it should keep us humble, and it should motivate us to spend time with Him daily, because He is our power source.
Oh what a gift we were given so freely through the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross of Calvary. I cannot boast of competence in my ability, for mine is a competence through Christ!
Unleash the power Christian! Let God be God, and allow Him to use you to change the world in which we live. It happens one life at a time.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from reading the scriptures above? Where does our competency come from? What are we competent to do? Where do we get the power to do this?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to implement the truths of these scriptures in your life starting today? Will you allow God to do all that He desires through you?
APPLICATION: Take it one day at a time. Seek God in the morning in prayer. Spend time each day in the Word of God. Let Him speak to others through you. Tell Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit each day to empower you to do His will.
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