I remember many, many years ago as a new believer in Jesus Christ when a man whom I deeply respected commented to me how Christ was visible in me.
That was the greatest compliment I could remember ever receiving.
I was humbled and almost embarrassed because I realized that God really was working through me and I feared that the joy of that truth would be overcome by my pride - the pride of knowing that God was working through me and that that made me special.
Now, the truth is this: God does work in and through us. But, what we often forget is that it is HIS work IN and THROUGH us, not ours, that makes “things happen,” that changes us, that impacts other people. So, it’s not pride to recognize that truth.
However, it is pride when we begin to see ourselves as better, more righteous or closer to God than others because of God’s work in us.
That with which I struggled wasn’t really about God working in me. What I realized was the tendency in me to turn God’s amazing work of grace and make it a badge of pride. Something like, “See! God is working in me. Aren’t I special? I AM special and a little better than many others because of it. As a matter of fact, I am holier than others because of how close I am to God.”
Interesting how quickly the grace of God becomes twisted in our minds and becomes a work of our own fleshly, selfish me-ism.
That statement made so many years ago affected me deeply. I WANT to walk with God. I WANT to know Him deeply. I WANT to be used by Him in His work, in His way & timing.
I simply want to walk with Him. Then, if He should choose to impact others through me, the greatest compliment would be for me to hear what Zechariah 8:23 says, “And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
That’s the greatest compliment ever!
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On continual re-entry
15 years ago
