selfless or selfish?
The devil wants me to be so selfish that I forget I'm called to selflessness (Philippians 2:3-4).
The devil wants me so focused on my appearance that I neglect to see and display the fact that I'm made in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
The devil wants me so focused on exercise that I forget that spiritual training is what is most valuable (1 Timothy 4:8)
The devil wants me to be so focused on my husband that I forget that Christ is the true bridegroom (2 Corinthians 11:12).
The devil wants me so focused on children that I forget to recognize how I'm a child of God (John 1:12).
The devil wants me so focused on earthly legality that I forget to follow God's law (Romans 13:1-7).
The devil wants me so focused on food that I forget Christ calls Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35).
The devil wants me so focused on what I'm wearing that I forget to put on my spiritual clothing, or the righteousness and armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-15, Isaiah 61:10).
The devil wants me so focused on darkness that I forget about the light (John 1:5).
The devil wants me so focused on how much sleep I get that I forget my rest is found in Christ alone (Psalm 127:2).
The devil wants me to lose sight of that which is good, turning the blessings in my life into sources of idolatry.
For the most part, the above mentioned things are GOOD. Food is good. Sleep is Good. Being a good steward of the body God has given you is a good thing. Don't get me wrong. Your husband and children are good things - they are some of your biggest blessings.
God created, and called it "good."
But, in a twisted world, the devil seeks to steal, kill, and destroy that which is good (John 10:10). An idol is created when you put it above God, and so, all these good things can become idols of our hearts. When we let idolatry rule in our hearts, we miss out on the abundant life that Jesus offers to us (also John 10:10).
"the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
~ John 10:10
The devil may want to turn selflessness into selfishness, God's image in me into vanity, and light into darkness. However, it is impossible to bring darkness into light. Light will ALWAYS penetrate darkness.
Today, be reminded that you're called to selflessness.
You're called by your Creator into being an image-bearer of Himself.
You're called to train, both bodily and spiritually, being a good steward of your earthly body, a temple of the Holy Spirit.
You're called to be fruitful.
You're called to love the people God has put in your life.
You're called to eat, knowing Jesus is the Bread of Life, and you'll never hunger or thirst when you take of the LIVING water that He offers to us.
You're called to rest in Christ, knowing that sleep is a statement of trust and worship. In going to sleep, you're telling God you trust Him to wake you up in the morning, to provide for your needs, to keep your heart beating, etc.
"... for you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness."
"... having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. THerefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:4b-5
Will you chose to be selfless or selfish today? Are you going to turn the good things in your life into the idols of your heart? Or will you ask God to tear down the idols of your heart, and re-focus your gaze on the cross?
Choose to start your day fully surrendered at the foot of the cross. Tear down the idols.
You want to be the kind of person who, as your feet hit the floor every morning, as one of the ladies in my Bible study group strongly says, at that point you want the devil to go, 'oh shoot, lookout, she's coming!'
The devil has no foothold, because the light has overcome the darkness.
Happy Sunday!! :)
