Date: May 18, 2011 1:26 AM
Topic: +DEV+ By His Doing
Topic: +DEV+ By His Doing
By His Doing
"By his doing you are in Christ Jesus",
"Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD." (1 CORINTHIANS 1:30-31)
Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
It is a natural perception that anything we have of value, we have earned. My financial status is a measurement of my productivity and, for many of us, that translates into personal worth.
It is then logical to believe that my standing with God is something I also have to earn. But that is not the way of the gospel. Earth-bound values don't translate to the kingdom of God.
Paul makes it clear to the Corinthians that neither human wisdom nor strength earn anything with God; otherwise we could boast in our wisdom and strength. It is "by His doing" that you are in Christ So boast in the Lord. Your being blessed in Christ is not dependent on you and your ability to persevere. It is "by His doing."
Delight yourself in the Lord. If our being in Christ is dependent on our performance, we will fall under constant pressure to do more. Rather than delighting, we'll be striving. It is the will of God that we find pleasure in Him. That is easy to do when our relationship to Him is "by His doing," not by our own efforts.
Insight: You will find great delight when you focus on what God has done on your behalf rather than on what you have done for Him.
"By his doing you are in Christ Jesus",
"Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD." (1 CORINTHIANS 1:30-31)
Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
It is a natural perception that anything we have of value, we have earned. My financial status is a measurement of my productivity and, for many of us, that translates into personal worth.
It is then logical to believe that my standing with God is something I also have to earn. But that is not the way of the gospel. Earth-bound values don't translate to the kingdom of God.
Paul makes it clear to the Corinthians that neither human wisdom nor strength earn anything with God; otherwise we could boast in our wisdom and strength. It is "by His doing" that you are in Christ So boast in the Lord. Your being blessed in Christ is not dependent on you and your ability to persevere. It is "by His doing."
Delight yourself in the Lord. If our being in Christ is dependent on our performance, we will fall under constant pressure to do more. Rather than delighting, we'll be striving. It is the will of God that we find pleasure in Him. That is easy to do when our relationship to Him is "by His doing," not by our own efforts.
Insight: You will find great delight when you focus on what God has done on your behalf rather than on what you have done for Him.
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Michael D. Inman
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