04/30/2020
Do we proudly walk in our faith? Do we claim that our righteousness has made us more worthy than others to receive God’s reward, and to be blessed by Him? No, the truth is that all we are, and everything we might have, has sprung from the grace of God. The story of the Apostle Paul teaches us this more than any other story in the Bible. Paul, a tormenter, and killer of Christians was given the mission to preach the unsearchable riches of the very man he detested and whose followers he had been putting to death... Jesus Christ.
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,”
Ephesians 3:8 ESV
Paul wrote this verse in a letter to the Ephesians. He is speaking about receiving God’s grace which made him a minister, and which also gave him an understanding of Christ’s unsearchable riches. Even after his miraculous conversion when he was knocked to the ground, blinded, made to see again, and spoken to by Jesus, he still feels that he is the least of the saints. I ask that we each look at ourselves, and search out this same truth in us by asking... “Am I the least of the saints? “
“This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”
Ephesians 3:11-12 ESV
Great men of scripture view themselves as being unworthy of their calling, and they know that their confidence comes through their faith in Jesus. John the Baptist felt this way despite his extremely holy calling, which was to prepare the way for Christ. When he was questioned as to who he was he spoke these words...
“John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.””
John 1:26-27 ESV
Then comes Jesus, and despite his being the Son of God, He also felt humble, and in fact was sent to us to serve God’s purposes. Jesus says this when speaking to God...
“Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.”
John 17:7 ESV
When speaking of glory Jesus says this...
“Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge.”
John 8:50 ESV
And when speaking of His role on earth, He identifies Himself as a servant...
“even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Matthew 20:28 ESV
In this same sentence, and thought, Jesus tells us that we too must consider ourselves as servants...
“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,”
Matthew 20:26-27 ESV
So who are we when we are ambitious, selfish, and take pride in our position of faith? We are false to the truth, we are liars...
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”
James 3:14-15 ESV
God has called us to our faith in Christ for the same reason he called Paul, John the Baptist, and yes, for the same reason He sent Jesus Christ... to fulfill His eternal purpose, that is to do His will, to obey Him, and to Glorify God Himself. So when we act prideful, or talk down to others of faith, we are liars, because the sum of all we are, all we have, and all our faith, comes not by our own doing, but by the grace of God.
How has your introspection been going? How has it brought you to view yourself? Did you find that you are the least of the saints... a servant?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the humility, and desire to serve others that you have brought into my life by your grace. Thank you Father because as such you have removed pride, arrogance, and all the associated sins from between us, and from between you and others who see me as an example of righteous faith. By serving those who seek you I have made a way for Jesus to be known to them, and by humbling myself In all I do, I have removed any pride I might have from becoming a stumbling block to their faith. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God to whom all glory belongs, and in whom all wisdom resides. Praised be your name for sending your Son Jesus as our example of righteousness, humility, service, suffering, and obedience to your will. You are merciful Father, and your grace is sufficient to meet my every need. Hear my prayers as I humble myself before you, and bless me as I obey, and serve you As I do your will. Let your truth be the foundation of my life so that I will be acceptable before you always, and an aid to all those who seek you... now, and forevermore.
““And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is giving you.”
Deuteronomy 11:13-17 ESV
Rich Forbes