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Scripture for the day: Matthew 16:24-25 If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself – that is, disregard, lose sight of and forget himself and his own interests – and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadily to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and if need be in dying also]. For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here], shall lose [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake, shall find [life everlasting]. (Amplified Bible)
Thought for the day: Most of us want to consider ourselves useful to the Lord, don’t we? I think we do; I hope we do. Unfortunately, the church often seems to be filled with people who want to serve, but in an advisory capacity only. Others seem to want to serve, but only as volunteers. Jesus teaches very clearly that no volunteers are either needed or welcomed in the Kingdom of heaven. Volunteers choose their own hours, serve where they feel the most comfortable, and cease when the cause no longer meets their needs. The church is not, nor was it ever meant to be, a volunteer organization. You see, servants have no hours; their hours belong to the master. Servants are assigned wherever the master chooses, whether they feel comfortable or not. And servants remain at their duties no matter if their needs appear to be met or not.
No, the Lord has no need of volunteers; He can’t even begin to use them effectively. So what kind of people can God use? He uses dead people – and only dead people – to build his kingdom. Let me repeat that:
THE ONLY PEOPLE GOD CAN USE IS DEAD PEOPLE
Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus’ teachings were the most radical of any the world had ever seen; they still are.
The way up is down
The way in is out
The way first is last
The way of success is service
The way of attainment is relinquishment
The way of strength is weakness
The way of security is vulnerability
The way of protection is forgiveness (even to 7 x 70)
The way of life is death – death to self, society, family
Know your strengths. Why? Because that’s the only way that you can lay them down.
God’s power is made perfect…where? In our weakness.
Want to get the most? Go to where the least is.
Want to be free? Give complete control to God.
Want to become great? Become least.
Want to find yourself? Forget yourself.
Want honor? Honor yourself with humility
Want to ‘get even’ with your enemies? Bless, love and pray for them1
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives within me.” “Reckon yourselves dead therefore to sin, and alive to Christ.” “Our old man has been crucified with him that the body of sin might be done away with.”
Dead people are not swayed by flattery or devastated by criticism. Dead people are not affected by the opinions of the world or desirous of power and influence. Dead people are useful to God because nothing of this world holds them any longer.
Now go take on your world. - Bill