I have often wondered why some Christians can do certain things. Then there are others that can't or won't do those certain things.
Me, I use to cuss like a sailor and a truck driver (as the saying goes) all rolled into one. But once I fully gave my heart to the Lord, he started to work on me. I had a little god in this foul language. So little by little, he worked this out of me. Now if I slip, the first thing I do is apologize to the person who heard it and then confess it to the Lord.
Then there is drinking. I use to go to the bars and drink. Sometimes I drank too much. Then there were the times I drank too much and drove. Then I started to drink less but still wanted to be "cool" and hang with co-workers and friends. Again, I had made social drinking a little god. The Lord would impress on me that being "cool" was not cool at all. My little god tended to get me in trouble or made me drive when I shouldn't. I stopped going to the bars and drinking the my favorite hard liquor. But I noticed that I could not go to sleep in the early 2000's. So I made an excuse and started to have a glass of warm Sake. I just switched one little god for another. It ended up being my choice to give up all drinking. I wanted to be sober minded and I know what alcohol of any kind would do to me.
Am I finished with little gods in my life? I don't think so because that clay is hard. It needs to be softened by the Master Potter. He is the only One that can soften a hard heart. He is the only one that can change my mind.
Do you have any little gods? What excuses do you use? Do you feel the Lord would like to have you remove those little gods? I know He will allow you to do so when you are ready.
My prayer for you and I is that we will be willing to give up those little gods and grow closer to the Lord our God and Savior.
The Greatest Servant
If we’re honest, most of us would rather be served than serve others. We’d rather feel special than ordinary. We’d rather feel important than insignificant.
And though God has made us special, important, and created in His image—His children cannot be above serving, because Jesus was never above serving.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 20:28 NLT
If the King of kings and Lord of lords didn’t come to be served, but to sacrifice His life for the sake and salvation of others, we should pay attention.
Jesus warned against doing impressive things just to be seen, praying extravagant prayers merely to be heard, and taking the highest-ranking positions simply to be known.
Instead, Jesus engaged the outcast, fed the hungry, healed the sick, helped the hurting, stopped for the broken, washed dirty feet, and laid down His life—even though He was ...