I Want to be Needed!
Christians don’t need to have a better “self-image”…that’s not why God has called us! He wants us to learn how to set ourselves aside so we can shine forth His Image.
* “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
When life throws you a curve, it can knock the wind out of your confidence. If your not buckled in with faith, it can throw you out from behind the steering wheel.
Our goal mustn’t be to try to “copy” or “imitate” Jesus, but rather to exchange lives with Him. We give Him our life, and He gives us His!
* “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain…”Philippians 1:21
*Most of the New Testament is written because God allowed Paul to be placed in a prison cell. Many of us spend so much time questioning, doubting God’s motives and plans for our lives. God says; “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.”
“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12
God desires for us to know what He has freely given to us. One of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to reveal His plans and purposes to us. They may be hidden for a time, but if we Seek Him with our whole heart, we can know what He has given to us.
We need to follow Jesus and His ways verses man’s ways and ideas. If we follow man we will eventually get hurt, But following Jesus, we by Faith know what ever happens is for our good and for His Purpose.
Are we torn between Obligations to others or Obedience to Jesus?
**This has been a struggle for me. Lord, I want Your approval. Please help me to not be motivated or swayed by mans approval.
“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10 *People with integrity have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Their lives are open books at Church, at work, in Hobbies, at Kids activities, at movies, on internet etc…..
*How often do we live completely differently than the image we try to convey to other? Why?
In our current culture, people expect us to respond to their requests with increasing speed and efficiency. Whether it’s a call, text, email, instant message, or Facebook comment, there’s an understanding … no, an expectation … that we will respond.
I’ll admit I fall into this as well. It appeals to my need to be needed!!
* Someone wants my opinion or my help. At the very least, they want to connect with me.
If they are willing to share their lives with me, my desire is to respond. Promptly. With creativity. And a bit of humor, if you please. But honestly, it’s exhausting.
Jesus identified a similar people-pleasing tendency in His disciples.
*** They were torn between Obligations to others and Obedience to Him.
*They wanted to follow Jesus, but on their terms. Jesus challenged this line of thinking, and called them to a new level of obedience, one that forced them to choose what was most important.
Here are some examples:
• “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25)
• “Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 9:61-62)
When the demands of others threatened their immediate obedience, Jesus called them back to Himself. He challenged them with the same unspoken question He asks us:
**Who are you going to please FIRST?
Without settling our hearts on the answer to this question, we end up with an over-whelmed and over-committed life.
Our lives operate like a bumper car, crazily racing in one direction, only to crash into an obstacle and wildly turn another direction.
My life has felt that way at times. But my heart gained clarity and direction when I declared Jesus Christ to be my leader. Now, please know that even though I believed those words in my heart and spoke them with my mouth, it took years to bring every area of my life into alignment. It is STILL a process, and at times I have to check my reality against my intent.
Galatians 6:15 It does not matter at all whether or not one is circumcised; what does matter is being a new creature.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Anyone who is joined to Christ is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. 18 All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.
Declaring Jesus as our Leader:
1. Breaks our bondage to the approval of others.
2. Helps clarify our motives.
3. Plus, it reduces stress as we accept the fact that we can’t please everyone, and God never expects us to try.
Prepare your heart to come boldly into the Lord’s presence. Refuse to allow anything at all to come between the Lord and You. God IS number One! Now is the time to clear the spiritual air so that you can stand righteously before the Lord, made clean by the blood of Christ. Accept forgiveness and get ready to express the excellence of His kingdom in your mortal existence. Be done with all things that have held you in bondage, and be free.
* Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Dear Lord, You alone are worthy of following. Please forgive the times I’ve chosen to follow others before You. I long to be a person with an undivided heart. Help me overcome bondage to the approval of others. Help me keep YOU number ONE 24/7 in my heart, mind and soul so that You Lord will be Glorified. In Jesus’ Name, Amen