PEACE WITH OURSELVES By Dr. Charles Stanley Romans 12:1-8 “I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3) In the 12th chapter of Romans, Paul indicates that some people tend to think more highly of themselves than they should. It is also true that others are tempted to think more lowly of themselves than is appropriate. What thoughts should we have about ourselves? A godly sense of self-worth offers a valuable solution here. It lies at the heart of a peaceful life and provides the solid middle ground between the ditch of self-disparagement on the one hand and the precipice of self-exaltation on the other. This resting place in Jesus stems from simply seeing yourself the way the Lord sees you. When you are born again, God sees you as His beloved child and the owner of a new identity. Because your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3), you can say that you are complete in Christ. And because of His Spirit within, it is possible for you to live a righteous life. At the same time, you retain old patterns of sin, which are still capable of expressing themselves. It is all right, therefore, to be grieved by some things you do while rejoicing over progress. That is how God feels. Keep in mind, however, that His delight or displeasure with your conduct in no way alters either His love for you or your identity as His. The Lord always sees you as His own and as a person of infinite worth. Ultimately, you’ll reach full spiritual maturity in Christ. But in the meantime, never forget that you are not what you do. You are what you are: a child of God (John 1:12). ………………………………………………………………………………… SOW WHAT? By Julie Ackerman Link Read: Mark 4:1-20 “He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.” —Proverbs 11:18 On the clock tower of my alma mater is an Art Deco bas-relief sculpture titled The Sower. The inscription beneath it is from Galatians 6:7, “Whatsoever a man soweth.” Michigan State University remains a leader in agricultural research, but despite many improvements in farming techniques and crop production, this fact remains: Seeds of corn will not produce a crop of beans. Jesus used many farming metaphors to explain the kingdom of God. In the parable of the sower (Mark 4), He compared the Word of God to seeds sown in different types of soil. As the parable indicates, the sower sows indiscriminately, knowing that some seed will fall in places where it will not grow. Like Jesus, we are to sow good seed in all places at all times. God is responsible for where it lands and how it grows. The important thing is that we sow. God does not want us to reap destruction, so He wants us to sow what is good and right (Prov. 11:18). The apostle Paul elaborated on the metaphor when he warned believers not to sow seeds of corruption. Instead, we are to sow seeds that will reap eternal life (Gal. 6:8). The answer to the question, “Sow what?” is “Sow what you want to reap.” To reap a good harvest in your life, start sowing seeds of goodness. Sow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny. —Anon. A buried seed brings fruit; a selfless life reaps an eternal harvest.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 16:39:44 +0000
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