Today's thoughts...
When I was doing a study last year (or whenever), the one verse that hit me more than anything... the one I had already heard a million times... was the one in Hebrews 11 (?) that said nothing but faith pleases God. Nothing I "do" pleases Him... nothing I don't do. Nothing I say... nothing but faith. Acts are nothing, unless born from faith. Words are nothing unless born from faith. This was huge to me... and still is. It's not like I hadn't heard it before... it's just that I'd never really processed it.
But what I've come to realize recently... what is even more shocking... is that I very rarely attempt to please God. I want to impress people. I want to be noted for trying to help or saving the day or offering something that no one else can do. So really, my issue isn't in how I try to please God... my issue is who I'm trying to please in the first place.
Of course, now that I can see this about myself more clearly... more... deeply... I have to decide where to go from this point. How do you change your focus? How do you drop the act of service and simply serve? I'm not asking you to answer that. Consider it rhetorical. It's something I want to answer for myself. It's something I have to answer for myself.
But what I've come to realize recently... what is even more shocking... is that I very rarely attempt to please God. I want to impress people. I want to be noted for trying to help or saving the day or offering something that no one else can do. So really, my issue isn't in how I try to please God... my issue is who I'm trying to please in the first place.
Of course, now that I can see this about myself more clearly... more... deeply... I have to decide where to go from this point. How do you change your focus? How do you drop the act of service and simply serve? I'm not asking you to answer that. Consider it rhetorical. It's something I want to answer for myself. It's something I have to answer for myself.