LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN

003 – NOVEMBER 2003

LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN

GAL 2:20 "I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME."
THE FACT IS THAT YOUR LIFE IS REALLY NOT YOUR OWN. SO … YOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE IT UP AND GO WITH THE FLOW. JESUS SAID DIE AND LIVE. DIE TO YOUR "SELF" SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE "IN CHRIST".
I HAD PLANS FOR THIS PAST THURSDAY. I HAD A BUNCH OF PLANS TO GET A BUNCH OF STUFF DONE AT WORK. HOWEVER, MY MOM TOOK A FALL AT 5:00 AM AND I SPENT THE MAJORITY OF THE DAY AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE AND AT THE HOSPITAL.
20 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE VIEWED ALL OF THIS AS BOTHERSOME … SOMETHING THAT KEPT ME FROM DOING WHAT I WANTED TO DO. AND I HAD A PRETTY LOUSY ATTITUDE WHEN I FACED THESE INCONVENIENCES
FORTUNATELY, AND BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, I HAVE CHANGED. 180 DEGREES! I NOW SEE THESE THINGS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. I ENJOYED THURSDAY BECAUSE I KNEW IN MY SPIRIT THAT I WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT GOD WANTED ME TO DO. I WAS GIVEN A CHANCE TO LOVE & SERVE SOMEONE WHO IS VERY SPECIAL TO ME.
YOUR ADULT LIFE IS BRIMMING WITH RESPONSIBILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, ACCOUNTABILITIES, PROJECTS, AND THINGS-TO-DO LISTS. ALL OF THIS CONTRIBUTES TO THE SIMPLE FACT THAT YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN.
IT MAKES EVERYTHING A BIT EASIER WHEN YOU ACCEPT THIS AS A GOOD THING. IT ALLOWS YOU TO SERVE AND DISCOVER THE SPIRITUAL CONTENTMENT THAT COMES FROM DOING WHAT IS ETERNALLY IMPORTANT.
THERE IS A GREAT CHORUS THAT REPEATS THE PHRASE " IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN GOD’S KINGDOM, LEARN TO BE A SERVANT OF ALL."
SO! RELAX! YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN. IT’S JUST THE WAY IT IS. AND NOT ONLY THAT, IT’S A GOOD THING! JESUS WILL HELP YOU TO TURN "INCONVENIENCES" INTO "OPPORTUNITIES" TO LOVE AND SERVE.
MT 23:11 "BUT HE THAT IS GREATEST AMONG YOU SHALL BE YOUR SERVANT."

P.S. MY MOM IS FINE. SHE BRUISED HER HIP A BIT,
CHRIS