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self or savior :: Wednesday E-Devotion

"Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good— crucified."   Galatians 5:24 (MSG)

That is tough.  It even hurts.  But what is most eye opening is when I try to go against the stream, that stream and the status quo.

Paul is possibly the height of our professors teaching us about what it is to be a Jesus dude or dudette.  His view is much different than ours.  I mean, we never killed Christians for being Christian.  We have never been put in jail, has rocks thrown at us, had to run so we could live and much more.  Yet Paul kept on.

Listen up.  What are we willing to do for Him?

"This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines."   John 3:30 (MSG)

Does that make sense?  It is not about you (remember, Rick Warren and his "Purpose Driven Life" said it to us).  This work and church and opportunities before us have little to nothing to do with making us fulfilled or happy or successful.  It has everything to do with the people of God and His kingdom.

Hold on.  Don't turn me off.

I have been talking much about being relevant and talking with people so they will listen.  The facts are in on this issue.  People that listen to God and are drawn toward will be the most successful.

Thick skin.  Pain.  Grief.  Being hurt.  This stuff gets in the way of us being Jesus people.  What are we going to do with the self-stuff in our lives?

"Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.  What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself?  What could you ever trade your soul for?"   Matthew 16:25-26 (MSG)

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