On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Luke 10:25-27
So far we have looked at two ways we can choose good spiritual food. First we talked about repentance, clearing your plates of sin quickly rather than letting it pile up. Then we looked at changing your taste buds through fasting. Sometimes the only way to have room for the good things God offers is simply to stop choosing the bad things. If something fills your plate to overflowing but leaves you unfulfilled and unsatisfied, it is time to get rid of it!
Today we are talking about surrendering to God’s plan vs. living out your plan for your life. You have to decide if you are doing what God called you to do. Spiritual gifts = where skill and passion meet. Everyone has different gifts from God, so what one person enjoys doing might be tedious for someone else.
What you do is important, but why you do it is equally important. Do you use your gifts to glorify God, or is your focus on your plans for advancement? Do you do what you do because you love God with everything you have?
When you focus on loving God and neighbor, your behavior will naturally reflect that. The more you focus on loving God with your heart, soul, strength, and mind, the bigger God becomes in your life and the smaller everything else gets.
For example, when you love God with all your heart, does pride make sense? No. Does bitterness toward others make sense? No. But does embracing who you are in Christ make sense? Does reading God’s Word make sense? Does praying over your schedule make sense? Yes.
Behavior follows belief. When you focus on loving God, you will put things on your plate that line up with that belief.
To Think/Pray About Today
What are some gifts God has given you—where does your skill and passion meet? How do you use those gifts? Does what you do bring glory to God?
Prayer Focus: Seybolds One Stop Shop
Cedarville United Presbyterian Church 