It's all about me?

I think the more I see society today the more I realize we as people tend to get stuck on ourselves. Our lives become all about us. We do what we can for more fame and attention. Just look at all the videos posted on Youtube or the ones who try out on American Idol who have no idea what it means to sing in tune or on key. They are out for the attention. All eyes on them. I am about to use a huge word here, but we as a society are struggling with narcissism. It's a self-love. It's vanity. If we aren't careful, it can creep into our relationship with God.
John the Baptist got it right in John 3:30. He said "He must increase, but I must decrease." My life isn't all about me. Church isn't all about me and what I want. My life isn't about how much wealth, materials, or attention I can gain for myself. My life isn't about me at all. It's all about Jesus. It's all about living in a way that the love and hope of Jesus Christ shines through me in such a way that people don't see me, but instead see Him. Our life is not our own to live how we want and please.
It's not all about me. It's all about Jesus. I have to remind myself of that daily because I try to get in the way. I can't allow myself to get in the way of Christ's reflection in my life.
So how about you? Is your life all about you, or are you living for Someone greater?

Stubborn or Responsive...

I am not a doctor by a long shot, but I think I've come to understand a little about how a heart works. If we aren't careful with what we eat and take into our body we can do damage to our heart and arteries. The main arteries feeding into and out of the heart can become hardened, narrower, or even blocked. With these things going unchecked and undealt with, it can cause us a lot of trouble. We need our arteries to be open and allowing a constant flow of blood in and out.

In Ezekiel 11:19 it says "I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh, and I give them a heart of flesh." The NLT says that God will take away our stony, stubborn heart and give us a tender, responsive one in return. If we aren't careful, we can place ourselves in danger of having a spiritual heart attack. We can let sin and the things of this world into our life until our heart becomes hard, our arteries narrowed, and the life giving blood of Christ can quit flowing until we find ourselves unresponsive. You cannot afford to be stubborn and reject what God is wanting to do. But, if we have a healthy dose of time with God and time in His word each day our heart can remain healthy and responsive to what God is wanting to do in our life.

Where do you fall; a heart stubborn and refusing what God is wanting to do in you and through you? Or, do you find yourself responding to the work of God on your life?

Your spiritual well-being is dependent on it!

Jealousy...

Jealousy is one of those topics that seems to leave us thinking it's such a negative thing. If we allow jealousy to affect us in a negative way where we are never satisfied with what we have it can be devastating. If all we think is what we have isn't good enough and what others have is better, than jealousy can consume and destroy us. But, is it possible that jealousy could actually have a positive affect on our life? I mean, in Exodus 20:5 God describes Himself as a jealous God.

We as followers of Christ are often referred to in the Bible as the bride of Christ. Now in a marriage trust and faithfulness have to exist otherwise a marriage will crumble. So if Christ views are relationship as a marriage the question is do we remain faithful to Him? Have we allowed other things or people to creep into our lives and take His rightful place as our #1? In a marriage we would never tolerate that. We expect a committed faithfulness from our spouse and we in turn remain committed to our spouse. Adultery will destroy a marriage. With Jesus it is no different. We cannot allow the momentary pleasures of this world become our #1. We are married to Jesus, and as we expect Him to remain faithful to us and His promises, so He expects the same from us.

Don't be guilty of committing spiritual adultery. If God is jealous for you, are you remaining faithful to Him?