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“God will cause you to shine. He’ll show up and supersize what you’re dreaming about.” -shared on twitter by a well known Christian pastor
God will cause you to shine? Our lives are supposed to give GOD glory.
“Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1
Peter states that our spiritual gifts are to be used “so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:11)
And Christianity is not about God supersizing your dreams.
What are your dreams? Are they Godly dreams? Or selfish dreams?
And God may not supersize your dream, even a Godly one.
Many Christians throughout time have labored in “the small” in their little part of the world. We don’t even know the names of most Christians in history. They have disappeared, unknown, into the past. Only a few names are remembered.
But that is not meant to be discouraging, but encouraging. No one is obscure in God’s kingdom. Little is much when God is in it, as an old Christian song says.
Yes, we should let our light shine (Matthew 5:16) and little people doing little things can be used mightily for God. “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
But again, note that it is ultimately about God being glorified. Not us.
Sadly, too much of popular Christianity has been taken captive by the cult of self. It is all about us – rather than about God. Be careful that the Christian books and sermons you expose yourself too aren’t actually distracting you from Christ.
Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Colossae because he was concerned for them. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” (Colossians 2:8)
We need that warning too! Perhaps even more so today.
Paul urged “that in everything he [Jesus] might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18)
And proclaimed “this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)
Where is your hope of glory? – For you to shine due to…Career? Family? Hobbies? Sports? Fame? Selling lots of books? Having lots of blog followers? A big church?
Jesus must have the place of supremacy in your life. He alone is your hope of glory.
Enough Light 
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Reblogged this on Writing for God, Fighting Human Trafficking and commented:
Great blog here. We need to have our minds renewed today–in Christ. “Sadly, too much of popular Christianity has been taken captive by the cult of self. “
Loved this post. So true. We’ve turned the Gospel upside down.
Excellent post. I don’t think vainglory is a new concept within the Church, but I do think our culture promotes it more than ever. It is hard to surrender ‘self’ to His will, but I am a firm believer in the idea that the necessary surrender leads, actually, to a more complete sense of self than any human-born ambition. The human – fallen- ways of trying to feel a sense of purpose or of self-worth are ultimately self defeating! Only in the recognition of our smallness, and of His great love *regardless* of our smallness, can the joy of being who you were created to be, be found. Excuse my clumsy grammar. God created each of us for His purposes.
Thank you for writing this, Laura. I needed to read this today. God is good 😊
For sure, vainglory is nothing new. In my book I trace it to Satan himself, and then he passed this tendency on to humanity. And as you say, our culture promotes it more than ever – and particularly sad when the church does! I love your statement that “surrender leads, actually, to a more complete sense of self” – So much about Christianity is paradoxical. Thanks for your helpful comments Sandy!
Thanks for your helpful blog posts, Laura 😊
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