Death for Kingdom Gain
Hello Northside Family! What does it mean to you to have ideas, scriptures or interesting topics to guide your mind towards spiritual thoughts? If you are like me, it might require some captivating sentences to entice you to read further, a favorite scripture, or a deep theological question about Christians in the current social/political climate. As followers of Christ, we must strive daily to seek God-sized experiences to guide us away from self-serving outcomes.
It is crucial for us to know and understand what attracts our attention and be on guard to assess whether that will groom us to be more spiritually-astute or more worldly-intelligent. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to “seek first the kingdom and his righteousness.” Can you imagine how much healthier your church, community and home would be by making this a top priority?
I am thoroughly convinced it would serve us well to search for ways to bring glory to God by how we think about each other, speak to one another, and treat each other. To be “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” is no easy task. It is so good to know we have a Savior who has supplied everything we need to be equipped with just what we need when we need it, if we would just humble ourselves and pray. Being still enough to know He is God can keep us from attempting to control outcomes as if we are God. Learning to trust God is vital. Experiencing God grows us beyond just knowing Him into going and glowing with God as He reveals how our individual parts weave into the tapestry of His masterpiece.
Take time to consider how your THOUGHTS impact others: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23). Explore your ATTITUDES “to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Ephesians 4:23) as you consider what is driving or sustaining your MOTIVES to do what you do: “All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord” (Proverbs 16:2). Lastly, consider how your thoughts, attitudes and motives are EDIFYING others who may be lost or seeking truth: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
When our THOUGHTS, ATTITUDES and MOTIVES EDIFY God, we place ourselves in a position to be TAMED under spiritual jurisdiction so God can trust us with God-sized assignments that can only be accomplished by Spirit-led people who have a heart to die to self for Kingdom-level work. TAME: (Definition) To make wild and frightening people, animals or things calm and gentle.
Led by our flesh, we can become wild and unruly people. I’m so glad that as followers of Christ, we strive to be led by the Spirit to deliberately TAME what’s unruly in us to bring glory and honor to our King! May we forever strive to TAME, to die to self-focused fame for the sake of heavenly gain! Be blessed and a blessing!