What’s the opinion you hold about yourself? A sermon from my church’s teaching pastor this past Sunday is playing over and over in mind, so I think I’ll share it with you…
To an unbeliever, this is the only life we have, and it’s only natural for them to strive for the things this world holds dear and extremely important: money, popularity, prestige, pleasure, and power. Right at this moment, I want you to seriously think about the importance you are assigning to “things.” Be honest with yourself… Your nice big home? Your job status—does it define the way you think of yourself? Do you have an Ivy School education, and nobody’s education compares to yours? Are you blessed with material stuff and lots of comfort things? These things are certainly blessings, but we must remember that all of these things were given to us… they were not gained by our own merit. Some of us actually think they were??
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2: 20
Paul is laying out the truth… You’re opinion about yourself must die. Legally, God looks at us as if we had died with Christ. My dear brothers and sisters, I love all of you with and because of the love of Christ. I only ask you to examine your lives. I will leave you with these scriptures…
“Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise, you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is a sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.” James 4: 13-17
