doug_barrett

Doug Barrett
Director of Leadership Development

You know…we have truly taken a close look through our sermon series over the past month at this idea of Instrumental Leadership and what it means to be His instruments – to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night and day difference he made for you. (1 Peter 2:9, The Message)But as I take my first sip of coffee this morning and pull out my daily devotional - My Utmost for His Highest - Oswald Chambers brings a whole new perspective to our guiding text of Ephesians 4:1-16. Check out this insight that Oswald shares with us as he reflects on verse 13…

Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race, according to His plan, means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose – that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ – “… that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender – complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ, Himself but only with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?

Talk about encouragement! And what a challenge to all believers! If you are thirsty for God, dig into His Word! And remember…Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2, NIV)

God is blessing you…

Doug

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