Sacrifice Self; Lift Up Christ

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20

Well, we're well on our way into 2008, and we must again, look to Christ for direction. Yet, we, like the "rich fool" in Luke 12:16-23, are satisfied with our current status. In fact, we think that we arrived at 2008 by our own doing. For so many of us, we're young, strong, educated and determined to conquer the world as singles. We are totally engrossed with success, I mean worldly, and we so many times sacrifice so much to attain. But that which we must sacrifice; that which we like Paul must count as loss for the "excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord...;" that which we must lay aside...has been exalted. (Phil 3:8).  Christ has given us all gifts of sorts for the one purpose of building up His body. Must we then use those gifts for self-glorification and gratification seeking center stage when only One deserves all glory? So many times we talk about what "I am" when, in truth, there's only One I AM, the Lord Jesus! Often we present as though we are serving Christ when in reality we're only serving ourselves and lifting ourselves up against Him who ALONE MUST be lifted up! If we seek our own glory and this world's goods and praise, we lay up treasures for ourselves, and we are "not rich toward God." Lk 12:21.

Revelation 3:17 admonishes us, "... you say, I am rich and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor and blind and naked."

When we think of the amazing love that saved us, our hearts should cry, "Lord I owe you my life." Our lives are not our own. He has blessed us with singleness at this time to be a special blessing in His service wherever or in whatever capacity we find ourselves. Be you an engineer, a clerk, a lawyer, a housekeeper, a doctor, a teacher, a street sweeper, a CEO, a garbage collector, a police officer, a nurse, a CFO, unemployed, a pastor, church officer or not, conference worker or not; or whatever else, it is NEVER about you. It's all about HIM! You are there to uplift Him and assign Him all glory, adoration and praise! This was the character of Jesus when He walked this earth; He directed all glory to His Father, God. We, then, must have the character (mind) of Christ giving Him all the glory. It should NOT be self-centered but CHRIST-CENTERED!  He paid  too high a price; in fact, He paid the ultimate price! The infinite sacrifice! When He was on earth, He engaged only "in that which is essential to the development of character; that which will enlarge man's capacity for knowing God and increase his power to do good. He spoke of those truths that relate to the conduct of life and that unite man with eternity."*   God knew what we may become when He offered His Son. Now are we then sons and daughters of God, but only when we die with Him and allow Him who is the risen victorious Lord to live His life in us and through us!

Must we not then give ourselves to Him wholly and solely and exclaim with sincerest zeal : Not i, but Christ! Come, therefore, dear friend, He counsels us: "buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white  garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see."Rev. 3:18

It is my prayer that we will quit ourselves as singles trying to fix what, in fact, is a unique blessing from God, give ourselves fully to His service, and then "all other things will be added unto us" as we go on into 2008 and beyond! Matt 6:33.  Give your heart to Him and only to Him, and He, then, will give you the desires of your heart. (Ps. 37:4). Surrender daily; die daily!

*Education, p. 81  (Ellen G. White)

Submitted by: R. Vidal Forde