FEBRUARY 26 DEVOTION BIBLE READING: ROMANS 12:1-2
Far too many Christians have bought into the world's view of success. We do this in our personal lives as we believe that whoever has the most money, material goods, power and prestige are the successful ones. We also do this in the church as we consider those who have the largest followings, the biggest facilities and the most famous names. These ideas of success are worldly and carnal. If we believe Jesus, no man can build a great church, only the Lord builds His church. We need to be careful that our churches and ministries are built by the Lord, for the Lord and not as monuments to the perceived success of people.
Success in the Christian life is determined by our obedience to the written and revealed will of God. Paul tells us to, "...no longer be conformed to this world.” We need to know that it is at the place of obedience that the Christian finds success. All the other worldly indicators of success will be left on this earth to be burned up...only those things done in obedience to God's will last for eternity. At the end of Paul's life he said he was waiting to hear from the Lord, "Well done my good and faithful servant, enter into your reward." Was He looking forward to this because of all his earthly riches and personal fame? It couldn't be so, because he had neither. Jesus warned us about what treasures and riches we store up...the earthly ones corrode and someone could steal them...the eternal ones are reserved in heaven where they can never corrode, and no one can steal them. We need to stop listening to the world and start listening to our Lord. A life spent seeking worldly success and riches is a wasted life...but a life seeking and obeying God's will and way is an eternally successful life.
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