Glorify Yourself Through Me Today

Part of the reason we aren't getting much done for the Kingdom of God is because we do not realize that we have already received everything God has promised. We have everything we need. We do not have to be concerned about ourselves any more. There should be no focus on us and all focus should be on the work of the Kingdom.

There are those who will tell you that we have no work to do; that it is God who does all the work. They are right that we can't do anything for our salvation and all we can do is cooperate with the Holy Spirit when it comes to our own salvation. However, the instructions in the gospels and epistles are very clear that we have been called to do the work of the Kingdom of God, whatever the Spirit instructs us to do.

There are far too many Christians who just want to sit around and navel gaze, ponder deep thoughts, be romanced by Jesus. I'll give you that there must be a time of romance in every relationship but a husband and wife can ill afford to ignore their other work to sit at a candle light table for two all day. They have house work to do, looking after the children, earning money to put food on the table. The must reserve a time for romance to keep the relationship healthy but it isn't 100% of the time.

We have no idea why but God has called us into a partnership. It is like a father calling his son to his side to join him in his work. Perhaps it is so he can mature us through this work (I believe Ephesians 4 lends itself to this idea). Perhaps it is just because he wants to spend time with us. Whatever the reason, he has called us to join him in his mission to save the world. Through these jars of clay he is glorifying himself for the same reason he glorified himself through Israel, that the whole world would know him.

So realize this, we have received all the promises, we have everything we need, we do not have to beg anything from Jesus because it is already ours. If there is anything you feel you need just ask and it is yours. He has equipped us for the work. Now drink this in and realize where God sees us:

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7)

So we are already sitting with Jesus in the heavenly realms. In our body we may be in this place where we are partnered with God in the mission, but in the spirit we are seated in the heavenly realms, in Jesus. We have everything ever promised so we do not have to be concerned with ourselves in order that we can concentrate on others.

We do not work to earn anything from God. We are not joined in this mission to earn brownie points. There is nothing to earn. We work out of love. We work in obedience. We work because we are compelled by the Spirit and by the love of Jesus. It is a pleasure for us to do so. Everything we need we have been given by the grace of God. If we are seated in the heavenly realms with Jesus what more could we want?

Nothing.

So stop filling your days with yourself and trust Jesus. Trust the promises. Trust that you already possess everything and that there is nothing else you need. Then get your eyes off yourself and on to everyone around you. Listen to the Spirit. Do what he tells you to do. Listen to the instructions and watch as our Father glorifies himself to the world through his obedient children. That should be the prayer constantly on our lips, "Father, glorify yourself through me today". Our desire is that the world would see Jesus, not us! Don't make it about you.