early devotional work

Here is a sample written a couple of years ago...

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:1-5

“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation (recommendation) to you or from you? You (God) are the letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves but our adequacy is from God.”

It is amazing to me that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians so long ago. It seems as though it could have been written for us today. If only this verse was written on our hearts, the way Christ is, how differently we might conduct our lives. The Bible tells us that we can do nothing aside from Christ. Such a statement should daily bring me to my knees in worship. As I look toward the future direction of my life, I first and foremost look to what I can do to gain admiration from others. But here Paul tells me that it is not about me. My accomplishments are not for my glory, but for the Lords. He is the One who commends us for all time. What a gentle reminder of our inadequacy! Our labor without Christ is in vain. What a waste of time to do anything for man’s glory. It will only last a short while. Furthermore, wouldn’t I much rather have the approval of God the Holy One of Israel than a sinful human being who is not any more worthy than myself. It is awesome that we receive His commendation before we do anything worthy of it. When we welcome Him into our hearts, He offers us a letter of recommendation, without even proving ourselves worthy. Why then do we look elsewhere for accolades?

Today, take a moment to worship the only One worthy of it. Contemplate your life without another word of human approval or compliment. Would you still be confident in who you are and in what you are doing? Would you still feel secure in your relationship with the Lord if you had no human complimenting you on the way you do it? Let His approval be enough. After all He died for your cause.