Perhaps a word for us today is STEADFAST. My good friend Aaron Wardle commented to me recently about the number of believers who are "driven and tossed by the wind" of doubt (James 1:6) This doubt seems to lead to disappointment in life and empowerment of a self-centered lifestyle.
The issue of being STEADFAST is really a issue with trusting God and His Word. As Bill Giovannetti has said, "The greatest struggle of the Christian life is the struggle to keep on believing." In other words, being STEADFAST.
I was considering a related question this week, why are Christian missionaries considered superstars? Perhaps it is their STEADFAST faith in whom they have believed. They take on humble living conditions, and serve people who are in desperate need. Why? Because they believe in Jesus!
I think there are two secrets to being STEADFAST. Both are found in Philippians 2:3-4.
Secret #1 Humility- Philippians 3:3 says "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;" (NASB).
Secret #2- Serve others interest- Philippians 3:4 says "do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (NASB)
Humility keeps us remembering we are not God, and keeps us from acting like the sovereign dictator of our existence. Serving others captures God's heart for mankind, and keeps us from being prideful and self-centered.
Read the rest of Philippians 2, Paul gives us an example of someone who demonstrates this type of humility and service to others...that is, Jesus Christ who humbled himself, and served the interests of all mankind. Jesus did all this with a STEADFAST faith and love.
When we doubt God's call on our lives to humbly serve him, we begin to cause our lives only to serve ourselves, which, if we are honest with ourselves, leads to frustration and dissatisfaction in life. Discover the secret to a deeply satisfying spiritual life...humbly submit to the Lord Jesus Christ, and let His Holy Spirit empower you to get you eyes off your own needs and onto the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of others.
I end this post with these questions...What are you STEADFAST in? Self-centeredness? Christ likeness? What is God calling you to be STEADFAST in?
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