November 19
Fleshly Zeal
"For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God"
We cannot nor do we have to earn God’s love by performance. Many Christians live with an incorrect view of themselves in the eyes of God. This spiritual blindness leads to a life of striving to become what they believe God wants them to become, but in their own strength. Failing to see themselves as God sees them they end of living in guilt and condemnation because they can never attain to the standard they have erected. Guilt and condemnation brings with it a poor self-image, a low self-worth in one’s own eyes. It’s a sad unprofitable life spiritually for any one especially for the child of God. Having a proper self-image is a struggle for most, enslaving them to a life of self-righteousness, a life of works and performance.
This battle of achievement is the path that leads to a poor self-image because we will fail every time; it becomes a vicious cycle that most never break free from. Before the Lord saved me, I had the mentality, like most, that I had to clean up my act in order to come to the Lord and after I became a child of God that pattern of thinking followed right along with me. In my mind, I heard that God loved me but my heart had an urgency still to earn God’s salvation, to work my way to somehow pay God back for all He had done. I did not embrace the word "free", when it came to God’s grace. For years I waged war in my flesh trying to please God, trying to become what I already was in Christ. I failed miserably every time and cycled into depression and inadequacy. I looked at others in the church and thought, "I’ll never attain to that".
Romans 10:3 tells you and me that we must "subject ourselves to the righteousness of God". Beloved, God opened the eyes of my understanding to reveal to me, that, although I had subjected my life to Him by accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had never subjected myself to the righteousness found only in Him. What standard are trying to live up to precious one?
I am all that I need to be in you Lord.
Pearls of Grace is a book of devotions for the entire year, including a read through the Bible in a year calendar, broken down for every day. Beautifully written with encouraging words of hope and empowering words of joy and strength for every woman. Pam draws from the truth and richness of God's Word and gives real life examples in her down to earth style. A must have in your library, click here for more information.
For more from Pam Jenkins and Jabbok Ministries, please visit www.jabbokministries.com!
Listen to Pam Jenkins's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.
