The Itch

John 5:44

"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” 

The answer is, you can’t. Itching for glory from other people makes faith impossible. Why?

Because faith is being satisfied with all that God is for you in Jesus. And if you are bent on getting the satisfaction of your itch from the scratch of others’ acclaim, you will turn away from Jesus.

But if you would turn from self and others as the source of satisfaction [repentance], and come to Jesus for the enjoyment of all that God is for us in him [faith], then the itch would be replaced by a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14).

-John Piper

Be You

"You do not lose your own personality when by faith you take your place with Christ in death. On the contrary, a transformation takes place within your personality. You simply come under new management.

“Therefore if any person is ingrafted in Christ, he is a new creation; the old, previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come.” 2 Cor 5:17

This new life which has begun is the Life of Jesus and your personality becomes His means of expression. He is “all the while effectually at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire, both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” Phil 2:13

When you are prepared for the Lord Jesus Christ to change your heart, you will not want to be anyone else. You will be far too excited discovering what He intends you to be."

- W. Ian Thomas

Greater Than All

Psalm 135:5

"I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods."

We live as though our God is not greater than all.

As though our lives are more important and cancer is too strong.

As though death is more than God can handle and wars are uncontrollable.

As though our prayers go unheard and our dreams are too big.

As though crime is unstoppable and change is just a nice thought.

As though darkness has overcome and giving up is the answer.

As though our hearts cannot be tamed and our fears are our guide.

Why do we live as though our God is small?

Our God is greater than all!

Believe it. 

Our God is greater than all.

Live it.