Hi.. Received the following daily devotion from someone in Singapore writing about the goal of a Christian Life which I thought is mind boggling and yet it is true.. Something for us to think about and seek God for revelation and deeper reaffirmation in our hearts. The one phrase that caught my attention in the devotion was...
"Let death work in you a life that only God can raise up."
Wow.. what do you say of that? Isn't that radical? but Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 10:39 that "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
"Paradox".. the author called it.. what is Paradox? Let me find out in the dictionary.. Oxford Dictionary says that Paradox means "seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that may in fact be true."
Read on.... and be challenged in your mind... :)
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Daily Manna
February 21, 2008
The Goal of the Christian Life
By Os Hillman
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 12:24
The goal of the Christian life is death, not success. A popular teaching says that if we follow God, we will prosper materially. God may, in fact, bless His people materially, but few can make this claim among third-world countries. Wealth must never be the goal of a person's life, only a by-product.
A missionary to a Middle-Eastern country has shared a motto among their ministry team: "God does not require success, but radical, immediate obedience." Jesus' obedience gained Him the cross. It did not gain Him popularity among the heathen, the religious or financial success, or a life of pleasure. His obedience resulted in His death on the cross. This is the same goal Christ has for each of us-death of our old nature so that He might live through us. That may not sell well among outcome-based Christian businesspeople, but it will result in an eternal reward that far exceeds any earthly reward. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Rev. 22:12).
The Christian life is a paradox-the first will be last, death in return for life, and we are encouraged to offer praise to God to overcome a spirit of heaviness. It requires faith in a God who operates from a different set of values that are sometimes difficult to measure from human standards. Let death work in you a life that only God can raise up.
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Proverbs 21: 21
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
February 21, 2008
The Goal of the Christian Life
By Os Hillman
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John 12:24
The goal of the Christian life is death, not success. A popular teaching says that if we follow God, we will prosper materially. God may, in fact, bless His people materially, but few can make this claim among third-world countries. Wealth must never be the goal of a person's life, only a by-product.
A missionary to a Middle-Eastern country has shared a motto among their ministry team: "God does not require success, but radical, immediate obedience." Jesus' obedience gained Him the cross. It did not gain Him popularity among the heathen, the religious or financial success, or a life of pleasure. His obedience resulted in His death on the cross. This is the same goal Christ has for each of us-death of our old nature so that He might live through us. That may not sell well among outcome-based Christian businesspeople, but it will result in an eternal reward that far exceeds any earthly reward. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done" (Rev. 22:12).
The Christian life is a paradox-the first will be last, death in return for life, and we are encouraged to offer praise to God to overcome a spirit of heaviness. It requires faith in a God who operates from a different set of values that are sometimes difficult to measure from human standards. Let death work in you a life that only God can raise up.
Matthew 10:39
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Proverbs 21: 21
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
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