Self=Sin
I came across Romans 8:1-17 in my studies a couple weeks ago, and was particularly struck by verses 5-8. I’ve been meaning to write my thoughts on this passage ever since, but also wanted to make sure I took some time simply to let those thoughts sink into my own heart. Admittedly, not much time has been spent on this in these last few weeks, so tonight I decided it was time to give some much due attention to what God was showing me. Maybe, in a way, He used this time to really single out one theme in particular that I really need to focus on, that being focused on God and not myself. Here’s verses 5-8 out of The Message:
“Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them-living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.”
What truly caught me here, almost literally taking my breath away, was smack dab in the middle, “Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God.“ I think sometimes I want to feel like I’ve contributed something to the wonderful gift God has given me in a deeply personal, everlasting relationship with Him. Because of this flaw, I attempt too many things in my own power, failing to allow God to do His thing. In essence, I act as if what Jesus did for us on the cross and in His life isn’t quite enough. The humorous thing is that I act this way and then wonder what’s wrong when life doesn’t always work out as planned. The other portion of these verses that really grabbed my heart was, “Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God………and God isn’t pleased at being ignored.“ GULP! All God wants is our trust, 100% of it! Being self aware is great, and it’s good to do our part, but I think that all too often when I work to do my part I unintentionally remove God from the equation, thus turning away from the very help that God desires to provide. I want more of God’s power in my life. I want more of God’s love in my life. I want more of God in my life period! If that is to happen, I MUST learn to focus more on God and less on myself. I must give Him room to show His power in my life, not limit it. Will you help hold me accountable to this? My desire is that my life would shout God all over the place, that things would happen with incredible regularity that are only explained by the Father being active in my life. I need more of Him and less of me. What about you?