God's marvelous plan.

i heard a sweet message not too long ago and i kind of feel like regurgitating it for awhile.

...probably for my own good.


one of the things humans, mostly christians, get hung up on in life is the thought of this masterful plan that has been set out before us since day 1. i think to an extent this is true, but let's be honest.

how many times have you used this to notdo something?

rather than diving after this plan we sit and wait for it to be thrust upon us. the single problem with that is this:
if we haven't taken the time to prepare ourselves we won't even be able to recognize the opportunity.

the point?

it starts with effort. pure effort. aside from selfish motives.

if there's one thing i've learned it's that God can't fully utilize us if we are in it for ourselves. i mean, think about it.. it's the most contradicting ideology ever but we take it as standard living.

Paul says in Philippians 2 v.5 that:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death--
even death on a cross!"

and goes on to say in v.14:
"Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."

i could go on and one, but really you should just read Philippians, it's pretty amazing.

there are two HUGE truths that i'd just like to point out.

1. we are called to be like Christ, who made himself nothing.
-this obviously isn't an easy task, but just think of what your life would look like if literally EVERYTHING you did was for other people. i have a bit of news for you, it wouldn't be glamorous. it'd be dirty and sweaty and sleepless.
-i was once given an old beat up silver dollar and a minted silver dollar of the same year and asked the question, "which of these served it's purpose?" is it better to keep clean or to actually be used for the purpose you were created?

2. we are to shine like stars
-i don't think Paul was using this as some huge metaphor trying to be dramatic to get his point across, i think that if we emulate Christ in our daily living and strive to be more like Him, the shine comes naturally. NOT from you, but from Him.

THAT'S what I want.

see, this "plan" that we are all looking for is already laid out before us. it starts with making yourself nothing; stripping away titles, goals, and ambitions, all in the name of Christ for the purpose of serving others.

i invite you to keep me accountable for the things i say and i genuinely hope that you'll search within and see the marvelous plan God has for you has already started, and you're living it right now.