The essence of greatness and success is recognizing that God in man is what makes the difference. The glory of any man's achievements, success, or marvel lies in God's divine presence within him. This is captured clearly in Acts 14:15, where Paul and Barnabas exclaimed, "We are men of like nature with you!"—highlighting that without God's presence, they were mere men.
Our strength does not lie in ourselves but in God's power working through us. As written in 2 Corinthians 4:7, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." God often chooses the weak, not the strong, so that His strength and glory can be made manifest through human frailty. He perfects His power in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), demonstrating that we do not rely on our abilities, but on His grace.
God's Glory in His Chosen
God's pattern is often to call the weak so that He alone can receive all the glory. The Bible is filled with examples of those who, by their own might, could not accomplish the tasks before them but were empowered by God. Moses, who initially felt inadequate to lead (Exodus 4:10), became the great deliverer by God's power. Gideon was called when he was weak and afraid, but God worked through him to deliver Israel (*Judges 6:15-16*).
Our Areas of Grace, Not Strength
As 1 Corinthians 15:10 says, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain." We don't possess areas of strength but areas where God’s grace abounds. Grace is God's empowering presence, enabling us to be what we cannot be on our own.
The Danger of Self-Praise
When people begin to sing your praises, it becomes a dangerous moment for your spiritual walk. It is often said that "when people sing your praise, they are killing you unintentionally." Psalm 71:7 reveals that it is God who makes a man a marvel to others. As believers, we must guard our hearts against self-commendation, for "he that commendeth himself is not approved" (2 Corinthians 10:18). We must remember, as James 1:17 teaches, that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above." Therefore, giving God the glory in all things protects us from pride.
The Wisdom of Dependence on God
It is wisdom to always look up to God in every situation. As 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks, "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?" Everything we have comes from God, and it is only by His grace that we are what we are. Just like Deuteronomy 32:11 describes the eagle that stirs up its nest and bears its young on its wings, so God bears us up, carrying us to heights we could never reach on our own.
A Lifestyle of Thanksgiving
We are either thanking God or complaining. Those who fail to give God thanks ultimately sink under the weight of their own circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." When we thank God for what He is doing, He completes the rest of the work. The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19 serves as a clear reminder that it is the one who returns to give thanks that receives wholeness.
Conclusion: The Power of Grace
In conclusion, we must acknowledge that everything we are and everything we do is by God's grace. There is no room for self-reliance or boasting. We are lifted by God’s grace, not by our own strength. As we submit ourselves to God, acknowledging His role in every area of our lives, we set ourselves on a course where His glory is revealed through us, and His name is exalted in all that we do.
Let us never forget, as Psalm 115:1 says, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” The greatest wisdom is to continually fix our gaze on God, recognizing that without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5). May His grace continue to carry us forward in every endeavor.
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