In 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 I read, “There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God; it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant.” (GNT)
I cannot claim to be adequate without God's help. I am not competent to carry out the responsibilities of God's calling in my own strength.
Success means just being who God made me to be. Knowing this should provide me with enormous confidence. Even though I may act like I’m confident, there are things about me that I don’t like.
I lack confidence for two reasons. First, I’m trying to be somebody that God didn’t shape me to be. And that’s scary, because I can’t really be someone else.
“There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God; it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 GNT).
I’ll only gain confidence when I discover my capacity, how God shaped me. That includes my spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences.
The other reason I often lack confidence is that I depend on my own power instead of God’s power. That’s a guarantee for failure! Even though God has put a certain capacity in me, he hasn’t made me able to do it all on my own. God never meant for me to go through life on my own power. He meant for me to depend on him.
A blender is designed to blend things, but it’s worthless unless it’s plugged in to power. If the blender just sits there and is never plugged in, it’s useless. It can’t fulfill its purpose.
God has given me capabilities, but they’re worthless unless I’m plugged in to his power through the Holy Spirit. With Christ, I have everything I need to live with confidence.
The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace]” (AMP).
In summary, there is nothing in me that allows me to claim that I am capable of doing his work on my own. The capacity I have comes from God; it is he who made me capable. I cannot claim to be adequate without God's help. I am not competent to carry out the responsibilities of God's calling in my own strength. Success in life means just being who God made me to be. I can lack confidence for two reasons. First, I’m trying to be somebody that God didn’t shape me to be. I’ll only gain confidence when I discover my capacity, how God shaped me. The other reason I lack confidence is that I depend on my own power instead of God’s power. Even though God has put a certain capacity in me, he hasn’t made me able to do it all on my own. He meant for me to depend on him. God has given me capabilities, but they’re worthless unless I’m plugged in to his power through the Holy Spirit. With Christ, I have everything I need to live with confidence. I can do all things which He has called me to do through Him who strengthens and empowers me to fulfill His purpose.
Father, I do admit that I try to do things in my own power or even try to be like someone else. I pray with help from the Holy Spirit that I look to Jesus as my source for everything and the power to daily to do what it is you have planned for me to do. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, amen.
09/28/20 - Daily Hope - (Home, Folsom)
What Success Really Looks Like
Colossians 2:9-10
“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” (NLT)
All of God was in Christ's human body. When I have Christ, I have everything I need for salvation and right living. Being united by faith to Jesus, I will find personal fulfillment in him. Christ alone holds the answers to the true meaning of life because he is life.
What is success? Often people think it means making a lot of money. But one can make a ton of money and be an absolute failure. Some think it means being famous. But one can be famous and totally miss the point of life. So what is real success?
The Bible tells me that real success is being who God made me to be. It means I’m not trying to be somebody else or what someone else wants me to be. I’ll only find real success when I spend my life as the person God created me to be.
If I try to be somebody else in life, I’m absolutely going to fail, because I can’t be anybody but myself. So I need to be who God made me to be. Be who I am in Christ.
“For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority” (Colossians 2:9-10 NLT).
God came to Earth in human form two thousand years ago so I could be made complete in Christ. That means I have everything I need through Jesus’ authority and power.
If I look around, I’m going to notice that I may not have the same gifts, talents, or opportunities as others, and that can be frustrating, if I’m thinking being a success is being somebody else.
When I understand that a successful life is being who God made me to be, then I will be amazed at the things God will do through me!
I lack nothing to be a success in life because success is being myself. In other words, being successful in life means I’m being myself, the person God made me to be. Don’t get hung up on what others think about me and instead focus on my audience of one: God. God shaped me and equipped me and, in Christ, has given me everything I need to be successful.
In summary, in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So I become complete through my union with Christ. When I have Christ, I have everything I need for salvation and right living. I will find personal fulfillment in him. Christ alone holds the answers to the true meaning of life because he is life. The Bible tells me that real success is being who God made me to be. Which means I’m not trying to be somebody else or what someone else wants me to be. I’ll only find real success when I spend my life as the person God created me to be. I have everything I need through Jesus’ authority and power. I lack nothing to be a success in life because success is being myself. So don’t get hung up on what others think about me, rather focus on my audience of one: God. God has shaped and equipped me and, in Christ, has given me everything I need to be successful.
This morning's study has reminded me that success comes from being who God made me to be. I don’t need to look for any other ways to be successful. I just need to continue to seek out and do what I believe God wants for me to do. This morning Father, I pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I also want to seek your peace, a peace that I got to feel while taking time off. I’d like for this to counter any frustrations at work and help guide my actions. I ask these things through you Son Jesus’ name, amen.
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