Awhile back, I came to a very significant realization: I AM WORTHLESS. I am completely useless; ineffectual, inadequate, and of no use to the Kingdom of God.
What’s more??- So are YOU.
Let me explain.
Alone and of our own glory, we are nothing and we cannot truly accomplish anything for the Kingdom of God. Sure, we can build orphanages, plant churches and put on extravagant outreach events, but if we are doing all of this absent of Christ’s love and the Holy Spirit, it is absolutely worthless.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” {Isaiah 64:6}
As human beings, we naturally crave positive reinforcement. Even if only on a subconscious level. So when it comes to any form of missions work, we love the praise and pats on the back that often come with a job well done. There’s nothing wrong with positive reinforcement; in fact it’s a beautiful thing!
But see, we have to be careful. Speaking from personal experience, it’s super easy to fall so in love with all the praise and appreciation, that it becomes your motivation. You begin seeking your own glory, instead of our Savior’s.
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” {Isaiah 40:7-8}
Anything and everything that we do, we should be doing unto the glory of God. Because as obvious as it is, I’m going to say it anyway: to HIM is where ALL glory is due. We are useless; sinful, filthy rags without Christ. Specifically speaking about missions work, HE is our compassion, HE is our grace, HE is our love, and HE is our strength. Gloria a Dios!
And it’s not always easy; it can be a daily inner struggle with our flesh to forgo our own hollow glory for that of our Savior’s. But it’s all a part of “dying to self daily.”
These gifts of redemption and grace, love and mercy that our God has shown us- THEY should be our motivation for missions work. The unquenchable desire to share these gifts with the world is what should be driving us forward, so that GOD may receive all the glory.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” {Matthew 5:16}
I AM WORTHLESS… ALONE, that is.
With CHRIST, I’m ROYALTY.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” {1Peter 2:9}
