It's Not About Me

I just love that when God gives you a revelation He doesn't just give it once, but instead He reinforces it over and over again.  Recently, He has been showing me again and again that my life is not about me.  While many people would look at me and say "Of course, Jenni.  Didn't you already know that?  Everyone knows that!"  But how many of us actually understand what that means and even more so, how many of us live our lives with that realization?  What would we do differently?

Two days ago an old song came across the radio that stopped me in my tracks because it carried with it the very thought of what God was trying to tell me.  How simple yet how poignant.

In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.
In my life, Lord, be glorified today.

So, what is it that glorifies God?  How can we glorify Him in our lives?  Ironically, or maybe not so much, my pastor used this verse in his sermon today.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Imagine that!  When we are compeled by the love of Christ we should no longer live for ourselves but for Him...ok, so what does that mean?  I think it comes down to just two things...Mark 12:30-31

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.

So what does love have to do with it?  If we love Him, we know His voice.  If we love Him and can hear His voice, we bring glory to Him by our obedience to His words. 

So if it's not about me...who is it about?  It's about others!  As the hands, feet and mouth of God we all have jobs to do, and these jobs bring Him glory and us fulfilment.  I shudder to think of the millions of people who die each year without ever experiencing their first day on the job with God.  I don't want to be one of those people; I want the fulfilment that can only come from following the voice of the One who died for me.  What about you?

When you were created God planted a tiny seed in you...a seed of the work He wanted you to accomplish...a seed meant to bring joy, peace and love to you and all those around you.  What have you done with that seed?  Have you watered it?  Have you fed it?  Have you sheltered it?  Have you pruned it?  Have you cared for it?  If not, it's never too late to start!

Whether your seed yields an athlete, an actor, a business owner, a teacher, a doctor, a minister, a mechanic, a scientist, a mother, a chef, a store manager, a grandfather...or in my case, a friend - remember that this gift is just not for you, but is meant to accomplish the job you were born to do.  You were meant to change the world with the gift that springs forth from that tiny seed that God placed within you.  He even gave us an instruction book to keep us on track...He thinks of everything :)

But what if you don't know what your job is?  That's easy!  Just follow His leading step by step and eventually you'll figure it out.  And then one day, you might just hear it while taking a shower, or going for a run, or washing the dishes, or getting into an elevator (like me).  Whenever and wherever it happens, take note!  Remember that moment; write it down; cherish that calling; protect it; and above all else, never let anything or anyone deter you from fulfilling it.  Don't worry about how you will do it...just focus on following His voice and He will lead you step by step.  Just imagine how different the world would be if everyone on the planet was actively doing what they were born to do, fulfilling the job God has for them...what an awesome sight that would be!  Only you can do your part :)