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August 29 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8,9. These verses are quoted often but rarely heeded. I find myself pondering how the ways of man creep into our church services, into our committee work, and into our decision making. I have even heard that churches should be run like a business. Yes, we often drift far from the mind of God as we go about ‘playing’ at church. If there is any difference between God and man it is that He is all knowing, omnipresent, and perfect in righteousness and love. We, on the other hand, even in Christ, are a work in progress. Yet, we so often assume that our own experience or earthly wisdom can be substituted, and even blessed, as we step ahead of God and put forward our thoughts. There are even times when we twist the word of God as a futile means of trying to achieve our own ambitions. We need to repent! The word of God calls us to lay our plans, our possessions, our life and our destiny before the Lord. And we are even to lay the thoughts of our minds at His feet. We are to be open with our brothers and sisters in Christ—there is no room for self-glorification or any attempt to sound our own ‘trumpet’. In the service of others all credit is to be given to the Lord. Only He is good. Any praise directed at us by our fellow man is to be deflected and directed toward Jesus. Father, I want only to be a humble servant for Your church, the body of Christ. Burn up my plans and substitute Your plans and motives for achieving Your goals. I long for Your thoughts and ways. Thank You for how You will do that today and every day. Amen. |
