SCRIPTURE: “For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:19-20 NLT)
QUOTE: “If you keep honoring God, you will come into a stored-up blessing. You will not have to go after it, it will find you. – Joel Osteen
NOTE:
Paul, as a good leader, had a great perspective on this balance when he wrote to the Galatians; though we are to make full use of our earthly talents and abilities to live in God’s will, we’re always to honor and glorify Him for what He has accomplished through us. Daniel knew he was very talented, in addition to being healthy and handsome, he was exceptionally intelligent, but more importantly, he was very wise in using his knowledge and skill sets (Daniel1:3-4). Though he knew he could do nothing without God’s help, he also knew the Lord had gifted him. Consequently, he accepted Nebuchadnezzar’s gifts and privileges in order to make an impact spiritually on this pagan culture.
ILLUSTRATION:
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood. Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!
REFLECTION:
What can believers do to maintain this balance—to honor God, even in the face of persecutions?
TWO YEAR BIBLE READING: Exodus 32 – 33, Psalm 49