What a know it all!

Oh,  how I used to be a know it all.

In fact, many might misunderstand why I share each day,  thinking that I’m proudly displaying how much I know. But you see, what I share is what I am being taught – so these daily journals are a chronicle odd how much I need to learn and apply,  not a pile of trophies to be displayed.

PRO 1:7, 22-23, 32-33 ESV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 
For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

You see,  I’m turning at His reproof. I’m being disciplined daily by my heavenly Father who loves me enough to convict me and correct me and guide me. What I share is not a proud message of what I know, but a humble message of what I am being taught. I lived a life far from God’s will for so long, thinking and even claiming that I was a Christian,  but living a fruitless life,  because I want seeking God in my life. I was wandering in the darkness.

But now, He makes His words known to me. Now,  I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I am in awe of Almighty God and the wisdom of His divine instruction. I am taking up my cross and following. And this does not make me wise,  but it does mean that I’m not that same fool that I used to be.

It is humbling and how much I have yet to learn. It is embarrassing to know that the world sees so easily the faults in my life that fall so short of a perfect reflection of the Christ that lives in me.

So I share this journal,  not as a stack of trophies,  but as a warning. Don’t be like that old me, that flesh nature that is dying and being overcome day by day through the discipline and instruction that I am receiving. No, be like Christ.  Seek and find His will for your life – Yes,  so that you can be saved,  but even more importantly so that He will be glorified and honored by our lives.

You see,  because I’m coming upon this wisdom and understanding, that it really is more about Him and less about me.

I’m not a know it all, in fact,  I’m humbled at how much I still have to learn each day.

But God really does know it all.

He is a great know it all.

And He shares His divine instruction in the Word of God. We just need to seek it and apply it,  receive His correction,  and then repent and turn away from our sinful ways,  and live a little bit less foolishly worth each lesson learned.

We don’t just say with our words that we receive but stay in a fruitless and sinful life, we decide to turn away from sin,  and with His help and guidance,  we walk together with Him. If we are not walking with Him,  how can we say that He lives in us?

We also don’t just change on our own trying to do this under our own power,  proud of the change in our lives, hoping for what rewards we might be earning by our works and deeds. No, all the glory and honor is His,  not ours. If it is not Him working through us,  then our efforts ate futile and wasted and worthless in the eyes of God. So if we ate not walking with Him in a fruitful life,  if we do not have Love,  then we ate nothing and we have nothing and our works are for naught.

So today, let our lives be surrendered to His will,  for His purpose, for His honor and glory. Let us be equipped and prepared for His use. And may He find us ready and available for those times where He sees fit to use us.

Because the only good works are those that are His works. No amount of striving on my part will change that. My job is to repent,  be equipped,  show love and mercy and forgiveness, share the good news of Christ in my actions and even in my words, and to make disciples of the nations.

What is our plan to accomplish this,  friend? Are we even aware of our job requirements? Are we satisfied that there is another job for us? Do we think that our job offering is a better fit for someone else?

Have we turned down God’s job offer to us, thinking that we know better than Good what we are capable of accomplishing with our lives?

Are we still the know it all, or have we accepted that He is?

You don’t know it all.

You have a job.

Get to work.

Have a blessed week,  friends.