Manna Monday

(Want to read other Manna Mondays? Click the link at the bottom of this post that says 'manna monday' and it will take you to the others.)


How do you take off the ‘old man’ and put on the ‘new’?

Think about it.

Habits die hard. Very hard.

And all those things that you think make you, ‘you’, can sometimes be things that shouldn’t make you, ‘you’.

A.K.A. The ‘you’ that you’ve become is not that great.

Ouch.

Sometimes I think about who I am. My ‘old man’. It is self-centered and consumed with M.E.

Reading Ephesians 4:28-30 has revealed several things that I really need to work on.

1. Give GENEROUSLY to others in need.

2. Let EVERYTHING you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

3. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as His own.

Oh man.

My old nature is still VERY much there.

1. Yes, I have chosen a career path where I can give generously to others with my time and efforts. And yes, this is good, but I want to say ‘blah blah blah’ to myself.

How much do I hold on selfishly to my own possessions?

For example, if I was walking by someone who needed my coat, would I give it to them? If I had the choice between giving someone the best food available while I chose something lesser, would I do it?

Hmmm… Do I even want to answer that question?

2.Is EVERYTHING I say good and helpful??

Wow. I think you would just have to interview my husband to find out that I often allow words to slip my mouth that are nowhere near an encouragement to him or others.

And what about if you talked to my friends? Do I spend more time whining than I do speaking positively???

3.I have addressed this issue before in other Manna Monday’s, but I carry the name of Christ! As such, am I living in a way that brings the Holy Spirit joy or grievance?

People, you are going to have to pray for me.

Just reading through Scripture in this way lets me see how much of my ‘old self’ permeates my daily life.

Shame.

Does It Really Matter?

I am selfish.

I know, I know. I am a CHRISTIAN. How can I be saying I’m selfish? I thought Christians were supposed to be perfect, right?

Wrong.

We are not perfect. Although our goal is to act like Christ did, we are still human, we are flawed and imperfect. The only difference between Christians and non-believers? We have chosen to put our trust and hope in Christ and believe in Him for salvation.

That is it.

Therefore, like I said: I. Am. Selfish.

Terribly so, in fact.

I really feel like I have been made so acutely aware of this lately, especially since my brother-in-law moved in. (Missed the post about that event? Click here. )

So often, I make declarations in my mind about my own rights and my stuff.

I think that my house is mine.

It is not.

I think my money is mine.

It is not.

I think that my time is mine.

It is not.

You see, because I have chosen to live my life for Christ, I recognize that all of my blessings, gifts, talents, and breaths here on this earth all belong to Him.

In fact, if the plan for my life was supposed to end right now, he could take the breath out of my body this very instant. He could make my heart stop beating. And my short life here on earth would end.

And all that time spent thinking about all MY ‘stuff’, MY ‘precious time’, and MY ‘precious belongings’ would fade in a moment of time.

Which really makes me wonder…why in the world am I so concerned with all of it anyway?

Will it really matter in the long run if someone disrespected my time and space? I mean, who really cares. If I am truly to love as Christ loves, then shouldn’t I be willing to give up my rights as he did? After all, he was treated terribly---mocked, scorned, and beaten, yet he gave up his life freely for every single one of us without complaint.

And I look at my own life. I can’t even stand it if someone oversteps their bounds or takes advantage of me.

I know what my purpose here on earth is. I discovered that at a young age. I remember thinking to myself: “I really want to help people who are hurting.” (Thus why I am a social worker!)

However, how much of my life is spent NOT working toward my purpose? How much energy and time is wasted wondering about stupid things like “I wish I could afford designer clothes like _____ over there” or “I wish I could change x, y, and z about my body” or even “I cannot believe ______ did that to me! Clearly they need to know about how they stomped on my toes.”

Which leads me back to my original point. I am selfish.

I spend so much time wondering about meaningless things because they benefit me.

How would my life be different if the majority of my thoughts were focused outward and how I could minister to others?

How much more Christ-like would I be?

Maybe then I could wear the name of Christ proudly instead of so often bringing shame to His name.

But thank God for grace.

Thank God He forgives us when we are wrong.

Thank God that He loves us so much that even when we are selfish and not resembling Jesus, He still loves us.

And thank God that He loves us enough not to let us stay the way we are.

Thank God.