BLESSED
Larry Schaeffer
Today’s Scripture: "God blesses those who are humble for they shall inherit the whole earth." Matthew 5:5, NLT
Theme: Those with a humble, servant’s heart will be exalted and rewarded by God.
WORKING “THE INHERITANCE” SET FOR ME!
“Hi, I’m Larry, a believer/follower of Jesus and I am recovering from workaholism.” This is how I introduce myself at every meeting of Celebrate Recovery. Let me tell you, I was rocking and rolling! I was on my way to obtaining “the World’s Dream.” I was working hard! I was the youngest person to become a partner at the firm where I was employed, getting weekly “atta boys” from my clients by going over the top to serve them. I was working nights and weekends, building my dream home. It wasn’t about me! I was serving my family and the business I worked for—or at least I thought so.
PRIDE VERSES HUMILITY
The definition of humility is “having an accurate view of oneself.” The truth is that I was not serving my family or the business I worked for; I was serving my desperate need to be “enough” as “I” defined it. “Am I a good enough man, father, husband, and servant to the community?” I used my accomplishments and all those “atta boys” to substantiate that I was a good man. If my family or work questioned my motives, I was quick to convict them of their own selfishness. I was convinced I was doing such a great job caring for them and also how selfish it was for them to question me. This stance would ultimately end up costing me everything that was truly important to me: my marriage, missing those special moments with my kids, lost friendships, and a real relationship with Jesus.
I NEED GOD AND HE WANTS ME!
Being blessed by God and humility go hand in hand. A person that is “blessed” or blessed by God, is a person that is favored by God, to be able and allowed to walk with God intimately with a growing knowledge of who God is and what we are to Him. Humility is acknowledging we can only do this by admitting that we need God and CANNOT truly live the life designed for us on our own. We are created to be walking with God daily…just like Adam and Eve began doing in the Garden. I started my adult life playing God. I knew what I wanted to inherit and knew better then God on how to get there, I did not need God, and the truth is “I SERVED myself.”
To truly inherit life in this world, let’s see what Jesus says regarding how to get there: “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:39, NLT). Interestingly, Jesus states this again in the book of Matthew, Chapter 16. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26, NLT).
Jesus did not just talk it; He demonstrated how to be the ultimate Servant as He served and mentored the disciples, served Father God in following His will, and by dying for our sins so we can have eternity with Him.
Make It Personal: For the last 24 years, I have been on a new journey. I no longer desire to serve myself but choose to surrender my will to the will of God and experience the true life He has for me. It is not easy to keep from making it all about me again. There have been many failures, but I work at it daily. I challenge you to read John 15:1-17 and note how to “bear much fruit” in serving Him by serving others! Then to spend time in the morning “walking with God” or being okay with “wasting time with God” (we Americans don’t like to waste time). I spend a little time on my knees, but I really enjoy when Jesus lets me take a walk with Him! I love it! I ask Him to put to my mind “what we are going to talk about today in our walk” and “how is He planning to use me today.” Sometimes I do a lot of talking and other times I do a lot of listening. It’s my favorite time with Jesus and I get to do it four or five times a week. Today, it was in the rain! It was a special day!
Pray: God, please give me the honor to feel Your presence throughout this day. I want to be a good servant to You, my Creator, Lord, and God. Put upon my heart Your will, not mine, so I will be a blessing to You and in turn be blessed by it! Help me, Lord! You know how I can deceive myself and rationalize my doings as good when they’re only serving my own agenda. Lord, You told me that You would help me be transformed in more of the likeness of Jesus, the Great Servant, so may Your will be done. In Your Name, Amen.
Read: John 15:1-17
Weekly Memory Verse: “One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them.” Matthew 5:1, ESV