The Upper Room Daily Devotional Nashville, Tennessee, United States “Competence from God" for Thursday, 22 January 2015 - Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3: God’s New Agreement
1 Are we once again bragging about ourselves? Do we need letters to you or from you to tell others about us? Some people do need letters that tell about them. 2 But you are our letter, and you are in our[a] hearts for everyone to read and understand. 3 You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God.
4 We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God. 5 We don’t have the right to claim that we have done anything on our own. God gives us what it takes to do all that we do.[Footnotes:
3.2 our: Some manuscripts have “your.”]
Paul wrote, “We are [not] competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”[2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)]
For most of my life I was full of hubris (excessive pride or self-confidence). My rationale was, “God has given me abilities and resources, and I honor God by using them to accomplish my tasks.” Never did I ask whether the opportunities and challenges that came my way were in line with God’s plan. And even when I failed, I attributed the failure to myself, to my inadequacy. I would eventually ask God for help, but prayer was always my last resort.
Then one day, overwhelmed by the demands on my time and energy, I stopped what I was doing, fell to my knees, and confessed to God that I was helpless. I surrendered my whole being to the Lord, putting everything in God’s hands. Very quickly, my schedule eased up. From then on, I have tried to listen to and follow God’s leading. As a result, I chose to leave corporate work — with its recognition, privileges, and pleasures — in favor of working in ministry.
I’ve learned to attribute the completion of every task, the endurance of every trial, to God. My prayer is for God to give me true humility as exemplified by our Savior Jesus Christ. (See Phil. 2:1-11.)
Read more from the author, here.
"Seeking Approval"
In A Separate Peace, John Knowles’ classic book about the experiences of two boys in school as World War II was going on, the narrator, Gene, tells of how his best friend and roommate, Finny, one day goes to the school swimming pool and breaks the school record for the 100 yards freestyle. No one other than the two of them witness the extraordinary feat. There is no fanfare, no medal, no mention in the school paper. Just one young man doing something he believed he could do and another young man paying silent tribute to one he admired.
Most of us are not like Finny. We don’t do things inconspicuously. We want our achievements recognized, no matter how small or great they are. We like to be commended, to be held up as somebody to emulate. And when nobody notices, we get very disappointed. We derive our self-worth from what people think and say of us.
But Scripture teaches us otherwise. Jesus said in Matthew 20:26, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…” I believe this means that the first step in our receiving the most important recognition of all—God’s acceptance—is to acknowledge our unworthiness. And then the Apostle Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23 to do the best we can in everything, because we do it for God and not for man’s praise.
We don’t have to break records for God to notice us. To begin with, we are already precious in God’s sight. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29-31). When we don’t receive the approbation we crave, we only need to remind ourselves that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
At the beginning of the new year, I was reviewing what I had accomplished over more than six decades. It sobered me to realize that I have not contributed significantly to the world. I have not made any important discovery nor created anything that would make people’s lives better. I have not been part of a movement that has made a difference in the world. I don’t suppose my friends’ lives are far richer because of me, although I would like to think that they have somehow benefited from my friendship. Perhaps the only people who would miss me when I am gone are the members of my small family.
Yet I find assurance in God’s promise that if we gave food to the hungry and water to the thirsty, if we welcomed strangers, if we provided clothes to those needing them, and if we visited the sick and oppressed—if we did anything for one of the least of God’s children, we did it for Him (Matthew 25:37-40). That is, after all, what truly matters. That is all the achievement that counts for eternity.
So this year, I resolve to exceed my personal best in serving the least of my brothers and sisters. I won’t break any record, but there will be one who will witness it and who will give his approval.[Gayla C. Carreon]
The Author: Gayla C. Carreon (Quezon, Philippines)
Thought for the Day: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (Jas. 4:10, NIV).
Prayer: Loving God, forgive us for our pride. Help us to humble ourselves and to trust fully in you. Amen.
Prayer focus: The people of the Philippines
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