I Have Nothing Special to Offer…But GOD

Hello OBS Ladies!

Last week I think some of you thought I was off the deep end.  I wrote about finding my worth in Christ, actually not just Christ, but Christ on the Cross.

This week, I’m going to do similar.  You may still think I’m a little off my rocker; and that’s ok.  I believe God has been opening my eyes further to see His wonderful grace and love for me in a way that I either have never understood, or it’s been so long that I have forgotten that I once understood it.

I am NOTHING!

Yes, you read that right.   Not one thing I offer to the God of the universe is worth more than menstrual pads and poop.  Remember last week’s post ?

Here are the verses:

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”   Isaiah 64:6 KJV  (yes, “filthy rags are used menstrual pads)

“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, “Philippians 3:8 KJV.  Actually this entire passage is about how worthless our offerings are to the Lord.  And in fact, Paul talks about NOT putting confidence in our flesh, but in Jesus Christ alone.  Whatever gains he had made he counts as garbage (NIV)   Ok, that’s another day’s topic…back to the topic at hand.

Nothing is neutral.  Ok, “things” are neutral, forks, glasses, cars, etc. are neutral, but people are not neutral.  We either do evil (without God) or do good (with God).  Without God we are dung, filth, garbage.

NOTHING I OFFER, in and of itself, is GOOD ENOUGH!  (are you getting the picture?)

But God changes EVERYTHING!

With Christ, I have EVERYTHING to offer!

If I am in Christ, I am a NEW creation!  The old has passed away.   (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You see when we build our selves up without tearing down our humanity first, our foundation is shaky at best.  Sinking Sand.  We have a false sense of assurance, that comes from ourselves (self-esteem) and not our Creator (God-esteem)

But when we build ourselves up through Christ–then we build on solid ground.  when we realize we are nothing-without his shed blood , that’s when we become something!  That’s when we can put aside what we want, and discover what HE wants for us!  Our hearts are deceitful, we CANNOT follow them.  Our heart WILL lead us astray.  They cannot be trusted.  Following our hearts will lead us to the path of following our emotions….sinking sand, being tossed about like infants, back and forth by waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching  (Ephesians 4:14)

But when we build on Christ, we will stand on the Solid Rock.  Remember the old Hymn

Thinking about deceitful hearts and sinking sand made me think of Jonah.

Jonah followed HIS heart right into the belly of a fish!

Right into a great depression, where he wished he were DEAD!

Right into the scorching sun!

Right into ANGER at the Almighty God.

He didn’t make the cut to Hebrews 11, and in fact we do not know what happened to Jonah.

This is what happens when we “follow our heart”

I have to wonder if Jonah’s attitude ever changed?  Or, if he went to Ninevah grudgingly (that’s my guess…oh, I’ll go only because I don’t want to spend 3 more days in the belly of a fish, or worse).   Did he go ONLY because he knew he HAD to do it?  But still not wanting to?

After he preached, he got so angry so quickly because God chose to save Ninevah (for about 50 more years, then Ninevah was destroyed).

But God still used Jonah!

He was in God’s will when he did what he didn’t want to do! When he preached to Ninevah.  When he put aside himself.

In fact, God most likely used him while he was still in the middle of his sin!

That tells me, it’s not about us, it’s about God in us.

Do I have anything to offer?  In Christ #YesIDo.  Even in the midst of my sin, God can still use me to His glory; for His purpose; as a part of His plan.

Dear Father, as we’re learning about confidence, I pray that we will not seek our own self confidence, but that we will seek the confidence that comes from knowing we are unable to achieve anything of worth apart from you alone.  Thank you for going to the cross in our place.  Thank you for making us something when we, in our humanness are nothing.  In Jesus Name, Amen.