In Oswald Chamber’s book “My Utmost for His Highest,” he wrote “The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through us.” (December 18)
Do we focus too much on wanting to be useful, or for God to use us?
Are we too self-centered in our pursuit, that we want our lives to count, for our lives to matter, for our lives not to be wasted?
Is it pride speaking, that wants to elevate ourselves, and for us to be something?
But Jesus calls us to become nothing.
Jesus says to die to self.
Jesus says to deny self.
Ironically, the way to have an eternal impact for the Kingdom is not to pursue influence from ourselves.
My influence is empty. My impact is nothing.
Die to yourself, and then the Lord will work in you to use you to accomplish His work.
There is a battle between activity and stillness.
Between influence and indwelling.
Faithfulness begins with surrender, not striving.