Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Success”
Our Bible verse for today: “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God enables us to have the right success, at the right time, in the right way.”
When it comes to having success in life people tend to gravitate towards one of two extremes. First, there are those who are way too impressed with themselves. They’ve managed to accomplish a few things and as a result they think they’re pretty nifty, pretty special. These folks believe “I can do anything”.
Then there are those who have a poor self-image and who don’t believe they’re capable of accomplishing much of any real value. These folks believe “I can’t do anything.” Max Lucado calls it the difference between “self-loving” and “self-loathing.”
The correct balance actually lies in the middle and is explained in Philippians 4:13, “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” In other words, I can do anything God wants me to do. It’s not a matter of what I can do, but what God can do. And therefore, He gets all the credit (and the blame).
“And the blame”? Yes, and the blame. What I mean is that if God has not equipped and empowered me to do a thing, then He obviously doesn’t want me to do it and therefore I can stop stressing about it.
There are three things in life that I have always wanted to accomplish and never have. I’ve always wanted to be a talented musician and singer, I’ve always wanted to be a fluent Spanish speaker, and I’ve always wanted to be six foot three. But I’m none of those things. I’ve tried. I’ve studied the guitar and sang some songs; I’ve stuttered and stumbled my way through broken Spanish; I’ve done stretching exercises and worn platform shoes; but none of it took. I still croak like a frog, I still accidentally say outrageous things in a language I don’t understand, and I’m still only five foot ten.
And it’s God’s fault. He didn’t grow me the extra five inches, and He didn’t give me an ear for music or a gift for languages. But it’s ok. He did give me the gifts, abilities and skills He wants me to have in order to accomplish the things He wants me to do. And so I leave the singing to others, I play golf instead of basketball, and I rely on translators when I’m in Spanish-speaking countries.
It’s true for me and it’s true for you: God enables us to have the right success at the right time and in the right way. And that’s about right.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 