READ: 1
CORINTHIANS 1:18-29
“Either make the tree
good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt:
for the tree is known by its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33)
According to our reading today, God is always on the look out for the dregs and rejects of the world. When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart and surrender completely to Him, no matter your past, God wills you. But if you refuse to let Him use you, He will respect your will. He respects your freedom of choice and will by no means violate it.
Does God want to use the highly educated, affluent and popular? He is willing to use them on the condition they are ready to forsake whatever they think they have acquired as well as their high estimation of themselves. Elisha was a wealthy man by all standards. But the moment God indicated His interest to use him, he forsook all (1 Kings 19:19-21). This was one reason he got a double portion of the anointing of Elijah.
Paul had excellent credentials for a young man. Being outstanding by far he was the envy of his peers. He had a Ph.D. in Law. He stood out as a Hebrew among Hebrews; a Pharisee, in zeal and in observance of the Law of Moses. But when the Lord showed interest in using him, he counted all his gains as loss. (Philippians 3:7-10) If not, his accomplishments would have stood in his way to knowing God. If there was somebody who had deep insights into who God is, it is Paul. He could get to know so much about God because he reduced himself into nothing before God.
For God to use you, you must be ready to become nothing so that by the time the miracles begin to flow, you will give God full credit. Saul’s very low and humble impressions of himself made God to choose him as king (1 Samuel 15:17). How humble are you today? The level of your humility will determine the height God can take you to. The more humble you are the greater God will use you to be a blessing to others. Humble yourself in God’s sight today.
According to our reading today, God is always on the look out for the dregs and rejects of the world. When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart and surrender completely to Him, no matter your past, God wills you. But if you refuse to let Him use you, He will respect your will. He respects your freedom of choice and will by no means violate it.
Does God want to use the highly educated, affluent and popular? He is willing to use them on the condition they are ready to forsake whatever they think they have acquired as well as their high estimation of themselves. Elisha was a wealthy man by all standards. But the moment God indicated His interest to use him, he forsook all (1 Kings 19:19-21). This was one reason he got a double portion of the anointing of Elijah.
Paul had excellent credentials for a young man. Being outstanding by far he was the envy of his peers. He had a Ph.D. in Law. He stood out as a Hebrew among Hebrews; a Pharisee, in zeal and in observance of the Law of Moses. But when the Lord showed interest in using him, he counted all his gains as loss. (Philippians 3:7-10) If not, his accomplishments would have stood in his way to knowing God. If there was somebody who had deep insights into who God is, it is Paul. He could get to know so much about God because he reduced himself into nothing before God.
For God to use you, you must be ready to become nothing so that by the time the miracles begin to flow, you will give God full credit. Saul’s very low and humble impressions of himself made God to choose him as king (1 Samuel 15:17). How humble are you today? The level of your humility will determine the height God can take you to. The more humble you are the greater God will use you to be a blessing to others. Humble yourself in God’s sight today.
MEMORIZE:
MATTHEW 12:33 –Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the
tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.
