Devotion 15

We studied Luke 17:11-19 during the retreat. Nine out of ten were ‘doing the right thing’; only one returned to Jesus to praise and give thanks to Him.

How much time am I spending on the ‘right things’, leading Bible Studies, showing support to the fellowship, being encouraging to the sisters…? How much time, on the other hand, am I spending on organizing my inner world, quiet time, devotions, prayers…?

I hear people saying that I’m doing ‘well’ spiritually. I like hearing that. There is actually a danger here, the danger of doing well or even being successful. I always ask myself: From whom am I seeking approval, people or God? For whom am I doing the right things, myself or God?

When we are little in our own eyes, we depend on God. That’s also why many people, including myself, feel God’s presence more when we are ‘messed up’. But when we become strong we tend to forget, in some sense, that we have nothing that we haven’t received from God. We are so sinful by nature that every blessing of God upon our service may just add to the pride of our own hearts. How easy it is for us to forget that we have no power and no sufficiency in ourselves at all!

There is no reason to boast in anything we accomplish, for “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18) It is these little things that we often forget. Remember to give thanks to God for everything, it is He who is developing us into the people He created us to be.

Let him who boasts boast in the Lord, for it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. – 2 Corinthians 10:17-18