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Leaving a Mark on the World
Jul 16, 06:44 PM
“It is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not at all be ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” ~Philippians 1:20
Most of us want to do something important, some great thing that leaves a lasting impression on the world. We are driven to leave our mark on the world when we should be striving to leave Christ’s mark on it. The Apostle Paul’s greatness lies in the fact that he desired no other glory but Christ’s, no other exaltation than Christ’s alone. He was not afraid to accomplish. He did not hide his gifts under a bushel. His aim, however, was not his own renown but that of Jesus Christ. All of his power, possessions, and passion were directed toward this end. Because of this, whatever best proclaimed the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Christ was good enough for Paul. It didn’t have to be his own idea, it did not have to be his – whatever glorified Christ was the only thing that mattered.
Get pride under your feet. Leave your ego at the door. Quit clamoring, like the world, for recognition, fame, or appreciation. Allow your sense of self to be crucified along with Him. Only then will you be free and only then will your gifts flow in their beauty and power. If Christ alone is your desire and first love, what loss could you suffer that would be ultimately devastating to you? If Christ understands you, who is to say you have been misunderstood? If Christ is the recipient of your devotion, who cares if you are unappreciated or if no one knows your name? If I render my service as unto the Lord, it matters less who is in authority over me. I can submit to them and serve them as I would the Lord. They may be none the wiser, but the Lord knows.
Some misunderstand this or misappropriate it. They think that if they desire Christ’s glory, their own natural abilities will never see the light of day. They imagine that they will never accomplish anything, never succeed at anything, and never have any authority or prominence. In fact, most of the time it is the exact opposite. “I worked harder then them all,” Paul said. (1 Corinthians 15:10) His gifts and abilities were released in their true purpose. He accomplished even more than he did when he was driven by his own devotion to himself. God brought Joseph out of the dungeon and gave him a place and a name of great importance. God took David out of the sheepfold and made him a ruler over God’s people. God could do that because God knew these men had a heart totally devoted to God’s own glory not their own. It took a process for them to do so. It didn’t happen all at once. But as they did, they stepped more fully into their divine destiny and their gifts and abilities were released in fuller measure of their intended purpose and power.