John 7:17-18
You are defined by who or what you represent. Think about that...as a father, a husband, a mother, a wife. As a teacher, a student, a nurse, an insurance agent. A pastor, a cook, a landscape architect. You are defined by who or what you represent.
We, as Christians, constitute the Church--the ekklesia. That word for church from the Greek New Testament literally means "called out ones." (Wade Burleson linked a great article about the ekklesia on his blog...you can access the article here if you have some time for good study today.) We are "called out ones." We are only the church because of someone else...He who called us out and assembled us. We are to be defined by the Caller. He is who we represent. We are for His glory.
Any church (or person, or convention, etc.) seeking its own glory will be seen for what it is; it will be defined. In the same way, any church (or person, or convention, etc.) seeking the glory of the Caller will be seen for what it is.
I'm challenged today to make a self-resolution: To never allow my life to be defined by seeking glory for anyone or anything other than Christ and His Kingdom.
Our church has become quite public these past two weeks. Apparently, there are quite a few folks unhappy about the public stance we have taken. I know we, the Immanuel family, are not defined by selfish glory-seeking. I am so proud to be a part of a local ekklesia who live for the Kingdom and stand against seeming barriers to Kingdom expansion.
May every breath we breathe today and everyday seek the glory of our Caller, and not our own!
