spoken word

I tend to have a problem when I speak . . . I envision what I want to say BEFORE I look to what God says in His Bible.

I was asked recently to speak at our church's men's breakfast the weekend of easter. I did say yes, after I himmed and hawed about it. I wanted to make sure that I was doing it for the right reason and not for any personal gain. Eventually I chose to speak.

Floods of messages came to mind, but I didn't want to just pick something from the past and rehash it, nor did I want to impress the people (In fact I get reminded in Corinthians where Paul says "As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you opr any human authority". Basically, when I speak, I have to speak God's word and not care if I am made a fool of. I ALSO do NOT want to just speak my words and not care of what God thinks.

This particular weekend I am compelled to speak on the issue of my identity HAS to come from God. Specifically: When I seek to label my self by my position or by my sin, I rob God of all the good things he intends to do with my life. I grab the credit for myself. God deserves all the credit and we have absolutely no room to boast about any of our accomplishments, nor think that any sin is beyond the forgiveness of Jesus. My identity is IN CHRIST.

Lord have mercy on me.