Reserved Or Relinquished?

We've witnessed quite a bit in recent days...  nothing we haven't seen before, although some would argue that it reached a new low, as to what was on display and how it was portrayed.

It has been established that we have been blessed, and given by God, inalienable rights.

And yet, quite simply the flesh fights for even more. There are many layers to the conversation, some I understand, some I don't and it's too exhaustive to explore for the nature of this blog; except to say that even in Christianity, we are often all too quick to assert our own rights.

I'm just as guilty of it as any other believer, yet the truth of the matter is, that as a follower of Jesus Christ, my rights take a back seat to what Christ desires to work in my life and what He desires to accomplish for the kingdom of God through my life.

God loves you.
He loves me.
He provides for us.
He watches over us.
He desires the best for our lives.
He asks that we bring our needs to Him

However, with that understanding in mind, we still, all to often, come to Him from a place of assertion rather than submission. I do it. You do it. Church leadership and pastors have done it. It can be especially difficult to leaders and people in authority; considerably more so when the relationship is particularly tense, stressful or difficult to navigate. Trying to understand what is going on; wandering what new development will be the one that causes a new set of problems... managing and dealing with management is a struggle for both sides of the table. Which is usually when one starts to stand in assertion and the other is left to assert in confrontation or relinquish in submission. 

This is difficult to do in a relationship with a forgiving, compassion, Sovereign God.
How much more with humanity... not so quick to forgive, prone to self-serving, finite being.

We are not our own; we have been bought with a price.
How will the world see Christ, if Christians keep standing in the way?

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday for pastors struggling; finding themselves in places where they feel the need to assert their rights and position. Though the battle is real and the conversation difficult, may the seek that God would be glorified. May God help them to remain humble, for He opposes the proud (which usually is found at the forefront of any assertion). Pray God would grant to them insight and wisdom in dealing with difficult people, whether above them in leadership or under their ministry. May who we are in Christ not stand in the way of Christ being displayed in and through our lives.

That when people look at Christians,
They would not see a person who believes in Christ,
But Christ who desires the best for humanity.
May we be found relinquished only to Him.
That He be glorified as His sovereign plan unfolds in our lives.
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

---