Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
A New Value System
Pastor Scott
Sunday, March 06, 2005
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"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
(Galatians 6:14)
"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14). We see how we are to relate to the world system. It is interesting that in the midst of this Paul includes the Judaizers--the Pharisees, the religious people--in the world. He puts all worldly accepted religion in the same worldly category. Then he contrasts it with the cross of Christ. We are not talking only about the literal redemptive work of Jesus as He died on the cross. Most people embrace and say, "I'm happy that Jesus died for me, so I get to go to heaven," yet live like the devil. It doesn't work that way. People misunderstand the cross. People are thankful for Jesus' death until they realize that it requires their death. Jesus' death requires your death. For Jesus' death to be effectual, you must die daily to your own ambitions, your own will, your own methods, your own pleasure, your family traditions, and your natural perspective of justice. Many of us have our own ideas of what is fair and what is not fair. Little kids say, "That's not fair."
"What do you mean that's not fair?"
"That's not fair; it didn't go my way."
Kids start a game and make up the rules as they go. That always leads to conflict, doesn't it? Who usually gets to make up the rules? The biggest guy does.
"No, it's not."
Punch! "Yes, it is."
Okay, the rules have been established. The person with the strongest will is in charge.
How do we live in contrast to that? How do we live in denial of what is natural to us through our Adamic nature? For me to live is Christ. We need to set up a new value system. Nothing brings me more pleasure than pleasing Jesus. Do you live for others? In so many of our lives, even our love in our relationships is selfish. Though our love for our children or our spouses many times is pure, a supernatural love can become infused into you when you can begin to die to self. Your love for the Lord can be conveyed into your love for your spouse and your children; and it can be pure. It is not self-motivated for personal gain, out of guilt and obligation. It is because there is a new spirit, a new heart, a new value system, a de-valuing of self and esteeming others better because of the free gift and the joy that's set before us. We are not living for the moment.
Who are we in all of this mess? What are we supposed to be as the light of the world and the salt of the earth? We are to be people who are not living for themselves. How recognizable is your separation? Do people at work know that you are separate and you are not one of them? Do we compromise everything? Where is our allegiance really? The identification should be: to whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross. Our boast is to be how much we are not like the world. My glorying is that I am not being overcome by the world. I don't need what the world needs to be perceived as successful. They say I have to have this to be content, but godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). Are you there? Is godliness the standard and the hallmark?