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Saturday... Our view of who we are drives us.


Saturday... Our view of who we are drives us. It really does. So who are we?

Paul in writing a letter to he coworker and friend, Titus reemphasizes who he, Paul is. In Titus 1:1 (NLT) Paul says, "This letter is from Paul, a slave..." Now that statement can bring a lot of different reactions from us. He's a slave? Poor guy. We've got to do something about that. 

But he goes on, "a slave of God." Ya, look what it got him. He is in prison. But Paul was saying this as the beginning of his introduction. He wasn't feeling sorry for himself or ashamed. He knew what that really meant. He had given his whole life over to God. He didn't see it as a put down but a tremendous opportunity.

Too many people say that I am a slave to my wife, my husband, or to my work and see that as something negative, a put down. But in reality, it is a tremendous opportunity to be married and to have a job. Your attitude toward your life makes such a difference.

And then Paul says, "and an apostle of Jesus Christ." Yes, I am in prison, I am a slave but God is using me to change the world. I am "an apostle of Jesus Christ." 

The whole verse says, "This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know how to live godly lives."

I was just thinking, I am a slave of God in my old age, I am in my 70's and I could see that as being a major hindrance but I see that He wants to show me that it is a tremendous opportunity to make a difference. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ and I have been chosen even in the prison of old age "to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know how to live godly lives." I love it. It is so amazing what God can and wants to do through His slaves. I don't want to be anything else.

Verses 1-2 in The Message says, "I, Paul, am God's slave and Christ's agent for promoting the faith among God's chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago - and he doesn't break promises! And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I have been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Savior, God himself." 

We Have a choice. Proverbs 12:27-28 (AMP) says, "The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey, but the precious possession of a [wise[ man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them]. In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality - eternal life." 

Now that is a great view of what God gives His slaves. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning  


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