January 3, 2013 … Our Positioning In Life

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 3

Passage of the Day: Proverbs 27: 2 [NLT] …  
2 Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!  
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Comparative Reference Passage: … 2nd Chronicles 14: 2, 17 [NLT] …  
2 And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom very great for the sake of his people Israel. … 17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David.
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2nd Comparative Reference Passage: 2nd Corinthians 10: 17 – 18 : [NLT] … {Note Paul’s warning about having an exalted position of one’s self. And where Paul also quoted Jeremiah in verse 17, indicating the our position in this world should only come from our relationship with the Lord.} … 17 As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” [Jer. 9: 24] ... 18 When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different! 

My Journal for Today: If you were to stand before some class where you were the instructor and you gave them the opportunity to write on a 3X5 card one ANONYMOUS descriptor (a word or phrase) which would describe their feelings about you, …what do you think they would write? Because, … what that group would write on those cards would – in some measure – describe their opinion about your POSITION in life (i.e., in their perception … at that moment in time).

Oz Hillman, the author of the devotions I’m using this year, was an advertising executive for many years; and he writes: “For years, I spent time and money seeking to position our company in the minds of our prospective clients. Although it would seem that is a natural and logical marketing function, I later discovered there is a dangerous flaw when we attempt to position ourselves by promoting our own attributes. I discovered that positioning is a by-product of who we are and what we do, not an end in itself." 

It’s interesting to look at how one’s POSITION in life can somehow be skewed from the reality of who someone really is. King David’s position in the eyes of Israel rose to great heights (see the passages quoted above as contextual references from 2nd Chronicles 14). He recognized that God had allowed his POSITION in life to be elevated for God’s purposes. But we know from Scripture that David was not a flawless man. Historically, he was an adulterer and a murderer during the time he was king of Israel; and yet, in the eyes of God, and in the eyes of many of God’s people, he was “a man after God’s own heart.”

Today’s highlight passage, written by David’s son, Solomon, tells us to beware of trying to use our own self-advertising to promote our own image in the eyes of others; and in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul picked up on that when he exhorted Christians, by quoting the Prophet Jeremiah (see the quote above), to boast only about what God has done in and through our lives, making sure that our POSITION in life is in the context of our relationship with God.

In reality, is it not true that our POSITION in life is only important when God is using our stewardship of His providential time, talents, and treasures … for HIS glory … now our own? Yes, … others may perceive us to be a good, and even Godly, person; but that perception is only important if/when those people know that our position is what it is – in their perception – because of what God has wrought, … not because of what we’ve done to promote or position ourselves as Godly in their minds.

 So, what is this saying to us, especially as we’re entering into a new year? Well, it’s really quite simple. If we’re seen in the eyes of others as a GOD-following, Godly person, we should do all we can to make sure they’re seeing our POSITION in that way because of what GOD is doing in and through our lives! And we should be doing NOTHING to make our own selves important in the eyes of others. In other words, our POSITION in life should only come from us doing exactly what Jesus said we should be doing as His disciples, … which I would hope you’d know from Luke 9: 23; and just in case you don’t have that one memorized, let me link you to it here.

And when we live out that command from our Lord, we’ll be exactly in the POSITION God wants us to be … i.e., following Him; … and prayerfully leading others to Him in the process. That is certainly my committed goal for 2013; and I hope you join me on this path.

My Prayer for Today Lord, may others see me only where I am because of my following You. … Amen