Taking Credit: Monday Manna

This week, Vonnie is hosting Monday Manna, so be sure to pop over to My Back Door and read the other entries, and link up if you want to participate.

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13, NKJV)

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The good stuff I do? It isn't me who's doing it. My specialty is messing up, defying God's will, and acting in my own self interest. That's the stuff I can take credit for (though, in all honesty, I'd LOVE to blame it on someone else.). Because, deep down, that's me.

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Romans. 7:19 NIV

And you may not like to admit it, but you're the same way. When Adam fell from grace, he dragged the whole human race with him. Every human being born (save one - but we'll get to that later) comes fresh from the womb with a propensity to shake his fist at God. We're born with it. It's in our nature.

And because God is holy, He can't tolerate that propensity of ours. So He made a way for that sin nature to be conquered. He sent His Son Jesus (that "one" from the paragraph before) to be the perfect sacrifice allowing us to be seen as good in His eyes. And if you accept it, He will come in and "work in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

So the next time you feel like you wanna take credit for what you've done--remember, it is God who gives you even the propensity to do good. That stuff YOU do? Not something to be proud of. Give HIM the glory!

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Thanks for stopping by and reading!  Be sure to stop by Vonnie's blog for more Monday Manna.

Paving Rough Roads With God's Presence