2023_12_13 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Ezekiel 36, Ephesians 2, Ezekiel 43, Hebrews 8
I am not writing this about anyone in particular, but I have noticed something that seems to be on the increase. It may be that I’m just more aware of it, but regardless it is concerning. Self-promotion. Depending on who or what you look to for an opinion, self-promotion is either an essential attribute for success or proof of arrogance. The basic idea is to shine a light on yourself and highlight your ability, insight, wisdom, and success. In other words, being your own cheerleader. My concern is that the heightened self-focus in our culture might distort our vision of God, ourselves, and others. This is one reason that honest and humble Bible study is critical.
This week in the letter to the church in Ephesus we read, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:8-10 (NLT) The upshot of this is that we owe God all the credit for our salvation. He is the one who took the initiative, demonstrated great patience, and extends supreme grace so that we can be forgiven and made whole. If we got what we deserved we would be forever banished from Holy God’s presence. This is what the “Good News” is all about.
Not only does God get the credit for our salvation but He is also the star in how we live our new life. We are His workmanship, meaning that all our capabilities and capacities are ultimately from and for God’s purposes. He knew us even before we were born and all along has had specific plans for our life. Psalm 139 says:
13“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.”
Psalm 139:13–16 (NLT)
I don’t understand how all this works, but I do know that without God’s love and pursuit of me, I would be utterly lost. Rather than promote myself, I want to spotlight Him and His astounding kindness!
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor