E.G.O. (Edging God Out) by Margaret Slaughter

E.G.O. (Edging God Out)

 Humble Service in the Body of Christ

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” –Romans 12:3 NIV

I’m sure we all know someone who brags about everything.  They always have to ‘one up’ every story you tell.  Every statement or story begins with ‘I’.  And in all of that bragging, they never seem to acknowledge God for what they have, or what they have accomplished.  They have essentially become their own god.  That’s a dangerous place to be.

I was watching Pastor Carl Lentz, and he described ego as edging God out.  Merriam Webster says the Latin word for ego is ‘I’.  How appropriate.

What if this story describes you?  What now?  The answer can always be found in the Word.  The title of this passage says, ‘Humble service in the body of Christ’.  Humble is defined as having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance. 

-First, acknowledge God for who He is. 

-Second, acknowledge God for what He does. 

-Third, acknowledge that we are nothing, and we can accomplish nothing without Him. 

-Fourth, pray and ask Him to convict you each time you become your own god.

The Message version of Romans 12:3 puts it this way, “it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God.  No, God brings it all to you.  The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.”

So, don’t ‘think of yourself more highly than you ought’, and edge God out.  Give Him the praise He is due.

Margaret Slaughter

“Where Is Your Compassion?” by Margaret Slaughter

³ As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. ⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”  ⁶ They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. ⁷ They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” ⁸ Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.  ⁹ When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. ¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”  ¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.  And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

John 8:1-11 NLT

I was caught in an indiscretion.  My accusers wanted me to be publicly punished.  They appointed themselves judge and jury.  Ready to persecute me.  They had no mercy.  No, this isn’t my life story, but God’s Word.  When you thought the story was about me what did you think?  Were you also ready to condemn me, or were you ready to show me forgiveness and compassion?

As the body of Christ, many of us have become like this woman’s accusers.  Devoid of empathy, sympathy, or compassion.  When someone is caught in a sin, or they confess a sin, we’re quick to quote the scriptures pointing out the punishment for the sin, but rarely the scriptures on forgiveness or God’s love.

How are we ever to grow the kingdom of God if we fail to restore our brothers and sisters in love?  There are many instances in the Word where sinners were shown compassion by Jesus.  In Matthew 7:12 The Golden Rule, we are called to, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”  If you want forgiveness, give forgiveness.  If you want compassion, show compassion.  Don’t be like the Pharisees.  Extend some compassion to the fallen, and restore them in love.

Margaret Slaughter

“Can You Hear Me Now?” by Margaret Slaughter

“And the Lord came and called as before, ‘Samuel, Samuel!’

And Samuel replied, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’”

1 Samuel 3:10 NLT

Several years ago the cell phone company, Verizon, had the slogan, ‘Can you hear me now?’.  The ad guy would go all over the world, in the most remote places asking the person on the phone, ‘Can you hear me now?’.   The idea was no matter where you went in the world using Verizon’s service, you would be able to hear him.  Is your Father asking you that same question? ‘Can you hear me now?’

In our subject scripture, the Lord called Samuel four times!  Samuel heard the voice, but he had mistaken it for someone else.  By the fourth time, Samuel made himself available by responding, ‘Speak, your servant is listening’.

Is the Lord speaking to you?  Is He calling you to do something?  How many times will He have to call your name before you recognize His voice?  Four times?  Five?  How many times will He have to call your name before you make yourself available?  Don’t miss the call.  Be like Samuel by responding, ‘your servant is listening’.

Margaret Slaughter