Who is Jake?

I don't mean the title of this post as a deep-reflective question on the nature of self...

I DO hope to mean it as a self-minimizing-God-exalting-type question/statement.

A pastor and friend of mine preaching this past weekend referenced a part of 1 Corinthians and, although I have read and even heartily considered this passage in my walk with Christ in the past, it hit me in the head like a 2x4.

2x4

1 Cor. 3:5-7
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. "

Now... I can take that too far and, by believing that "i am nothing", discount the work of God in my life and HIS call to love Him and serve others to bring Honor to Jesus... and thus kinda slap Creator God in the face for HIS handiwork.

But far too often... I am on the other side of that playground teeter-totter when I fail to remember that in all our striving for good works (and strive we MUST)... GOD is the Author AND Perfector. How do we strike that balance?

Strive for faithfulness. Paul tells us in Galations that it is a "Fruit of the Spirit." A work of God in the hearts of those who know Him and follow Him. I am not called to make fruit (unless of course you want to go back to God's command to Adam and Even in Eden... but that is another post and another topic) but God's Word often calls me to faithfulness!

Joshua 24:14
1 Samuel 26:23
Proverbs 3:3
Galatians 5:22
3 John 1:3

And where does this faithfulness come from? HIM! (Psalm 57:10; Psalm 89:14)
It is an expression of HIS Character that is a gift to us that we should strive to take hold of it!

My desire today (for me and the 2 other people who read this blog) is that I/we would be faithful in our calling as followers of Christ for His Glory and our Joy... perhaps the bruise from the board on my head will be a good reminder!

JP