“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8 ESV)
When we live like the world, we believe that we are flesh first. We identify our success and our “calling” according to how man sees us. That’s what living flesh first is like. However, we are not flesh first.
We are spirit first. God sees us according to what’s inside of us. The world sees us according to what they see in the natural. Their way of vision is limited. God’s way of seeing us is never ending and filled with His love.
Don’t be deceived. The work you do is not who you are. Your calling is not who you are. When you limit yourself to what you do, you will soon make what you do your idol. How so? Because you will measure your worth by the experiences and the results of your work and your calling. That is sowing into your flesh because you are focused on the work of your own hands and the applause of man.
My mother gave birth to me making her a mother. She has been an amazing mother to me and worked hard to give me the best. Yet, when I was in high school, I ran away three times. Did my behavior mean that she was a horrible mother? Not at all. I allowed external influences outside the home to influence me and deceive me. She prayed for me. My father prayed for me. My church prayed for me.
God honored her prayers not just because she was a mother. He honored her prayers because she was a child of God. He honored her spirit and not her flesh. He honored the identity of her as a spirit and not flesh. The enemy could have tried to have her focus on her flesh and her identity and worth as a mother based upon the behavior of her children. However, she understood that what would bring her daughter home was her tapping into who she was…a spirit.
You are spirit first. Things and our work doesn’t define us. They shape us but they don’t define us. They stretch us but they don’t make up our worth.
When God called me years ago to start teaching online, I could count on one hand how many people watched me. Did that make up my worth as a teacher of God’s Word? If God called me, He called me. That settled it. I never defined the power or strength of my teaching based upon how many people were watching. I was focused on what my assignment was. However, I never defined myself based on how others saw me. Don’t allow what you do to define who you are.
Wake Up & Win Confession: Good Morning Holy Spirit. I thank you that I am not defined by what I do. I am defined by who you’ve made me to be. I am Your child. I am made in Your image and in Your likeness. I will not define myself by how others see me. I will not define myself by the behavior of others. I can not control other people’s actions. I will not blame myself for their actions. I will keep my mind and my eyes on You. I am Spirit first. I am not defined by my flesh. I will not allow thoughts to distract me that are contrary to who you made me to be. I will think good things about myself. I thank you that you love me like no other. Amen.