Yielded

Do you like to be right? Are you one of those people who has to be right all the time and has to prove to others how right you are? I find it interesting how much effort and time we put into making sure others are aware of how right we are, and try to make sure they agree with us in our rightness. Have you ever stopped and thought through the fact that as Christ followers God has not given us the job of proving we are right? He has told us to speak truthfully and to live trut;, he has told us to be ready to give an answer for why we have hope. He has asked us to share with others that he is the “way, truth and life.” But he has not asked us to spend our time proving we are right. You see, proving that I am right is all about pride, wanting people to see how smart I am.
How do we live out truth and not get caught up in trying to prove we are right? As I was thinking through this, a verse came to mind, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 CSB. The only way I can live my life pointing people toward God and offering them hope is by putting Christ first. This verse reminds me that to put Christ first my selfish pride must be “crucified with Christ.” That means my proving myself right must be dead. It is not about me being right; my life should be all about people seeing Christ in me.
How much time do you spend trying to make others think you are right? How much time and energy do you put into living like Christ before others?

-Pastor Tim