Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, August 2, 2021.

I sometimes have days like today where I wonder what's the point of it all -whether anything I do matters. If I can be honest, as I examine myself, I find the thought to be fueled by feelings of inadequacy and a desire to do something noteworthy, to do something significant, to do something BIG –to be recognized. But not every feeling, thought or desire comes from a good place, not even those desires for supposedly good things. It is why we must be diligent to test every spirit by the Spirit, to discern whether it is of God or not.

In the process of bringing my thoughts captive, the Holy Spirit, through the indwelling Word, brought to mind the Apostle Paul's likening us individually to parts of a corporate body (Roman 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:4, 16). I find the allegory especially applicable and helpful when considered in context of our more recent insight into biology. I think it appropriate to further apply Paul's analogy to our current scientific understanding and to think of ourselves as individual cells. And, do you know what kind of cell thinks of itself without consideration of the rest of the body and concerns itself with its own individual increase (doing something big)? A cancerous one.

This further brings to mind Galatians 5:26 "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." and Ephesians 4:16 "[…] the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

Self-seeking or a desire to exalt oneself in any way is not of God. (Matthew 23:12)

In light of this correction by the Holy Spirit, I repent and denounce the pursuit of my own recognition. And instead, I redirect my attention to and place my faith in Christ and recontextualize myself as a part of His body. I concentrate on and pray for contentment to pass along what I have been given, however seemingly insignificant, to my fellow members of the body AND trust Jesus to make the most of it for HIS work.

(Photo courtesy of Big Think.)