No Celebrity Status

No Celebrity Status 

by David Brenneman 

"Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35 NASB. 

"But many who are first will be last; and the last, first" Matthew 19:30 NASB. 

The only place in creation where there's any importance placed upon societal status is in this physical world. It doesn't exist in Heaven or Hell. There's no one here or who has lived that is in some elevated status after dying. 

To be humble in this life, to not seek out that which indeed is here today and gone tomorrow, is far better.  

We buy clothes or adorn ourselves in many ways to try to increase acceptance by others. As some have said: we buy things we don't need to impress people we don't even like or may even know. 

There's something indeed to be said for contentment. Both in living and in the status of our lives. 

People crave having as many followers as they can get on social media, falsely believing that it increases their self-worth. 

In Christ, where my only eternal value resides, I can never be loved or accepted any more than I am. Can't be any less or any more.  

We wonder at society at times and rightly so. Satan loves to create situations where self-worth is questioned. Loves to get us to enter into self-condemnation. Loves to get us to drift off course from God's intended plan for us just enough to "taint" the resulting life.

Satan loves to push status in careers. Loves to put value where God sees none that is of value in light of eternity. 

Degrees and Diplomas, Certifications, Doctorates, etc. really are only of value in this world. Scholarships gain notoriety and fame. Being an actor or actress, a singer or songwriter, gains popularity. Nothing of which is of value on the othet side of life. 

The Disciples were tempted to put value on even their own positions within the scope of being Jesus's Disciples. We read earlier what Jesus said of this.

It aligns perfectly with setting our minds on things above and not on the things that are of this world. 

It aligns perfectly with preferring one another above ourselves. 

It aligns perfectly with doing all that we do as unto the Lord. 

It aligns with the very nature of Christ Jesus.  

We do not what?  

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 NASB.  

We are to do what?

"We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," 2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB. 

Everything from how we eat to how we exercise to how we teach to how we learn in this world wants us to put value on those things rather than valuing what is valued by God. 

We are in a war that is about people. It's about the souls of people. Jesus died once for all. Giving His life a ransom for many. 

The treasure that's in Heaven is people. 

We indeed need to consider it more each day to value what is valuable in the eyes of God. Pursuing what the world says is of value is not going to be the same because of what the god of this world values.

Pray for discernment in what you do and why you are doing it.  

Pray for your heart and mind to be aligned with the work the Spirit wants you to be doing.  

Let go of what the world wants you to value regarding your image and the value others may or may not place on you.