The noblest impulse in us is so quickly compromised by selfish interest. What begins as the best intended plans to make a better world can easily be turned into a means of feeding the needs of the ego, of enriching ourself, or buying the favor of others through the misuse of our position. By way of illustration I point to the story breaking from New York about the UN's 'oil for food' program that was created to allow pre-war Iraq to sell oil so the nation could afford food for its people. Sounds like a good and humanitarian cause, doesn't it? Yet, now we are learning that the multi-million dollar program was riddled with kick-back schemes and insider deals that enriched several UN officials. Sad, isn't it? But, not so uncommon. Everyone can tell stories of good people who, when given a position of power or trust, turned it into a means of self-aggrandizement.
We must, because of the sin nature that continues to war against good and God, remain vigilant and prayerful, asking God to keep our lives pure from selfishness and greed. Each new day our motives need to be held up to the Light to see where any ugly stain of sin is spreading, corrupting even our best and highest intentions to do the will of God.
George MacDonald, a Scot preacher/poet who lived a century ago, wrote in his book,
The Diary of An Old Soul:
With ev'ry morn my life afresh must break
The crust of self, gathered 'round me fresh;
That Thy wind-Spirit may rush in and shake
The darkness out of me, and rend the mesh
The spider-devil spins out of the flesh --
Eager to net the soul before it wakes,
That it my slumberous lie, and listen to the snake.
(as quoted in REV., Sept/Oct. '05 issue)
Isn't that a lovely picture? Waking to break the 'crust of self.'
No, of course not, but it is an accurate one. We break that shell that would block out the Spirit, so that the Life of God's Breath may bring us freedom, renewal, and the beauty of holiness.
The book of Genesis tells us that in the very beginning, "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7, NIV) Apart from His breath, we remain 'dusty men!' But we need not remain creatures of the dirt, living to satisfy only the needs that press themselves on us so powerfully. The Spirit can make us noble and new, morning by morning.
Have you broken away the 'crust of self' today and invited the Spirit of God to breathe new life into your service, your worship, your words?
Here's a word from the Word to take with you through this day.
This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives.
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
But I know! I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”(Jeremiah 17:5-10, NLT)
_________________________
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may loveWhat Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Until my heart is pure.
Until with Thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.
Breathe on me, breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine.
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
Breath on me, breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee
The perfect life
Of Thine eternity.
© Public Domain CCLI License No. 810055
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