My new job: Handler of the magnifying glass

"The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by

what God is and by what He does for us,

not by what we are and what we do for Him.”

Romans 12:3 The Message

I am now only three weeks into my new role at a dental implant company, and there is something that echoes through my mind almost every day: "The more I know, the more I realize how little I know!"

This morning on the way back from church I heard a radio preacher talk about our tendency to become arrogant when we think more of ourselves than we should.

It goes without saying, and I feel my mind wandering.

But then he also said something about our human leaning towards arrogance when we think less of ourselves than we should.

Say, what?

See, if we're always thinking that we're not good enough, if we're constantly chasing other people's approval or praise, if we're constantly beating ourselves up over our own shortcomings or poor choices or lack of tact, the lens of our life stays squarely directed at ourselves.

This is arrogance.

Not what we see, but what we look at.

We are supposed to keep our eyes focused on Christ.

We are not to think less of ourselves;

we are to think of ourselves less.

It is okay to discover what my gifts are and rejoice in the grace.

It is okay to regret a misstep or words that hurt.

But when I dwell too long on either, I forget that I have actually been placed in this moment of eternity, in this place in the universe, to direct all eyes to Him.

Mine included.

I'm supposed to use the gifts I have to make Christ known when people look at me, while I just hold the magnifying glass.

Let me do the same, rather than look at my own self.

I'm supposed to gather my mistakes at His feet in such a way that it makes Christ known when people look at me, while I'm just holding the magnifying glass.

Let me do the same, rather than look at my own self.

It's not about me.

Your inspiration for the week: Never the same