WHEN YOU CELEBRATE YOURSELF.
Source: projectlifemastery.com
When you celebrate yourself, you need a lot of caution, because, we are really nothing in ourselves, our sufficiency is of God. In Him we live and move and have our being in us. Whatever achievement it is that you are celebrating and whatever the height you feel you’ve attained, you need to take cognizance of the fact that it is the grace of God:
_“Not of works, let any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). _
Always know that through Him you have access by faith into the grace wherein you stand and rejoice. When you celebrate, emphasis should not be on you, but on the God Who does all things well. What can you really do without God? Without Him you can do nothing and if He makes it happen in your life, then, He deserves ALL the glory. The emphasis is on the “all”, because, His glory He will share with no man. One way given to men to last on the “scene” and to long enjoy the lifting the Lord brings, is to learn to direct the glory to the rightful owner. If you seek a share in it, you will crash.
Be careful when men celebrate you. Anybody can say anything, but you have to be careful what you accept of what is being said. In a bid to appreciate the miracle of the healing of a man crippled from his mother’s womb in Lystra; the people saw Paul and Barnabas as gods, when they proclaimed –
“The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men” (Acts 14:11).
They rolled out oxen and garlands in their readiness to offer sacrifices unto these two men. Paul and Barnabas heard and ran into their midst crying –
“Why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you” (Acts 14:15).
Any posture you take that sets you above the level of men, should be watched. No matter the achievement, no matter the unction, you are still a man. At best you are a man of God, you cannot take over the title of God. There is the God over you making it to happen and He deserves the spotlight.
When you over celebrate yourself; God will withdraw a little, so you can see how naked you are. King Herod; in Acts Chapter 12, made a powerful oration and the people gave a shout saying “It is the voice of a God, and not of a man”. He accepted it and refused to direct the glory of God. The Lord “slapped” him and he was eaten up by worms. Such slap is common with God and it comes in different ways. Let’s learn to walk cautiously before God. You are who you are today by His grace.