“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Used by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech
God has made who we are, He formed us in our mothers womb. We are created in HIS image!
It now becomes our choice -
Do we live with that knowledge and live as the world would live - not grasping the greatness of who we could be with God,
Or
Do we run wholeheartedly knowing in your head AND in your heart, that God as fashioned and formed us, given us a personality that has the potential to reflect Him?
When I was reading the above quote - I was challenged by this . . . "We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us."
We were born to MAKE MANIFEST the GLORY of GOD!! wow!
To manifest means . . .
- to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly.
- to prove; put beyond doubt or question.
So we are to live to show Gods glory - simply, plainly. So that when people juts look at us they would know without a doubt that we are caught up in Gods glory!
How? Live a life of worship - Christianity is far more than a weekly meeting, far more than reading the Bible, than praying a prayer or giving money to the poor and needy! Christianity is a way of life, it is living and breathing Jesus style!
In Philippians Ch 2 it says . . .
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the
same love, being
one in spirit and purpose. Do
nothing out o
f selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider
others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."
So in everything we do - needs to be as for Jesus! That's how we can can start to manifest Gods glory here on earth!!
Why?
