Pam Padgett ... teacher
While reading in Psalm 49, the following stood out to me ...
Psalm 49:11 Their inward thought
is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling
places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts
that perish. 13 This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.
Man tends to want to leave his
name on various things, trying to make his name live on in the world even after he dies. Our flesh also wants to be well thought of, our names well remembered, as we live on this earth not only in what we're doing currently but even after we leave a place, job, or social circle. We constantly have to deal with our flesh which desires glory and honor for itself among people of this world, even though all these things will be destroyed.
Jesus made Himself of no reputation on this earth. Instead, He served
the Father, being obedient even in going to the cross. We're told to
have this same mind ...
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ
Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be
equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being
found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.
I was also reminded that Jesus told his disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven ...
Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the
spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are
written in heaven.
Our names, our reputations, among men are of no real value. But we can rejoice that our names are written in heaven, having been called by God to be His children that we might serve and praise Him, and live forever with Him.
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love
the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.