Yet not I.
What runs through your mind when you hear this phrase?
One simple one that came to me: “It isn’t me.”
If it’s not you or me, then who is it? 😊
The phrase “Yet not I” (or the longer, “Yet not I, but through Christ in me”) is a well-known Christian idiom.
It means that while a person may work hard, achieve goals, or overcome obstacles, the ultimate strength, ability, and success comes from God rather than their own power.
Amen!
This phrase gives God the glory and not ourselves.
Who are we after all?
What do you and I have that we were not given?
Why do we boast??
James 1:17 NIV –
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Corinthians 4:7 NIV –
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Everything we have – our talents, life opportunities, intellect, was given to us.
NOTHING IS SELF CREATED.
Having this in mind humbles you doesn’t it?
It makes us grateful to God and it reminds us of this amazing word – stewardship!
We will give God an account of our stewardship.
Are you sitting on a ”talent”?
Are you ignoring that still small voice?
Are you giving excuses?
I recall how I felt when I stopped writing for months – that I was behaving like the servant with the one talent. Instead of the words : “Well done good and faithful servant” , I feared I would rather hear “You wicked and lazy servant”
God forbid!
As long as God inspires me, I shall write to His glory.
Pride.
This word means different things in our world.
I am certainly not referring to the LGBTQI one; certainly not! The Bible is clear on that matter!
Pride in Christianity is a sin of the heart, characterized by extreme self- focus, arrogance and the desire to be independent of God.
You wonder how it would even be possible.
How can we even dare to want to be independent of the very One who gives us life, breath and strength from day to day? 🤦🏽♀️
Lord have mercy! 🙆🏽♀️
King Nebuchadnezzar became proud and boy was he humbled.
Pride was the root downfall of Lucifer.
Daniel 4:28-32 NIV – All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
Daniel 4:34-35 NIV – At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
Indeed, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)
Below I share some of the lyrics of the beautiful song that inspired this blog.
I’ve loved this song since the first day I chanced on it.
With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!
Galatians 2:20 NIV
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
May we daily whisper these words as we rise each morning:
“Yet not I, but through Christ in me.”
God bless you!
😊🙏🏽
