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KNOWING GOD AND PERSONAL BRANDING

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“If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.” James‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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“Don’t tell anyone about this...” said Jesus (Mark 1:44). Jesus didn’t need a self promotion nor personal branding, even when the disciples found out that He was The Christ, the Saviour (Mat 16:18:20).
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While on earth, He walked from village to village, town to town faithfully teaching people about God and doing many good deeds—“the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” Matt.‬ ‭11:5‬; Cf. Mat 10-11). In those days, good news spread fast. Though bad news, I believe also dispersed in a competitive speed.Not so sure about today... bad news go viral faster than good news? Therefore people need to shout out and advertise every single good work they have done?
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James reminds us: True knowledge of God gives us wisdom that comes with security and humility. God knows us before He calls us—this should put our hearts at rest. We don’t need to impress Him nor gain His heart with our performances. We don’t need to see how others are doing and make room for jealousy. The challenge perhaps, we easily shifted the focus from God to our-“self” carried away by personal ambition. Therefore we need others to prove how good we’re doing to the point of boasting, lying and other kinds of evil practices.
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Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.
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Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.
Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
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Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen. (John Stott’s prayer)
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~plt160818
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https://youtu.be/LmBcZeUPmSw

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