Commend - what does it mean to us?

Who do we commend?
This morning, like most, I went to the Lord in prayer and then to His Word. Sometimes I am
involved in a particular study, but other times I just ask God to bring His truth where I’m needing it. One way or another, the Lord will surely give us guidance.
Today this scripture came to mind: "Do we begin to commend ourselves?"
Webster’s defines the word commend as 1. Worthy, qualified- recommend. 2. To Praise. 3. To entrust.

I then turned to my NIV Bible to try and figure out this message. There are many scriptures on this subject, but I was especially drawn to this one. In 2nd Cor.12:11 Paul is speaking to the Corinthians, "I have made a fool of myself-but you drove me to it."
Paul told these people that he felt they were on the wrong track. Paul was upset because they were turning their ears to false teachers. He had ministered and given so much of himself to them, and yet, they were being led astray. He was frustrated at times in trying to defend his ministry with these false teachers who had invaded the church at Corinth.
Paul wasn’t trying to boast about the deeds and miracles that accompanied his ministry, for he was an humble man. He knew that everything he had received, including visions and revelations that most never see, were of God. Paul was a mighty man of God. He hadn’t always been that.
After his dynamic conversion he remained humble. He even felt that
the weaknesses, persecutions, insults, hardships he had endured, were given to him so that Christ’s power would rest on him.Paul quoted the words God had spoken to him, when he prayed that God would remove his ‘thorn in the flesh’ -"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness."
He realized every sin of his forgiven, every gift he had been given, every miracle he was allowed to perform, was due to no one but God.

In 2nd Cor.10:12 Paul says this "We do not dare to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." Another words, these false teachers were pleased with themselves so much that they were no longer humble but prideful.

Paul, in his efforts to grow these people up spiritually, reminded them of the signs, wonders and miracles they had already received. When he said this he was trying to explain that the false prophets did not have these gifts operating in them.

God gives us all talents and of course, we should be happy and glad about this. We also need to remember where the gifts and talents come from. These ministries we have are to be used by God - always giving the Lord the glory- not calling more and more attention to ourselves.
What we have, who we are, is all because of God’s love and grace. Paul says our boasting should be of the Lord. Paul was given the authority to speak about the things of God from God himself. He remembers his servant hood to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I know within my own life and God using me in praying for others, there is sometimes given to me too much praise. I’ve had these words spoken to me, "You pray. Your prayers are so wonderful- I can’t pray like you do". One of the people who says this to me, gets up at five in the morning to read her Bible and then sends inspirational messages of hope on her cell phone to
others. Wow! What a ministry!
You know, God has used me in intercessory prayer, and through the years of course, I have learned much. I remember when I was young. I went to church camps. They called for us to
lead the prayers. I always looked down at the ground, praying they would not call on me.
Now, with this mouth of mine that longs to move for others, I know most would not believe how truly shy and withdrawn I was.

My longing for the Lord to change me- to grow me up- has indeed taken me to new heights, but I must say that I, like so many others, have to keep pushing down those things that the enemy would use to keep my eyes off the giver of gifts- Jesus Christ.
I am having to back off in certain areas now of my life because of that. I know the Lord will do mighty things through us if we just yield to His daily presence in us. God wants us to grow.
God wants to use us. God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. God wants to receive the glory.
If it were by our own efforts, why would man want to serve the Lord?

"God, in your goodness and mercy, forgive me the times I have gotten caught up in flattery
when working for your kingdom. You have given me much and the Bible says, to whom you have given much- much is required. I love that song, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the Light of His glory and grace.......In the Light of His glory and grace." Father, all glory goes to you. You gave it all
up for us. Thank you again, for yet another message. I commend you.
In Jesus’s Name. Amen