Skip to main content

Humble Yourselves

             Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (I Peter 5:6)

 

            “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless!
    Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2)

 

            Last night, I read an account of a person in ministry whose wife “suddenly” unloaded on him all of her pain at his neglecting his family in the course of his success. He was devastated and angry, and more so when someone pulled the two of them aside and pointed out a parallel between their situation and that of a well-known figure in Christian ministry. I didn’t reach any part where everything was made all better. For all I know, it hasn’t been.

            Another speaker I heard the day before told about psychological studies that show that it takes very little to get a person to do what they know to be wrong. And there was a movie made in 1997 in which Keanu Reeves played the part of a lawyer hired into a firm that he discovers is run by the devil. Toward the end of the movie (as I recall) he is told to do something unethical and declines. He walks away sure that he’s done the right thing, but the devil (played by Al Pacino) smiles because he’s won – Reeve’s character is proud of having “beat the devil.” Of course, other people interpret the story other ways.

            What all of these have in common is our self-assurance that we’re doing a pretty good job when, in fact, we’re fooling ourselves. We may not be doing as good a job as we thought, or doing it for the wrong reasons, or failing in other areas without realizing it. And when others point out our failings or errors, we need to take them and the failures to God. Are they right? Not every accusation is.

            If they are right, how do we fix what’s broken, learn to improve, and seek His grace? And how do we do it  in love?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

The List

              Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,   through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;   perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)           Think about it. We have been justified. At least, we could be justified if we stopped insisting that our justification be based on our merits. We have peace with God, or could have peace if we stopped throwing temper tantrums. We have gained access into grace i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Listen!

  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5)            Do you like roller coasters? I don't. You spend forever climbing a hill. You get to the top and have half a second, then you race down to a low point. Sometimes the racing down involves tying your insides into knots. At the bottom, you either have to be dragged up another hill or you get off the ride. Peter's life was a roller coaster from the time he met Jesus. There would be miracles, and then Jesus would teach things that didn't always make sense, and then they'd go out and perform miracles, and return to be taught. Peter was praised for giving the right answer to "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus said that said answer came from God. Peter was at the top of the hill.            ...
Post a Comment
Read more