Monday, July 28, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Pride
I did a post on envy and I could do many posts on that subject. Pride is another subject that I could do many on and I hope I do it justice. Let's look at a few scriptures on this subject.
2 Corinthians 10: 17- 18 "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he who the Lord Commends."
I love how this verse begins. If you're going to boast, boast in the Lord, in His presence, in His power, in His grace. How true! Paul was an amazing man of whom was so Spirit filled and one minded in God and His ways. Paul through all his letters (epistles) shows by example the humility of which the Lord commends. He only boasts for the glory of God. He has no money, he tells Timothy at one time to bring his coat since he had none when it was cold, and he wrote many of his letters chained in Roman prisons. He never griped or complained, but kept "running the good race until finished" as he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7. I bring all this up because it shows the true humility that Paul demonstrated for the gospel and as an example for us believers. Humility, of which I have talked before is the exact opposite of pride. Pride is a lot like money in the sense that it also is a root to all kinds of evil. It says in the Bible that money is the root to all kinds of evil, but I believe that pride and envy go hand in hand with that as well. Just look around, you see it everywhere today in society. Pride is a stronghold that can clasp onto us so easily that by the time we notice it it is hard to get under control. I've mentioned before in envy that an action we do so many times that leads into this sin is comparing. Comparing leads us into one of two things, being prideful or being envious. Both are serious sins we need to be extremely alert of. Pride is a sin that God will rebuke us of if we're not careful to quit and repent of.
Isaiah 2:11 "The pride look of man will be abased and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."
Proverbs 3:34 "Though he scoffs at the scoffers yet he gives grace to the afflicted." I've always taken this verse and other translations say it this way, that God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humbled and persecuted.
Let's look at an example of God against the proud in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 26: 16-23 I urge all to read this in their Bibles if you have the chance. This is a story of king Uzziah who was a God fearing man. What this story breaks down is he went into the temple to burn incense on the alter of incense. Now this is a practice that only the priests were allowed to do, but Uzziah being full of pride thought he could do it for the Lord. The priest told him get out of the sanctuary for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God. This enraged Uzziah and instantly leprosy broke out all over his face. Now notice here, Uzziah attempted to do the role of the priests which is forbidden in Levitical code. God judged this king's refusal to heed the law, but was merciful in that he did not kill Uzziah. With leprosy, Uzziah had to submit to the priests in a new way according to the laws of leprosy and endure isolation the rest of his life from the temple. He also lost his kingdom to his son because of the leprosy. The Lord never cured him of this and his son took over the kingdom and he even had to live in a separate house than that of his mansion and could never enter the temple of the Lord ever again. Some would almost prefer death than these circumstances in those days. He lost it all over disobedience because of his pride. It's not fun to hear stories of God rebuking people for sin, but it does happen then and now.
Let us not be prideful of anything we have, rather let us share with all our blessings and gifts from God. That's what Jesus would do. Let us not be prideful in our health, financial status, spiritual knowledge, works and deeds or material possessions. Remember the Lord can take all of it in the blink of an eye, literally.
My prayer for all is that we see the sin of pride for what it is and not become ensnared in it like we so easily do. Let us call on God for clean hearts and cleans hands washed by the blood of our Lamb and Saviour Jesus Christ. In all things let us put Him and His will and His glory first.
With love and prayers always.
C.
2 Corinthians 10: 17- 18 "But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he who the Lord Commends."
I love how this verse begins. If you're going to boast, boast in the Lord, in His presence, in His power, in His grace. How true! Paul was an amazing man of whom was so Spirit filled and one minded in God and His ways. Paul through all his letters (epistles) shows by example the humility of which the Lord commends. He only boasts for the glory of God. He has no money, he tells Timothy at one time to bring his coat since he had none when it was cold, and he wrote many of his letters chained in Roman prisons. He never griped or complained, but kept "running the good race until finished" as he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7. I bring all this up because it shows the true humility that Paul demonstrated for the gospel and as an example for us believers. Humility, of which I have talked before is the exact opposite of pride. Pride is a lot like money in the sense that it also is a root to all kinds of evil. It says in the Bible that money is the root to all kinds of evil, but I believe that pride and envy go hand in hand with that as well. Just look around, you see it everywhere today in society. Pride is a stronghold that can clasp onto us so easily that by the time we notice it it is hard to get under control. I've mentioned before in envy that an action we do so many times that leads into this sin is comparing. Comparing leads us into one of two things, being prideful or being envious. Both are serious sins we need to be extremely alert of. Pride is a sin that God will rebuke us of if we're not careful to quit and repent of.
Isaiah 2:11 "The pride look of man will be abased and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day."
Proverbs 3:34 "Though he scoffs at the scoffers yet he gives grace to the afflicted." I've always taken this verse and other translations say it this way, that God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humbled and persecuted.
Let's look at an example of God against the proud in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 26: 16-23 I urge all to read this in their Bibles if you have the chance. This is a story of king Uzziah who was a God fearing man. What this story breaks down is he went into the temple to burn incense on the alter of incense. Now this is a practice that only the priests were allowed to do, but Uzziah being full of pride thought he could do it for the Lord. The priest told him get out of the sanctuary for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the Lord God. This enraged Uzziah and instantly leprosy broke out all over his face. Now notice here, Uzziah attempted to do the role of the priests which is forbidden in Levitical code. God judged this king's refusal to heed the law, but was merciful in that he did not kill Uzziah. With leprosy, Uzziah had to submit to the priests in a new way according to the laws of leprosy and endure isolation the rest of his life from the temple. He also lost his kingdom to his son because of the leprosy. The Lord never cured him of this and his son took over the kingdom and he even had to live in a separate house than that of his mansion and could never enter the temple of the Lord ever again. Some would almost prefer death than these circumstances in those days. He lost it all over disobedience because of his pride. It's not fun to hear stories of God rebuking people for sin, but it does happen then and now.
Let us not be prideful of anything we have, rather let us share with all our blessings and gifts from God. That's what Jesus would do. Let us not be prideful in our health, financial status, spiritual knowledge, works and deeds or material possessions. Remember the Lord can take all of it in the blink of an eye, literally.
My prayer for all is that we see the sin of pride for what it is and not become ensnared in it like we so easily do. Let us call on God for clean hearts and cleans hands washed by the blood of our Lamb and Saviour Jesus Christ. In all things let us put Him and His will and His glory first.
With love and prayers always.
C.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
True Freedom
As we all know, the first right in the bill of rights is the freedom of religion. As we just passed our Independence Day, it's good to reflect on our freedoms and rights. I must admit though I have of lately looked at freedom in a different way, not defining it as free to do whatever, rather defining it as free to do the right thing. I think that's what true freedom should mean and reflect.
My pastor gave a great sermon this past Sunday on freedom and I'm going to use the verse and a little material that he did as well as some of my own thoughts and opinions. John 8:31-36 "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, "we are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that you say, you will become free?" Jesus answered them "truly truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
Now that's where real freedom comes from, the Son. The truth here is not only the facts surrounding Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, but also the teaching he brought. No matter what man can promise or do, nothing sets you free like the Son. For the Son is the source of true freedom, because he is the only one who can free you from the slavery of sin.
Galatians 5:1 "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yolk of slavery." Christ set us free for freedom's sake that we may not be yolked to slavery again. The truest freedom we can obtain is through Christ, which is the deliverance from the curse that the law pronounces on the sinner who has been striving unsuccessfully to achieve his own righteousness but who has now embraced Christ and the salvation granted by Him through grace.
The John verse shows that Christ frees us from sin. The Galatians verse shows us that Christ frees us from the old law. Though we have the privilege of being born in the freest land of all, the only way to be truly free is not through our government, but through our Savior.
Romans 8:1,2 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Christ even frees us from the life of sin and death. Now don't get me wrong, you will still die a physical death, but with Christ you will still live even though the flesh dies. That's true freedom. Christ came to overcome death so that we might have eternal life through Him.
Romans 8: 31,32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;" With God for us we cannot fail. I hope we all recognize what true and real freedom is and through Him of who it's obtained. Let us rejoice that we live in one of the greatest countries in the world and let us strive through our freedoms of the land to show the world God's kindness and love.
I wanted to post this closer to July 4th, but that did not work out. I really wanted to yesterday, but lightning had other plans with our modem. My prayer for all is that we reach out to all who need the freedom only the Son can give. Let us proclaim His message and His love for the glory of the Father always.
With prayers and love always.
C.
My pastor gave a great sermon this past Sunday on freedom and I'm going to use the verse and a little material that he did as well as some of my own thoughts and opinions. John 8:31-36 "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered Him, "we are Abraham's descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that you say, you will become free?" Jesus answered them "truly truly I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."
Now that's where real freedom comes from, the Son. The truth here is not only the facts surrounding Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, but also the teaching he brought. No matter what man can promise or do, nothing sets you free like the Son. For the Son is the source of true freedom, because he is the only one who can free you from the slavery of sin.
Galatians 5:1 "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yolk of slavery." Christ set us free for freedom's sake that we may not be yolked to slavery again. The truest freedom we can obtain is through Christ, which is the deliverance from the curse that the law pronounces on the sinner who has been striving unsuccessfully to achieve his own righteousness but who has now embraced Christ and the salvation granted by Him through grace.
The John verse shows that Christ frees us from sin. The Galatians verse shows us that Christ frees us from the old law. Though we have the privilege of being born in the freest land of all, the only way to be truly free is not through our government, but through our Savior.
Romans 8:1,2 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Christ even frees us from the life of sin and death. Now don't get me wrong, you will still die a physical death, but with Christ you will still live even though the flesh dies. That's true freedom. Christ came to overcome death so that we might have eternal life through Him.
Romans 8: 31,32 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;" With God for us we cannot fail. I hope we all recognize what true and real freedom is and through Him of who it's obtained. Let us rejoice that we live in one of the greatest countries in the world and let us strive through our freedoms of the land to show the world God's kindness and love.
I wanted to post this closer to July 4th, but that did not work out. I really wanted to yesterday, but lightning had other plans with our modem. My prayer for all is that we reach out to all who need the freedom only the Son can give. Let us proclaim His message and His love for the glory of the Father always.
With prayers and love always.
C.
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