Humble!

Matthew 18: 4

⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus said that the person who humbles himself like a little child, is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Notice that He didn’t say the one who acts like a child.

It takes a lot of courage to confess that you could be wrong.

It is thoroughly prideful, not to consider our personal flaws.

Actually, the person that could admit they might be wrong, would do a lot to make a wrong, right.

Paul also said something about not keeping score cards.

I wonder what the church could look like, if it’s members decided to put on humility?

It would be the most glorious experience known to man.

I also wonder how much unnecessary energy do we waste, trying to nitpick something in the church we attend?

What if instead of picking something apart, we looked instead to the areas we agree.

St. Paul emphasized humility in most of his teachings.

So if Paul went through all that work to teach on humility, then why aren’t we humble all the time?

Followers of Jesus will be lifted up for being humble.

Maybe imitating Jesus, would clear all of this up…

Conflicts!

Acts 15: 37 - 38 (ESV)

³⁷ Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

³⁸ But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

 

This might have been one of the first conflicts in the early church.

John Mark showed his true colors, and then Paul had a problem with Barnabas wanting to include him in ministry.

 

Do you have conflicts in the church you go to?

If you don’t think so, then guess again!

 

Here’s something to really think about…

Just because you might have conflict in your church, doesn’t mean that God isn’t a part of your church.

 

Every person that I go to church with, each brings their own assorted baggage into that environment.

Maybe the Pastor above all, has some pretty severe baggage!

 

Once God has revealed the heart of the conflict, we would do well to bring on a full resolution and restoration.

Maybe if we worked as hard at repair, as the devil does to destroy, conflicts could easily be repaired.

 

If we always insist on being right, then maybe the problem has already been exposed.

 

·         Ask yourself: “Is it possible, that I could be the source of great conflict?”

 

If you’re humble even just a little bit, then you’ll know the answer to that question…

The Right Stock!

1 Samuel 2: 2

2 "There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

Monday night’s Badger game, disappointed the die hard, faithful basketball fan.

It almost seemed to be the perfect time for a win, since the last NCAA championship happened in Wisconsin 74 years ago.

I wonder if we might put too much stock in a basketball game, and not enough stock in God?

There is no one like our God, but there may be some Badger faithful, who just don’t want to hear that.

Even in disappointment, God remains the same.

Sure, it would’ve been nice for the Badger’s to win, but had we lost God, now that would’ve been truly disappointing.

There was a time when winning and losing consumed a lot of my time.

I use most of my time these days, getting to know my God more intimately.

I met with 4 other faith-filled men yesterday morning, who stayed up late to watch basketball, but got up early to pray.

Maybe our focus is on the wrong things. Is that possible?

At the end of the day, God will never leave us.

I think I penned something similar, when the Packers blew a double digit lead in the NFC championship game.

Just like back in January, the world still hasn’t ended…

·         Ask yourself: “What things in life, do I put more stock in, than I put stock in God?”

Selfless Acts!

Philippians 2: 4 - 5 (ESV)

⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

I’m curious to know how many people really look out for the interest of others?

Let’s face it, even some of the nicest church people I know, can at times, be sort of self centered.

I had a recent meeting with a young couple, and I asked each of them the definition of love.

Part of the answer they gave was almost right on. “It’s a selfless act surrendered to another…”

The actual definition, is… “giving something of value to another person--without expecting anything in return”.

Actually, that definition explains Jesus to a “T”.

The mind of Jesus, is what should drive the church.

We don’t need another committee meeting, for this to be the driving force of the church.

I don’t like committees--but I do like loving people, like Jesus did.

Will that be your goal today?

What would happen if we all looked out for the interest of others, before looking out for our own?

·         Ask yourself: “When’s the last time I purposely loved someone else, without having to justify it in my mind?”

Be Committed!

Romans 12: 10

¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Now that the Easter season is over, what’s your spiritual plan going forward?

This morning’s verse is a real mark of a follower of Jesus.

I must admit, that I too have some trouble offering the brotherly affection that I should easily offer.

How do you fair with this early morning challenge?

Is it possible for a Christian’s love to wane after time?

But then that’s as much of a contradiction, than I’ve ever heard.

Who needs you to show them honor this week?

Who is just waiting to be encouraged and cared for, by you?

Commitment as a follower of Jesus, is to take another brother/sister by the hand, and offer them something maybe they’ve been missing.

When’s the last time you asked God to bring you more determination to love?

To love is not as easy as it would seem.

To love in the power of Jesus, puts the onus back on Him.

Maybe we’re trying to love in our own  power.

That never seems to work very well, does it?

·         Ask yourself… “Is it possible that I only love, when its convenient for me to love?”

Be Uncomplicated!

James 2: 18 - 19

18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

I think it’s sort of humorous, and then I also think it’s pretty sad at the same time, when I hear people say… “Well, I believe in God!”

Those are the same people, that at the end of their lives, are going to be very sorry for using that lame excuse for not following Jesus.

That kind of statement, is a person who is putting their faith in themselves, and not in God.

Salvation doesn’t end with making an intellectual statement, it’s proved by the manifested works in our lives.

Works is not a means for salvation, but rather, they are a result of salvation.

I heard someone once say to me… “Well, of course I believe in Jesus, I teach Sunday school, don’t I?”

Just because someone teaches Sunday school, doesn’t mean they’re a follower of Jesus.

Even the demons shake, rattle and roll at the name of Jesus, so maybe we should take a lesson from them.

Only by a complete dependence on Jesus, can a person be truly saved.

Going to church on Sunday is the easy part…surrendering our lives to His great calling, is yet another.

You will not get to Heaven by self confidence…self esteem…or even pride.

Actually, the Bible condemns that kind of person.

Maybe before you go to bed tonight…you had better get this worked out…if you haven’t already…

·         Ask yourself… “In what ways do I complicate my spiritual life?”

Remember!

Deuteronomy 32: 7 (ESV)

⁷ Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.

How often do you consider the things of God?

I named this devotional, “Light Reflections”, and yet I realize that some of these reflections are not so light, after all.

Maybe it’s just me, but when I consider or reflect on the nature of God, for me, it’s just too much to take in.

I can’t explain it, but I’m not sure why the God as we know Him, would send His one and only Son into the world, to die in my place.

That is not a cynical statement, but as I consider what my lot in life could have been, I’m a little overwhelmed.

I wonder how many people, are still overwhelmed when they consider the cross?

This is not an emotional moment for me per say, but then again, maybe it is.

Has the message of the Gospel for some, gotten stale?

I hope that is not the case, but then I’m not convinced that the church of Christ is all that thrilled any more, about Holy week.

As I remember the days of old, I’m so thankful for a Mom who showed me how important this week is.

One of the things I love the most about being a Grandpa, is for the opportunity to have my Grandbabies ask me about Jesus, one day.

I don’t even have to think about what my answer  is going to be.

The way I really feel, is still right on the very edge of my heart…and I’m going to be sure to tell them, the first chance I get…

Ask yourself:

·         When I reflect on the things of God, am I still trying to find out who God is, or am I still trying to find out who I am?