“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Luke 4:8
Pride is a very strange attribute when you think about it. Human beings are subject to the things that are common to mankind. Those things are weakness, disease and ultimately death. There are those who are smarter, stronger and more famous, but in the end it is as the Bible says in 1Timothy 6:7, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” That phrase really deflates some egos.
Where exactly does pride come from? Quoting the devil, Isaiah writes in Isaiah 14:13-14, “For you have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.”
“Can you imagine this angel who was created by God now wanting to be above God? That is the essence of egotism. I am not comparing pride with the natural instinct of many to improve their situation or to climb the ladder of success in whatever field of work they have chosen. This is about getting ahead at the expense and detriment of another.
The devil said “I will exalt my throne.” He saw that there was someone who was above him and he lusted after that position rather than choosing to be content in the perfect place that God had given him. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews said, in 13:5a “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” In other words, don’t look on the things or the position of others with a desire to take them.
We must be careful not to let our pride control us and make us into someone who must win every debate and is looking to be better than someone else. There is no contentment in that scenario. We may go beyond the person that seems to be ahead of us, but undoubtedly there will always be one with a little higher stature than us.
Jesus, who had every right to authority and position, chose instead to give it up for the sake of others. Rather than using His royal power, our Deliverer, “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 4:7-8) The devil said to Him that he would give Him all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him because the final goal of all pride is to replace God as the King of our lives and worship self. Wasn’t that the trick the serpent used on Eve? He asked her, “Has God really said that?” He called into question the veracity of the Almighty and became God’s judge.
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18) Just as arrogance brought the devil down to the lowest pit, it will bring us down even as we think we are being lifted up. The way we get a lift is by trusting that God has restored us to the dignified position that He meant us to have all along, which is the privilege of being a child of the Most High God.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Around and Around
I remember early on in my working life seeing my boss got cheated by a customer. He didn’t get too upset in learning the facts that someone walked out without paying his bill. His comment on the matter was, “What goes around comes around.” This of course is to say that something that person will somehow have to pay for his bad deed in the future.
The writer of Psalm 73 saw the opposite. He saw wicked people prospering in this life and complained to God about it. He said in verse 3, “I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He was envious of these wicked people because though they were evil they still enjoyed everything they needed and wanted and then got even more good stuff. “Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches.” How unfair is that? I thought what goes around comes around, and whatever a man sows, that he will also reap?” (Galatians 6:7)
If we try to figure out the why of every seeming injustice, our head will just spin around and around in confusion. God doesn’t deal in fairness, He deals in justice. That means we are all subject to the same curse because of sin. That curse is death. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) This is a thing that all of us fear, none of us can avoid, but no one wants to talk about, yet it is right around the corner. The ones who are reveling in their power and wealth now and ignore the fact that someday this life will end will have to deal with it at a less convenient time. Jesus calls these people fools.
“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
"And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'
"So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
"But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'” (Luke 12:16-20)
As Psalm 73 describes the life of wicked people the writer gets back into a right relationship to God and begins to see clearly the end of the path of someone who chooses not to seek God in this life. It’s a sad ending, “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” (Psalm 73:28) It is then when the writers head stopped spinning.
The writer of Psalm 73 saw the opposite. He saw wicked people prospering in this life and complained to God about it. He said in verse 3, “I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” He was envious of these wicked people because though they were evil they still enjoyed everything they needed and wanted and then got even more good stuff. “Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches.” How unfair is that? I thought what goes around comes around, and whatever a man sows, that he will also reap?” (Galatians 6:7)
If we try to figure out the why of every seeming injustice, our head will just spin around and around in confusion. God doesn’t deal in fairness, He deals in justice. That means we are all subject to the same curse because of sin. That curse is death. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) This is a thing that all of us fear, none of us can avoid, but no one wants to talk about, yet it is right around the corner. The ones who are reveling in their power and wealth now and ignore the fact that someday this life will end will have to deal with it at a less convenient time. Jesus calls these people fools.
“Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
"And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'
"So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
"But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'” (Luke 12:16-20)
As Psalm 73 describes the life of wicked people the writer gets back into a right relationship to God and begins to see clearly the end of the path of someone who chooses not to seek God in this life. It’s a sad ending, “But it is good for me to draw near to God.” (Psalm 73:28) It is then when the writers head stopped spinning.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Save Me!
Save Me!
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14:25-27
Imagine you were one of the disciples on the boat in rough seas in the night and you see someone walking on the water. What would you think? Would you be afraid? They were rough waters this evening and it was the first time they’d seen someone walking on them. Jesus though speaks to them and says, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage.” Jesus’ words were so comforting that Peter stood up and said to the Lord, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Peter really lives up to his reputation as the one who talks before he thinks, but I think sometimes God likes this because we put ourselves in situations where we have to trust Him. “Jesus, tell me to come,” says Peter. “Come,” Jesus replies.
As believers we hear God’s word preached and it reveals that Jesus is near. We then begin to see Him and hear Him speak. This buoys our confidence and desire to walk in the places where Jesus walks, and to do the things Jesus does. So we pray to Him and ask to be called to a life of faith. Jesus then calls back to us and says, “Come.” Then we experience the joy of walking by faith. There is such freedom in trusting Jesus for our lives, for our families and our future. After walking toward that life we at times start to see the turmoil in the world around us. Then fear sets in and we sink into despair because without realizing it we have taken our eyes off of Jesus and placed them on the problems that confront us. “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
Christians sometimes think that they have a lot to fear because their choices in life are often very different than what some may have wanted. Perhaps they chose the life of a missionary, or a worker in a church. Maybe they gave up what seemed to be a promising career to follow Jesus to a place that not many people go. Then comes the phone call from a friend or well-intentioned family member asking what they are doing with their life. Then they ask the same question, “What am I doing?” This is where fear comes in and people wonder about the future. I have looked at successful friends and thought, “They have it made,” only to find out that down the road things were no so rosy after all. We imagine that others have no fear, when in fact they have more fears than we could imagine. Fear of failure, future, security, health concerns and other things weigh heavy on people’s minds. The problem is that most don’t know or believe that they can be free from these fears.
Though Peter forgot to keep looking at Jesus, he didn’t forget to call on Him when he was in need. “And beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.”
I’m so glad that even when I fail, all I have to do is call on Jesus to save me and He will.
In Isaiah 43:5 God says, “Fear not for I am with you.” He is with you today if you have trusted Him. Now call on him in your need and He will save you and lead you.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." Matthew 14:25-27
Imagine you were one of the disciples on the boat in rough seas in the night and you see someone walking on the water. What would you think? Would you be afraid? They were rough waters this evening and it was the first time they’d seen someone walking on them. Jesus though speaks to them and says, “Don’t be afraid. Take courage.” Jesus’ words were so comforting that Peter stood up and said to the Lord, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Peter really lives up to his reputation as the one who talks before he thinks, but I think sometimes God likes this because we put ourselves in situations where we have to trust Him. “Jesus, tell me to come,” says Peter. “Come,” Jesus replies.
As believers we hear God’s word preached and it reveals that Jesus is near. We then begin to see Him and hear Him speak. This buoys our confidence and desire to walk in the places where Jesus walks, and to do the things Jesus does. So we pray to Him and ask to be called to a life of faith. Jesus then calls back to us and says, “Come.” Then we experience the joy of walking by faith. There is such freedom in trusting Jesus for our lives, for our families and our future. After walking toward that life we at times start to see the turmoil in the world around us. Then fear sets in and we sink into despair because without realizing it we have taken our eyes off of Jesus and placed them on the problems that confront us. “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30)
Christians sometimes think that they have a lot to fear because their choices in life are often very different than what some may have wanted. Perhaps they chose the life of a missionary, or a worker in a church. Maybe they gave up what seemed to be a promising career to follow Jesus to a place that not many people go. Then comes the phone call from a friend or well-intentioned family member asking what they are doing with their life. Then they ask the same question, “What am I doing?” This is where fear comes in and people wonder about the future. I have looked at successful friends and thought, “They have it made,” only to find out that down the road things were no so rosy after all. We imagine that others have no fear, when in fact they have more fears than we could imagine. Fear of failure, future, security, health concerns and other things weigh heavy on people’s minds. The problem is that most don’t know or believe that they can be free from these fears.
Though Peter forgot to keep looking at Jesus, he didn’t forget to call on Him when he was in need. “And beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him.”
I’m so glad that even when I fail, all I have to do is call on Jesus to save me and He will.
In Isaiah 43:5 God says, “Fear not for I am with you.” He is with you today if you have trusted Him. Now call on him in your need and He will save you and lead you.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
What Evil
But they shouted, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!"
Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him.” Luke 23:21-22
Pilate asks the question that no one else is willing to ask on this day of days when Jesus is crucified. “What evil has He done?”
When Jesus came into the world the Apostle John states that He came for one main reason. The reason was that God loved the people of the world. The problem was that these people had sinned and were condemned to Hell for eternity because sin and God don’t mix. Humans will never really understand the meaning of holiness and perfection until we see Jesus face to face, but there must be something so great about it, so outstanding, and so glorious that anything less than holy could not stand in the presence of God.
We look at sin so casually as if it were a little scratch on our finger, or maybe as serious as a sprained ankle. Obviously we miscalculate, since the remedy for sin is nothing less than the Creator being tortured and put to death by His creation.
“What evil has He done?” He was bold enough to identify with His creation. His evil was that He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” The reason He was to be crucified was that He dared to lay every right that He had aside to love the ones who shouted for Him to die. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” Jesus deserved to be crucified because He dared stand in the place of a guilty sinner like you and me. He became sin for us, so that we could obtain God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), that was the “evil” He did. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
How will you look at sin today? Is it just a minor annoyance, something that you can say you are sorry for after you’ve enjoyed its pleasure? Or will you see sin as the thing that crucified the Lord of Glory?
Then he said to them the third time, "Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him.” Luke 23:21-22
Pilate asks the question that no one else is willing to ask on this day of days when Jesus is crucified. “What evil has He done?”
When Jesus came into the world the Apostle John states that He came for one main reason. The reason was that God loved the people of the world. The problem was that these people had sinned and were condemned to Hell for eternity because sin and God don’t mix. Humans will never really understand the meaning of holiness and perfection until we see Jesus face to face, but there must be something so great about it, so outstanding, and so glorious that anything less than holy could not stand in the presence of God.
We look at sin so casually as if it were a little scratch on our finger, or maybe as serious as a sprained ankle. Obviously we miscalculate, since the remedy for sin is nothing less than the Creator being tortured and put to death by His creation.
“What evil has He done?” He was bold enough to identify with His creation. His evil was that He came to “seek and to save that which was lost.” The reason He was to be crucified was that He dared to lay every right that He had aside to love the ones who shouted for Him to die. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” Jesus deserved to be crucified because He dared stand in the place of a guilty sinner like you and me. He became sin for us, so that we could obtain God’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), that was the “evil” He did. "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
How will you look at sin today? Is it just a minor annoyance, something that you can say you are sorry for after you’ve enjoyed its pleasure? Or will you see sin as the thing that crucified the Lord of Glory?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Let Him In
And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Hosanna in the highest!"
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" Matthew 21:8-10
Jesus came to the city of Jerusalem at the beginning of the Passion Week to an eager crowd who were ready to make Him King of Israel. They were so excited that they cut down branches and laid down their clothes so that the Lord’s donkey would not touch the ground as he walked. This is in some ways a very strange scene.
Why do I say that? It is because later in the week most if not all of these people would forsake the very King that they had so warmly welcomed into Jerusalem. The one they had welcomed in they now cast out because He would change the status quo and replace the systems that people had become very comfortable with. The religious leaders who had the most to loose stirred up the people against Jesus because they did not want to cede control of what they had to another.
We must be careful not to cast Jesus out of our lives for this same reason. We become accustomed to the way things have always been and we like it. Then we ask Jesus into our lives, sometimes with great fanfare. A short time later we realize that things are changing and we can’t do all that we used to do and we don’t like it and we don’t accept it. We want Jesus to be a part of our lives, but not our whole life. There are some things that we pronounce “off limits” to the Lord.
One of the ways that God causes a Christian to grow in their faith is by showing them that there are some things in their life that must change. He wants us to open the gates of our heart to him and let Jesus be the King in areas that remain under the control of our old life before we were believers. This thing we give Him can be a habit, a relationship, a lifestyle or any such thing that keeps us from allowing Him to reign in areas of our lives. It is like the Children of Israel who during the conquest of Canaan never got full control of the land because they did not drive out all the inhabitants. They didn’t obey what god had commanded them so they never had total peace in their country. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” To have peace with God and with ourselves it is imperative to let him control all aspects of our lives.
Ask God today if you are shutting Him out of areas in your life. If He shows you that you are, open up the gate of that area and let Him enter triumphantly to make the changes that will allow you to be free from self and fulfilled with all that He has to give you.
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!'
Hosanna in the highest!"
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" Matthew 21:8-10
Jesus came to the city of Jerusalem at the beginning of the Passion Week to an eager crowd who were ready to make Him King of Israel. They were so excited that they cut down branches and laid down their clothes so that the Lord’s donkey would not touch the ground as he walked. This is in some ways a very strange scene.
Why do I say that? It is because later in the week most if not all of these people would forsake the very King that they had so warmly welcomed into Jerusalem. The one they had welcomed in they now cast out because He would change the status quo and replace the systems that people had become very comfortable with. The religious leaders who had the most to loose stirred up the people against Jesus because they did not want to cede control of what they had to another.
We must be careful not to cast Jesus out of our lives for this same reason. We become accustomed to the way things have always been and we like it. Then we ask Jesus into our lives, sometimes with great fanfare. A short time later we realize that things are changing and we can’t do all that we used to do and we don’t like it and we don’t accept it. We want Jesus to be a part of our lives, but not our whole life. There are some things that we pronounce “off limits” to the Lord.
One of the ways that God causes a Christian to grow in their faith is by showing them that there are some things in their life that must change. He wants us to open the gates of our heart to him and let Jesus be the King in areas that remain under the control of our old life before we were believers. This thing we give Him can be a habit, a relationship, a lifestyle or any such thing that keeps us from allowing Him to reign in areas of our lives. It is like the Children of Israel who during the conquest of Canaan never got full control of the land because they did not drive out all the inhabitants. They didn’t obey what god had commanded them so they never had total peace in their country. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.” To have peace with God and with ourselves it is imperative to let him control all aspects of our lives.
Ask God today if you are shutting Him out of areas in your life. If He shows you that you are, open up the gate of that area and let Him enter triumphantly to make the changes that will allow you to be free from self and fulfilled with all that He has to give you.
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