"What do you have that you did not receive...."

Pride is so destructive!

Think about what our pride costs us -

Relationships with others.

Lost love, joy, peace, etc.  (the fruit of the Spirit).

The inability to receive and enjoy God's grace.

Countless other relational and emotional issues that start with thinking too much of ourselves!

Consider the following passage,  particularly vs. 7!

1 Cor. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

⁶ Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. ⁷ For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (NKJV)

Now I may have some gift and abilities that others don't, and surely many are far more gifted than I, but if I have any gifts, abilities or success in my life, where did it come from, and what about all my shortcomings, how quickly do I forget those as I look down on others?

If I am not in hell for my sin now, I need to thank God! So am I really in a place to think I am better than anyone? Now we all are morally responsible for the choices we make, but I confess that anything good in my life (a sinner by birth and choice) in this world (fallen and cursed as it is), must be accredited to God and His mercy, not to any inherent goodness in me!

So all glory to Him, and I need to stop thinking I am better than anyone!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

It All Comes Down to Trusting God!

It has been almost a year since I resigned from the church I was pastoring and even longer since I wrote anything on this blog.

It has been a strange and difficult year, but I definitely agree with the Apostle Paul's words in Phil. 4:11 "... I have learned in whatever state I am in to be content." Now I can't say that I am always content, there are plenty who could testify that I am not at times. However, I am more and more convinced of my own tendency to look for contentment in circumstances and things, and the futility of doing so. God continues to teach me through the challenges of this life that He is in control of my circumstances and if that is so then contentment is as close as me acknowledging His Power, wisdom and love for me.

If God truly is all powerful, perfectly wise, and loves me (as He has proven in Christ's sacrifice), then it all comes down to trusting Him and being content or not trusting Him and finding contentment fleeting at best.

I am trusting Him as I write this, but I may relapse into temporary idolatry at any moment. Thankfully part of the contentment Paul spoke of in Phil. 4:11, is knowing God will be faithful to use His power, wisdom and love on behalf of His children, even when we aren't trusting Him as we should at a particular moment.

 I am beginning to look for a place to serve in full time ministry, in the meantime I am working part time for a Christian ministry that serves the homeless. If anyone hears of a ministry opening that might be a fit please send me the contact information, and of course prayer is always appreciated.