Humble

Have you ever heard someone speak of another while describing them and say, "he's so humble!" This warm and gentle graciousness comes to my mind when I hear the word "humble". It is a Christ-like characteristic of lowly submission and meekness. A quality to be coveted by every believer.

But the truth is humility is a difficult subject for most of us. Our egos are oversized and a conversation about humility cuts against the grain of our carnal self.  It is a part of the old nature to want our own way.  And it is evident of the old carnal man inside us when we respond to criticism or unfair treatment with our fists up and our mouths in motion. We retaliate instead of turn the other cheek.

Philippians 2:3-4 reads like this, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others."  It is natural for us to gratify ourselves at another person's expense - but it is not spiritual. Sometimes, God must bring us to a place of brokenness before we can be molded and shaped like clay in the Hand of the Potter.  

We must crucify that "old sin nature" daily. The nature that strives to exalt himself and take care of number one - yourself first.  Rather we must choose to become more like Christ and exemplify a heart of humility and love, caring for the needs of others above ourselves. This is a matter of self-denial.  Jesus taught, if any desired to be His disciple, he must first deny himself before He could follow Christ.

The Greatest Love

In 1 John 4:7-8, Paul teaches that we should love each other deeply because the love of the Father is in us.  Scripture reminds us that love is an attribute of God and we being children of God should walk in love. It should be one of our characteristics.

Here we see an instruction, "Let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God; He that loveth not, knoweth not God for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8)

I have met a lot of wonderful people with some truly amazing characteristics.  I've had the privilege to meet people of all walks of life.  People of generosity and great faith.  People with high moral standards.  People who work hard and reflect strong work ethics. People with amazing successes.

But the truth is we can display numerous good characteristics like these but if we do not display the pure love of God, then we are nothing. (1 Corinth. 13) Love is the most valued attribute a believer can reflect in his everyday life.  For this characteristic reveals God in us. When we show genuine love, we reflect God to others around us. And this can impact their world.

The Grace of God

 A lot is being said today in Christian circles about the grace of God.  I am personally extremely thankful for God's great love and grace.  He was merciful to me when I was yet in my sins and when I repented, He willfully forgave me. But sometimes those who speak of God's grace paint a picture that we can live haphazard lives that portray our old life. They teach that  because of the grace of God we can live our lives as we please.  But this concept does not bear out what Scripture teaches.

The Word of God is clear to teach that once we come to Christ, we should strive to live a life that pleases the Lord in holiness and righteousness. God confirms to us that if we truly love Him we will keep His commands. 

We are none perfect - I am the first to admit it.  However, Scripture explains it best, "For the grace of God hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world." Titus 2:11-12

Once God imparts to us His great grace...we must then be responsible to make daily choices that follow after righteousness. If we do not live according to God's Word then, we have not been changed at all.

Me

We often think we are so great. It's all about ME. We are Mr. Wonderful. We are Ms. Dynamic. ME. ME. ME. No one compares to us. We have our heads stuck in the clouds in a dreamworld over the rainbow that really does not exist. Scripture warns us of thinking too highly of ourselves, bragging, and boasting. "A haughty spirit always goes before a fall."

Although it is important that we make plans and project goals for our future, we must be careful not to brag and boast about what we are doing tomorrow. Because Scripture teaches we do not know what changes a day may bring forth. We do not know if we will live tomorrow, we do not really know what our future holds. Only God is aware of these things.

In Proverbs 27:1-2, the wisdom of Solomon declares, "Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips."

However, if we know the God of our future and if we keep our hand tightly in His hand, we can be assured of a blessed and favorable future with the smile of God on our lives. So as we live to please God and strive to be humble and not carry attitudes of self-exaltation, God Himself will exalt us in due time. If there is any bragging to be done, let someone else brag on you. If there is a compliment left to be spoken, let someone else speak it. Then, we will find favor in the sight of the Lord and resemble His attributes.

Loyalty

A wonderful quality found in others is loyalty.  Every employer desires their employees display loyalty.  It is a coveted character quality found in a friend, a spouse, a child. And God is loyal above all others. The Psalmist declared, "I will always sing about the Lord's love; I will tell of His loyalty from now on. I will say, Your love continues forever; your loyalty goes on and on like the sky." (Psalm 89:1-2) The word loyalty means an undeniable devoted attachment and affection, the character and quality of being totally faithful to commitments.

Scripture confirms to us that God is loyal, we can count on his faithful and enduring love. Regardless of our present circumstances, where we've been, or how far we have strayed, God continues to be completely and everlastingly loyal to us. Often, we are without a doubt undeserving of the dedicated loyalty of God toward us. We fail time and time again, we botch it up, yet God is tirelessly unchanging, forgiving and loyal. His loyalty stretches across the sky, a vast and unending point of origination and closure. And God desires that we reciprocate His loyalty with a commitment that is entirely faithful.

Choose today to be loyal to God and cultivate your relationship with Him each day. He will not let you down, but will continue to reflect His forever devoted affection to you. Let us discipline our heart to remain loyal at all times. This loyalty should not only be reflected to God, but in all of our relationships.

Find Success

We all love to be successful.  We like our lives to be peaceful, happy and productive. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and have success.”   (Joshua 1:8)

Success means many things to different people all around the world.  But typically we think success means we have money, prestige, property or varied forms of grand material possessions.  I have found that material blessings are wonderful, but they are certainly not the source of happiness or success.

Joshua teaches that knowing the Word of God and living by its precepts brings success.  Proverbs 16:3 declares, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

Many are in search of finding success, but we look for answers in all the wrong places. We may need to rethink our idea concerning the definition of true success. We are often driven by what pleases others, but our concern should be solely pleasing our Savior.

God wants you to be successful.  He wants the very best for you.  He offers you two ways to travel in life and He lets you know that the straight way, the road of righteousness is the way to blessing and favor and true success.

Boys of Faith

In Scripture we find three Hebrew boys named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who faced the fire because of their faith.  It was the King Nebuchadnezzar who demanded that these boys abandon their faith in God and bow down to worship a 90 ft tall golden statue. They refused to compromise their faith in the One True and Holy God.

And these three boys were warned that if they refused to bow, the King would have them thrown into a blazing furnace of fire. But they stood in faith because they realized, "For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Indeed when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow, the King heated up the furnace of fire seven times hotter and had these three boys bound and thrown into the furnace of fire.  Scripture teaches the fire was so hot that the soldiers that threw them into the fire died simply from the scorching heat of the flames.  

Yet these three boys walked out of that furnace of fire completely unharmed because of their unwavering faith in a mighty God.  Scripture records, “No hair of their heads was singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” (Daniel 3:26)

God protected them and honored their great faith and loyalty.

Roadblocks

Sometimes in life, we face roadblocks.  These roadblocks can be obstacles placed in our path by ourselves or others that can hinder clear travel to the destination God has planned for us.  God's plan for us is to provide, protect, bless us and transform our lives. What we go through strengthens and changes us - and is meant to help us to mature in Christ.

Isaiah 57:14 declares, "And it will be said, Build up, Build up, Prepare the Road! Remove the obstacles out of the way..." (NIV) There are times we must decide to wallow in the place we are or reach for victory. We can make excuses for all the roadblocks and obstacles that have been placed in our path, or we can choose to jump over them and overcome the setbacks to achieve healing.  This healing is not always physical, but can be emotional, spiritual and mental.

Psalm 40:2 tells the real story of how God reached down and you reached up.  "He drew me up out of a horrible pit of tumult and destruction, out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings."

Don't let your roadblocks hinder a clear path to where God is trying to take you.

What Do You See

The Bible is clear that whatever our senses experience will affect our whole body and spirit. So what we experience with our senses actually affect our spirituality, our relation to God. What we see, read, and listen to can either negatively or positively affect how spiritual we are.

Knowing that light and darkness have no common denominator, no reason to share experiences, Matthew 6:22-24 teaches, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore, the light that is in you is in darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

Many today try to serve God and still walk in darkness. God said these two have no fellowship with each other, it cannot be done. You have to make a decision to follow hard after God and be careful what your senses see, hear, and experience. Because the "lamp of the body is the eye", therefore what you see lights your path, and leads you in that path. If you choose to look at perversion in movies and internet entertainment then that is what will drive you and the path will not lead to God. If you choose to soak up music that is not uplifting to God, then your spirit will be driven by the world's view. If you read books and magazines that are not godly then those values will push you to darkness, not light.

We must beware and heed the warning of Scripture that says we choose the path we take by what we decide to "see". We direct our own lives, with our choices. Joshua declared, "Choose you this day who you will serve."

Pure Heart

There is nothing more open to the Hand of God than a pure heart. Scripture resounds about the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God". 

We often make excuses for our sin and use our humanity as a crutch.  But we must realize in the christian walk that it is the Word of God that purifies our heart. Paul said, "I die daily". He said, "I have hidden the word in my heart, that I might not sin against God." Throughout his teachings he prompts us to feast on the Word because it is the Word that is the very "life" of the christian.

When a silversmith heats up the silver in a pot over an open flame to a boil, the dross begins to float to the top. He then is able to skim off the bad particles of the silver and make it pure. And so it is with you and I. We've got some junk, some dross that is floating around in our heart, our attitude, our mind, our conversation. We must step up to the looking glass of God's Word and allow His Word to purge out the old and renew us.

The flame is the God breathed Word that is capable of purging the impurities from our lives. Without it, we cannot possibly walk holy and pure. But if we stay on the flame, the dross will continue to surface so that God the Holy Spirit might change us daily and make us more like Jesus.