the following psalms, we find a mix of conflicting emotions, an apparent tangle of despair and trust. This is how the Psalms give a voice to our own emotions.
Psalms 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Psalms 13:6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.
Psalms 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalms 42:11 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalms 43:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
healing and God's Kingdom
Read: Luke 13:10-17
The confrontation between Jesus and the synagogue ruler afforded Jesus the opportunity to interpret the woman's healing as an outworking of His kingdom.
healing is only the beginning (on a very small scall) of God's expansive kingdom that will make all things new
Daniel resolved not to defile himself
Daniel 1:8a But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine
Daniel 1:9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,
Daniel 1:12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Danie; 1:15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
Paul's Prayer About Lover and Righteousness
MBI - Today in the Word -Thursday, July 3, 2008
Read: Philippians 1:9-11
Paul prayed that the church in Philippi love would abound.
"A growing love for God is accompanied by a growing love for our fellow believers; the two cannot be separated."
Finally, Paul prayed that this church would be filled with the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus” (v. 11).
"For now, note that the righteousness comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Righteousness cannot be defined by the deeds that people do of their own initiative. It has its source and definition in the character and work of God (see Rom. 3:22)."
Read: Philippians 1:9-11
Paul prayed that the church in Philippi love would abound.
"A growing love for God is accompanied by a growing love for our fellow believers; the two cannot be separated."
Finally, Paul prayed that this church would be filled with the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus” (v. 11).
"For now, note that the righteousness comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Righteousness cannot be defined by the deeds that people do of their own initiative. It has its source and definition in the character and work of God (see Rom. 3:22)."
Saul's declined; David's rising
TODAY IN THE WORD - Tuesday, June 17, 2008
1 Samuel 18:1-30 (New International Version)
In today's passage, Saul is a stark reminder of some of the dreadful consequences of persisting in sin and disobedience: Saul consumed with the darkness of his own heart is filled with fear, anger, and hatred. Lord I pray for persistent shortcomings in my own life, please help me flourished in faith
With God's presence in his live (and our lives):
1) David repeatedly received “love” from others:
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
2) David had great repeated success in battle
1 Samuel 18:1-30 (New International Version)
In today's passage, Saul is a stark reminder of some of the dreadful consequences of persisting in sin and disobedience: Saul consumed with the darkness of his own heart is filled with fear, anger, and hatred. Lord I pray for persistent shortcomings in my own life, please help me flourished in faith
With God's presence in his live (and our lives):
1) David repeatedly received “love” from others:
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
2) David had great repeated success in battle
When we realize we need the Lord
Monday, May 26, 2008
Read: Daniel 4:1-37
The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. - Proverbs 15:33
People often need to sink to their lowest point before they realize the need to lift up His name. King Nebuchadnezza
In God's House. Psalms 84:1-4
To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young-Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
Notes
v.2a My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord;
For only the priests could enter the sanctuary and the rest of the people into the courts. GBN. As NT testament believers how much more should we desire to enter the courts of a of a gracious and merciful God considering How the OT (God of Wrath) believers desired to enter into His Sanctuary and they could NOT. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Do we feel the same burning desire after God? David is here crying for it; he needed no clutter of bells to ring him in to the service, he carried his bell in his own bosom. SDC.
True subjects love the courts of their king. TOD. Courts (def.) private, special place; house or residence where one loves to dwell
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young-Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah
Notes
v.2a My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the Lord;
For only the priests could enter the sanctuary and the rest of the people into the courts. GBN. As NT testament believers how much more should we desire to enter the courts of a of a gracious and merciful God considering How the OT (God of Wrath) believers desired to enter into His Sanctuary and they could NOT. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Do we feel the same burning desire after God? David is here crying for it; he needed no clutter of bells to ring him in to the service, he carried his bell in his own bosom. SDC.
True subjects love the courts of their king. TOD. Courts (def.) private, special place; house or residence where one loves to dwell
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls
Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Christ's endurance of the sinner's hostility ensured that there is no reason for believers to become weary and discourage. He will furnish you with the same Spirit, and will support you with the same strength. He conquered the continual opposition of sinners with meekness, patience, and perseverance: He has left you an example that ye should follow his steps. If ye trust and constantly confide in Him, ye shall receive strength; ye shall not be weary: if ye attentively look to Him, ye shall have continual courage to go on, and never faint in your minds. ACC
Christ's endurance of the sinner's hostility ensured that there is no reason for believers to become weary and discourage. He will furnish you with the same Spirit, and will support you with the same strength. He conquered the continual opposition of sinners with meekness, patience, and perseverance: He has left you an example that ye should follow his steps. If ye trust and constantly confide in Him, ye shall receive strength; ye shall not be weary: if ye attentively look to Him, ye shall have continual courage to go on, and never faint in your minds. ACC
Daniel 9:1-3 Preparing to Pray....
Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;
2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
1) How did Daniel understand?
Daniel understood by the word of the Lord coming through the prophet Jeremiah. We can understand God more by referring to His Holy Word. © For even though he was an excellent Prophet, yet he daily increased in knowledge by the reading of the scriptures. GBN
(1 Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.)
Prophecy of the seventy years divinely given to Jeremiah is so powerful that another OT prophet referred to it. This has NOT happened all that much in scripture.
2) And I set my face unto the Lord God...
Preparation for prayer begins with the mind of God. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection {affection: or, mind} on things above, not on things on the earth. With fasting ... (mortifying the things of the flesh); sackcloth, and ashes (soberness, seriousness).
3) If God is sovereign, do we need to pray?
1-3 Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue seventy years, which were drawing to a close. God’s promises are to encourage our prayers, not to make them needless; and when we see the performance of them approaching, we should more earnestly plead them with God. MHCC
and as he saw nothing that indicated a speedy termination of their oppressive captivity ACC
Oftentimes we want to see some indications of God’s word before we pray?
2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:
1) How did Daniel understand?
Daniel understood by the word of the Lord coming through the prophet Jeremiah. We can understand God more by referring to His Holy Word. © For even though he was an excellent Prophet, yet he daily increased in knowledge by the reading of the scriptures. GBN
(1 Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1 Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.)
Prophecy of the seventy years divinely given to Jeremiah is so powerful that another OT prophet referred to it. This has NOT happened all that much in scripture.
2) And I set my face unto the Lord God...
Preparation for prayer begins with the mind of God. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection {affection: or, mind} on things above, not on things on the earth. With fasting ... (mortifying the things of the flesh); sackcloth, and ashes (soberness, seriousness).
3) If God is sovereign, do we need to pray?
1-3 Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue seventy years, which were drawing to a close. God’s promises are to encourage our prayers, not to make them needless; and when we see the performance of them approaching, we should more earnestly plead them with God. MHCC
and as he saw nothing that indicated a speedy termination of their oppressive captivity ACC
Oftentimes we want to see some indications of God’s word before we pray?
excel in this grace of giving
2 Corinthians 8:1-15 (New International Version)
How do I excel in this grace of giving?
One possible solution. Give yourself first to the Lord and then to people (poor, widow, ministers of the gospel) in keeping with God's will. (ref. 2 Corinthians 8:5)
Second possible solution. Willingness. 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Giving is one of the great joys and privileges of the Christian life. Clinical psychology has concluded that generosity and kindness are good for your health: For example, lifespan has been found to increase among older adults who volunteer. And since the self-centered pursuit of riches is sinful, it makes sense that generosity brings freedom and the loving the right things.
How do I excel in this grace of giving?
One possible solution. Give yourself first to the Lord and then to people (poor, widow, ministers of the gospel) in keeping with God's will. (ref. 2 Corinthians 8:5)
Second possible solution. Willingness. 2 Corinthians 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.
Giving is one of the great joys and privileges of the Christian life. Clinical psychology has concluded that generosity and kindness are good for your health: For example, lifespan has been found to increase among older adults who volunteer. And since the self-centered pursuit of riches is sinful, it makes sense that generosity brings freedom and the loving the right things.
Contentment Prayers / Confessions
Lord I thank you that I am still before You and wait patiently for You; I do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalms 37:7
Lord I thank you that I am righteous and content with little than the wealth of many wicked; Psalms 37:16
Lord I thank you for showing me mine own bitterness and working it out of me that I might fully understand the joy of my salvation. Proverbs 14:10 - Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Lord I thank you for Your Word in Proverbs 14:14 where the faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.
Lord I thank you for the little You have provided me with righteousness than more me gaining much with injustice. Proverbs 16:8
Lord I thank you for Proverbs 30:8 - Keep falsehood and lies far from me (keep extreme teachings of Christian prosperity or Christian poverty away from me); give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Lord I thank you for the satisfaction in my work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24 - A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,)
Lord I thank you for the gift of satisfaction in all my toil (home, work, school, church). Ecclesiastes 33:12 -13 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.
Lord I thank You for my handful with tranquillity than for two handfuls with me toiling and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6
Lord I thank you that not all of my efforts are for my mouth and therefore my appetite is satisfied. Lord I thank you that I have advantages over a fool: I know how to conduct myself before others, my appetite is NOT roving, my life is meaningful and I do NOT chase after the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
Lord I thank you that I don't exhort money, nor do I accuse people falsely and I am content with my pay. Luke 3:14
Lord I thank you that I happily retain the place in life that You have assigned and called me.to him and to which God has called him. I thank you that I am not trouble by the place you have called me. If I gain my freedom from this situation, I praise you. If I do Not gain my freedom from an oppressive situation, I still praise you. 1 Corinthians 7:17,20-21,24
Lord I thank you for working 1 Timothy 6:6-8 godliness with contentment is great gain in my spirit. I realize I have brought nothing into the world, and I can take nothing out of it. I thank you for food and clothing, I AM content with that.
Lord I thank you that I am righteous and content with little than the wealth of many wicked; Psalms 37:16
Lord I thank you for showing me mine own bitterness and working it out of me that I might fully understand the joy of my salvation. Proverbs 14:10 - Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.
Lord I thank you for Your Word in Proverbs 14:14 where the faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good man rewarded for his.
Lord I thank you for the little You have provided me with righteousness than more me gaining much with injustice. Proverbs 16:8
Lord I thank you for Proverbs 30:8 - Keep falsehood and lies far from me (keep extreme teachings of Christian prosperity or Christian poverty away from me); give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Lord I thank you for the satisfaction in my work. (Ecclesiastes 2:24 - A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God,)
Lord I thank you for the gift of satisfaction in all my toil (home, work, school, church). Ecclesiastes 33:12 -13 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil--this is the gift of God.
Lord I thank You for my handful with tranquillity than for two handfuls with me toiling and chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6
Lord I thank you that not all of my efforts are for my mouth and therefore my appetite is satisfied. Lord I thank you that I have advantages over a fool: I know how to conduct myself before others, my appetite is NOT roving, my life is meaningful and I do NOT chase after the wind. Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
Lord I thank you that I don't exhort money, nor do I accuse people falsely and I am content with my pay. Luke 3:14
Lord I thank you that I happily retain the place in life that You have assigned and called me.to him and to which God has called him. I thank you that I am not trouble by the place you have called me. If I gain my freedom from this situation, I praise you. If I do Not gain my freedom from an oppressive situation, I still praise you. 1 Corinthians 7:17,20-21,24
Lord I thank you for working 1 Timothy 6:6-8 godliness with contentment is great gain in my spirit. I realize I have brought nothing into the world, and I can take nothing out of it. I thank you for food and clothing, I AM content with that.
Paradoxes of Christian faith
“The way to power lies through the realization of helplessness; the way to victory lies through the admission of defeat; the way to goodness lies through the confession and the acknowledgment of sin . . . the way to independence lies through dependence, the way to freedom lies through surrender . . ." Theologian William Barclay
“Finding a Listening Ear” (“Inspired to Pray”)
Sunday School Lesson Summary for January 20, 2008
Luke 11:5–13;
v. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
midnight represents time of inconvenience, we can always go to a real friend specifically God at an inconvenient time - Antonio Hillman
lend me three loaves would required his friend to get out of bed, and bake the loaves - very inconvenient - Stanley Udochukwu
v. 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him
notice how many times the word friend is used in this passage. Friends have relationship, confidence in each other because they know each other. Please note John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
v. 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
boldness or persistence gets us ready to receive from the Lord. Persistence is NOT begging because of the relationship. A real friend will always provide for a friend in Need. - JoAnn Jones
v. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v.10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
seeking requires us to bring God in rememberance of His Word - Antonio Hillman
Sometimes we pray amiss because we do not pray according to the word - Stanley Udochukwu (reference scripture James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.)
praying according to God's word helps us pray His will and not our flesh (our own lust). (reference scripture Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)
v. 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
we must recognize our good gifts from God. we might ask for money, He will give us knowledge of how our handle our finances.
Luke 11:5–13;
v. 5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
midnight represents time of inconvenience, we can always go to a real friend specifically God at an inconvenient time - Antonio Hillman
lend me three loaves would required his friend to get out of bed, and bake the loaves - very inconvenient - Stanley Udochukwu
v. 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him
notice how many times the word friend is used in this passage. Friends have relationship, confidence in each other because they know each other. Please note John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
v. 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
boldness or persistence gets us ready to receive from the Lord. Persistence is NOT begging because of the relationship. A real friend will always provide for a friend in Need. - JoAnn Jones
v. 9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v.10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
seeking requires us to bring God in rememberance of His Word - Antonio Hillman
Sometimes we pray amiss because we do not pray according to the word - Stanley Udochukwu (reference scripture James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.)
praying according to God's word helps us pray His will and not our flesh (our own lust). (reference scripture Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.)
v. 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
we must recognize our good gifts from God. we might ask for money, He will give us knowledge of how our handle our finances.
With Moses I speak face to face
Numbers 12:1-15
Many saints ask why they do NOT hear from the Lord. I believe the above passage of scripture unlocks a spiritual truth about hearing from God. v 3 says (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) This verse on Moses' humility seems to interrupt Aaron's and Miriam's conversation on the Lord speaking through them. Humility is a key to hearing from God (Please note another scripture that bears witness: God resisted the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble!)
Also note verse 7 "But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. "
Faithfulness may be a secondary truth in hearing from God.
Prayer: "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin of arrogance we have so foolishly committed." if any unfaithfulness has crossed our path, please forgive us. Please speak clearly and precisely to us face to face. In Jesus Name. Amen
Many saints ask why they do NOT hear from the Lord. I believe the above passage of scripture unlocks a spiritual truth about hearing from God. v 3 says (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) This verse on Moses' humility seems to interrupt Aaron's and Miriam's conversation on the Lord speaking through them. Humility is a key to hearing from God (Please note another scripture that bears witness: God resisted the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble!)
Also note verse 7 "But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. "
Faithfulness may be a secondary truth in hearing from God.
Prayer: "Please, my lord, do not hold against us the sin of arrogance we have so foolishly committed." if any unfaithfulness has crossed our path, please forgive us. Please speak clearly and precisely to us face to face. In Jesus Name. Amen
Prayer for finances at home and church
Lord I pray (according to 2 Chronicles 8:15) that no one at home or church neglects King Jesus' orders to the priests or the Levites in any matter, including the [temple's] finances.
Lord I pray that the hand of God is on my family and church to give them unity of mind to carry out what the Jesus you have ordered according to the word of the Lord
(2 Chronicles 30:12).
I pray against the spirit of Judas (in my church and family members) who would betray You for thirty silver coins. Matthew 27:3,5.
Lord I pray that each family/church member pay the Lord a ransom for his or her life. And no plague (particularly financial) will come on them when you number them. Lord I pray everyone give an offering to the Lord. I pray that our chuch will receive the money from the spiritual Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:12-16).
I pray according to 1 Timothy 6:10. I bind the love of money in my family members and church. I bind the eagerness for money, that will make family or church members wander from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Lord I pray that the hand of God is on my family and church to give them unity of mind to carry out what the Jesus you have ordered according to the word of the Lord
(2 Chronicles 30:12).
I pray against the spirit of Judas (in my church and family members) who would betray You for thirty silver coins. Matthew 27:3,5.
Lord I pray that each family/church member pay the Lord a ransom for his or her life. And no plague (particularly financial) will come on them when you number them. Lord I pray everyone give an offering to the Lord. I pray that our chuch will receive the money from the spiritual Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting (Exodus 30:12-16).
I pray according to 1 Timothy 6:10. I bind the love of money in my family members and church. I bind the eagerness for money, that will make family or church members wander from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Humility as “downward mobility”
Luke 14:7-11 (New International Version)
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Humility as “downward mobility” is clearly seen in Jesus' picture of taking the lowest seat at the table. If a person took a low seat, he might be raised to a higher one, but if he took a high seat to begin with, someone who outranked him might come in and he would then be forced to take a lower seat.
In the first scenario, there was nowhere to go but up, but in the second, no room for gain existed, only shame.
7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Humility as “downward mobility” is clearly seen in Jesus' picture of taking the lowest seat at the table. If a person took a low seat, he might be raised to a higher one, but if he took a high seat to begin with, someone who outranked him might come in and he would then be forced to take a lower seat.
In the first scenario, there was nowhere to go but up, but in the second, no room for gain existed, only shame.
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Jesus story above, the Pharisee's prayer was a self-serving proclamation of his own virtue and good works, an attempt to show off to God (vv. 11-12). That's why God heard the prayer of the humble and repentant man, but not that of the proud and self-righteous one.
Prayer: Lord never let me approach (help me to be conscious of how I approach) Your throne never self-serving of my own virtue or good works. Never let me approach Your throne to show off to God or anyone else. Justify your servant as I know You do by Your mercies as my attitude is contrite and repentant. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Luke 18:9-14 (New International Version)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'
13"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'
14"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
In Jesus story above, the Pharisee's prayer was a self-serving proclamation of his own virtue and good works, an attempt to show off to God (vv. 11-12). That's why God heard the prayer of the humble and repentant man, but not that of the proud and self-righteous one.
Prayer: Lord never let me approach (help me to be conscious of how I approach) Your throne never self-serving of my own virtue or good works. Never let me approach Your throne to show off to God or anyone else. Justify your servant as I know You do by Your mercies as my attitude is contrite and repentant. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Humble thyself under the might hand of God
TODAY IN THE WORD
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
Stunned by God's awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (see Job 38-42).
Humility properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There's no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy.
Lord: help me to have a proper sense, view of humility (of your presense), particularly when upset and need to respond to my wife.
Read: Isaiah 6:1-7
Stunned by God's awesome presence, Job humbly responded: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know . . . My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” (see Job 38-42).
Humility properly begins as a “vertical” virtue; that is, it depends on an accurate sense of who one is before God. There's no quicker cure for pride than to compare the mortal to the immortal, the finite to the infinite, the selfish to the loving, and the sinful to the holy.
Lord: help me to have a proper sense, view of humility (of your presense), particularly when upset and need to respond to my wife.
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