Watch Out for False Humility

Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 

Colossians 2:18

Humility, it's the one spiritual fruit that you aren't supposed to let anyone know you know you have. The type of person Paul describes here in Colossians seems to have to conflicting purposes in their actions. One is to be, or appear humble. The NASB translates the word as self-abasement. Yet, they are also pointing out with great detail about their spiritual encounters, which apparently involved angels. 

True spirituality always glorifies Christ. Always. A guy I heard on the "Christian" channel in our area once was describing his "encounter" with Jesus while he was shaving. I think he said Jesus told him something, but, it was couched in a detailed description of how tall Jesus was and what color his hair was and so on. The real point was not about what he remembered that Jesus told him, but, that Jesus appeared to him while he, a normal guy, was, of all things, shaving. And that's why you should send money to his ministry. 

People who do these things are not trying to help you to grow in Christ. They are seeking to deceive people because they really aren't our to glorify Christ. Christ is the only way, truth and life. Only through faith in Christ are we saved. Paul used very strong terms when he said not to let anyone disqualify you. If it's not about Christ it's not from God. 

Are You the Judge?

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 

Colossians 2:16

I want to look at this from two angles. First, I know that Paul is dealing with Judaizers who were trying to bring Christians under the law. Just like then we have legalists today who want us to live under their set of man made rules and regulations. We must remember that Christ set us free from the law, not be be lawless, but, to be loving. 

I also want to challenge you to ask yourself, "Am I the judge?" Are you making up your own set of rules and regulations that you think you are following and you are judging others by those self-imposed standards? You might find yourself saying things like, "Well, I don't think it's right for Christians to..." or, "I think if you're a believer you shouldn't..." Now listen. We of course know sin is sin. But I'm talking about matters of conscience and style. For example, there are a lot of great churches that are doctrinally right on, just not my style. How someone else connects with the Lord is more about personalities than rigid rules of conformity. 

So, are you being bullied by judgmental modern day legalists? Are you a modern day legalist? I remember many moons ago when I first knew Christ as my Lord and Savior, that one of the pastors said that if we didn't learn how to live under grace we would become present day Pharisees and Sadducees. Be gracious. Be loving. Be humble. Remember what Paul said in Romans 4:14, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand." 

The Most Humble Man

This is one of those verses that just flies right in the face of what I call "popular theology". Most people would have a hard time writing this about themselves. Because a humble person is not supposed to say they are a humble person. That's why (my opinion) that some have to say this was Joshua or some scribe writing this at a later date because Moses, if he was the most humble man would never write that about himself.

In a way, we often think of humility as not saying we are as humble or whatever (fill in the blank) as we think we are. Someone else can say it, just not us. Maybe that's one reason a lot of people have trouble with how some athletes celebrate a home run, touchdown, basket, goal or some success in one form or another. 

I just think Moses knew who he was before God. He knew that when he tried to save his people, the Israelites, in his own way, he ended up a murderer. Yet, God called him to deliver his people from bondage to the Egyptians and take them to the promised land. He knew it was God doing the miracles, not him. 

Now, when did Moses blow it? He blew it when he said, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"(Numbers 20:10b, emphasis mine). Remember, God will not yield his glory to another (Isaiah 42:8). If anger keeps you from getting into the promised land, not many of us are getting in. Moses could of been angry, spoke to the rock as God instructed him, but no, he struck the rock and said, "must we", we being God, Aaron and himself. Moses forgot who he was and what his place was before God. He was only an instrument, a servant. 

So, I think it's important to realize who we are in Christ. Be confident in who God created us to be and what he chooses us to be at different times of our lives. Always remember that like Paul you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).  In humility let God do whatever he wants to do. Rejoice in His work in and through your life.

Have The Right Attitude

Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 

Genesis 32:9-10 NIV

Jacob had his issues but one thing he got straight was understanding his place before God. "I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant" was not a flippant repetition of a prayer, it was a verbal acknowledgement of his relationship with God. After all his time with Laban Jacob knows who he is. He knows that without God's kindness and faithfulness he would be lucky to still even have his staff. He knew he was unworthy. 

Now I want you to know I am not talking about some sort of false humility or some kind of twenty-first century self-esteem issue. Knowing who you are is a powerful truth. Knowing your God is sovereign and faithful, is truly powerful. To know that you are unworthy is not a slight on your self-esteem, it actually is an acknowledgement of the kindness and faithfulness of God. I think that is pretty much the "Blessed are the poor in spirit" attitude Christ taught his disciples. 

Know your place. Know your God. Have faith in his kindness and faithfulness he has given you in Christ Jesus. He is faithful and he will fulfill his work in our lives.

Possible Peace

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Romans 12:18 NIV

A few years ago I worked with a guy who was challenging, to say the least, to work with. He was an argument waiting to happen. He was a teacher on the same grade level as I was so, we were often in meetings together. That guy could go from "How are you?" to "I can't believe you guys are not teaching (fill in the blank)!" in about ten seconds. Then he'd start yelling and getting red in the face, blaming everyone else for anything and everything. (No one wondered why he was divorced.) Most of the time I could kind of direct the conversation away from volatility. But, not always. 

I tried to talk to him. We tried to talk to him. The administrators tried to talk to him. He just could not grasp that the issue was the way he spoke with other people. During one grade level meeting he started self-righteously declaring that no-one else took their job seriously, cared, or had a clue. Each teacher tried to calm him down but, he was just getting hotter and hotter. Finally, I just had to say, "Do we need to call the police again?" (The police were once called to the school because he was verbally accosting one of the other teachers and refused to stop.) He, looked at me in shock, and stopped. 

A few verses later Paul says, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (verse 21). By faith (that God will work things out) do what is right, do what is loving. If peace is possible, God will work it out. 

Is Jesus Welcome Here?

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Matthew 18:1-5 NIV

Do you welcome Jesus? 

You can seek success, do your best and try to be the best at what you do. But, do you welcome Jesus? 

I ask myself, is Jesus welcome in my life? Today as I go to work and deal with middle school students, fellow teachers and staff members and probably a parent or two, I have to ask myself, is Jesus welcome? 

As a child I didn't know how my parents provided breakfast, lunch and dinner. I just knew they did. I didn't know they had to pay the mortgage. I just went home, and lived in our house.  

I think humility is knowing who you are in Christ. A child is just a child and they generally don't even think about it, they just are. Every now and then parents do remind their children they are still children, they're not adults yet. If you have a teenager you know what I mean. The funny thing is even when a teenager tries to tell you they are an adult they still expect you to pay.

My point: Know Jesus. Welcome him. Remember that he is your Lord. He is your Redeemer and Savior. Trust him. He is faithful and will complete the work he is doing in your life. 

Is Jesus welcome in you life?

Come and Find Some Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

It's Friday, it's the holidays, it's the end of the year, it's busy. Getting things done, keeping people happy, doing what you have to do. 

I really like Christmas time, but, it can still wear me down a bit. So, I need to remember that no matter what time of year it is, it's Christ's time for me. Rest is found in him and him alone. Gentleness and humility, trademarks of a godly leader, are the marks I should seek to leave behind as I interact and engage with a world seeking hope. 

Christ came into the world as a child. He grew up into a man and born the sins of the world; yours, mine and everyones around us. Come to Jesus. Learn of his love. Find the rest you need. 

Three To Be in Christ

In your majesty ride forth victoriously
   in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness,
let your right hand display awesome deeds. 
Psalm 45:4

Most of the time, we are known for what we do. What we say matters only if we practice what we preach. Being a man or woman of truth, humility and righteousness is a fine legacy indeed. 

I could give a nice little exposition of theses verses and how they relate to marriage and to Christ. But as a devotional I just want to key in on the idea that Christ is the truth, he humbled himself and he is our righteousness. 

In John 14:6 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.""

In Philippians 2 Paul reminds us that Christ "humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on the cross" and that attitude of humility is the same one we should have.

When speaking of boasting the apostle poignantly reminds the Corinthians, "It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption."  

How does this apply to us today? It's pretty straight forward isn't it? I should be truthful, but with love. I should be humble which means to know who I am in Christ and serve others accordingly. I should also openly remember that Christ is my righteousness and act with his righteousness in all my encounters today. 

Are You Humble?

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land,
   you who do what he commands.
Seek righteousness, seek humility;
   perhaps you will be sheltered
   on the day of the LORD'S anger.
Zephaniah 2:3

I think a mark of humility is seeking God because you recognize that he is God and you are not. The arrogance of the agnostic is that s/he thinks they can stand in judgement of God and therefore can choose to act in the righteousness they define. 

But, only God is good. All our righteousness comes from God in Christ. Because he first loved us we seek to obey his command to love as he first loved us. That is righteousness. 

The day of judgement will come, whether or not people believe it. Seek righteousness in Christ. Seek to know who you are in Christ - humility is found there. He is our shelter now and he will be our shelter in the day of judgement. 

BRACE YOURSELF FOR GOD

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
     with words without knowledge?
 Brace yourself like a man;
     I will question you,
     and you shall answer me.""
 Job 38:1-3

After everybody speaks, Job, the friends and the young know-it-all, God answers... I wonder if Elihu was taking a breath, getting ready to share a little more of his wisdom and God cut him off? 

What would I do if God just kind of popped in on a discussion about God I was engaged in? I think that is a healthy way to approach some of our conversations about God and his ways. We do have the Bible that speaks to us in truth about God. Even there I worry. 

I don't worry about the Bible being true, I worry about the way we sometimes approach the Word of God. I think the problem with some theologians is they believe they have the wisdom within themselves to judge the validity of the Scriptures. They don't approach the scriptures in humility. It's not just professional theologians who act as if they can, by their own wisdom, canonize Scripture. Sometimes we do. 

The point I am trying to make here is that God, does want us to brace ourselves in Christ, because one day, we will answer him. As you walk with God this week, remember that God has spoken to you through his word, the Bible. His word is true and relevant for you. You may not understand the end from the beginning or why your life is going the way it is, but, you can know God is still God and he reigns whether we discern it or not.

Father, open our eyes to see you in our lives. Thank you that you reign over all, you reign in our lives. Praise be to you in us today!

OK GOD, IT'S UP TO YOU...

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10

The world says to fight for everything you get, to look out for number one, just do it.  Or, in this age of entitlement, sometimes people just feel they are owed things. 

To humble ourselves before God is to see things as they really are. God is Sovereign. I am finite. God is righteous. I am not. God is whole and complete. I am fractured by sin, incomplete without Christ. 

To humble ourselves before God is to trust him with our needs and desires. It is more than being able to say, "Your will be done". It is knowing that God will work our all things for our good. That means that God has me where he wants me and if I am not where he wants me, he can move me, or move what needs to be in my life. He can move me to the mountain, or move the mountain to me. 

Father, we look to you to use us where we are at and to move us to where you want to use us. Praise be to you in us today!

ARE YOU A WISE GUY?

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." James 3:13

James moves right from taming the tongue to showing how wise and understanding you are. Kind of like saying, "OK, you talk a good game, let's see you do it." 

At one school I worked at as a categorical program advisor (that means I did go-for work for the principal) there was one teacher that when I first listened to him sounded like a very polished educator. I thought that when I walked into his room I would find a finely tuned learning environment. When I did enter his class it was chaos. He talked a good game, but, his actual classroom management skills left a lot to be desired. 

We all should desire to be holy and to know Christ intimately. James refers to "deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom". Humility is knowing who you are in Christ and living accordingly. We love because he first loved us (I John 4:19). Remember that when Christ taught the disciples how to pray he made forgiveness mandatory (Matthew 6:14-15). When we understand forgiveness we must be humble because we realize our own sinfulness. If it wasn't for God's grace in Christ's death on the cross we would still be dead in our sins! None of us is such a good person that God had to save us. Wisdom is knowing this truth and living, as in treating others with the same grace and mercy God has shown you, accordingly. 

My hope today is not to "knock you down a notch" but to encourage you to remember the grace and mercy God has shown you in Christ. He died for you. Before the creation of the universe he chose to die for you, knowing all the sins you would commit (those before and after you would accept Christ). God is graciously Sovereign. 

Father, thank you for your grace and mercy to us. Open our eyes to see your grace and mercy in our lives. Help us to live in humility. Praise be to you in us today!

HOW TO LIVE IN PEACE

"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one can will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." Hebrews 12:14-15

I am not a marriage counselor and by no means do I have the perfect marriage. I have seen too many of my friends end up divorced and not because of unfaithfulness. The reason seems to me that one or both were unwilling to make every effort to live in peace. They made every effort to be right, every effort to stand up for themselves, every effort to do things their way, but not every effort to live in peace. 

More often than not, forgiveness and humility are necessary. If I don't forgive and remember that I need to be forgiven, I will just end up pushing to be right, standing my ground and allowing walls to be built up. That will end up being walls of bitterness. Bitterness eats away at the soul and weakens you. You don't get strong, you get brittle and weak. 

I  encourage you to take an honest look at how you deal with relationships. Are you making every effort to live in peace?

Father help us to remember the effort you put in to forgive us, even though we don't deserve it. Thank you! Praise be to you in us today!

TODAY IN 1555 / Titus 3:1-3

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1-3

On July 1, 1555, John Bradford was martyred in England. While in prison he watched others being taken to be executed and said, "There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford." The phrase has become, "There, but for the grace of God, go I". I remember hearing it from my grandmother if there was someone who was poor or had a problem. It was always presented in a way that made me remember that I have and I am only what I have an am by the grace of God.  

In I Corinthians 1:26-29 Paul reminds us, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised thing - and the things that are not - to nullify the thing that are, so that no may boast before him." 

The to do is very simple. Approach everyone else with humility, remembering that, "There, but for the grace of God, go I." 

Father, thank you for your grace to us. Praise be to you in and through us today!

Shhhhh! / Titus 3:1-2

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable, and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men." Titus 3:1-2

The past few years have held a bit of a dilemma for me. A couple of people I worked with operated in a manner I just didn't agree with. I had to deal with them and the backlash of how they treated other people. The difficulty is not in telling the truth. The challenge of grace is to tell the truth in the spirit of grace and love. For me that has meant there were times when I had to bite my tongue and not interject a comment about them into some conversations. Sometimes, in the middle of a statement I could sense the Spirit convicting me that I was going over the line. Shhh!

Two interesting thoughts here. One, the word for slander in the Greek is where we get the word blaspheme. It also has a sense of to vilify. To be honest, I kind of look at these people as villains.  But, I don't need to go on and on about how bad they are. Frankly, their actions have spoken louder than anything I could say and their reputations are set in stone. My response is to be peaceable and considerate with a healthy dose of humility. Shhh!

I think it was the movie Jumanji where a character tries to cheat the game by rolling early and his penalty is to be turned into a monkey. Another character asks him if he cheated and he replied something like he just tried to get ahead and she said, "That would be cheating." Sometimes we want to say, "I just..." and the Spirit says, "That would be wrong. Shhh!"

Trust God to deal with others, you just do what is right. 

Father, help us to do what is right by faith and to do what is good. Praise be to you in us today!