Not only is it evident in my relationship with God, but in my relationship with others. I have always been a person who would go out of my way to be nice to someone whether I know them or not. Are you stranded 3 hours away in the snow at 4 am? I wouldn't think twice about coming to help you. But in everyday situations I am full of myself. I always have to be right, I don't think about others' feelings, I don't go out of my way to think of how I can be a servant and put God and others first. I'm changing that now.
It is interesting that in the sermon on the mount in matthew 5, the very first thing Jesus speaks of is the "poor in spirit." Then he goes on to mention other people. But there is a progression there... 1) only once we empty ourselves (Matthew 5: 3), and 2)spiritually mourn (verse 4), and 3) humble ourselves (verse 5) can we be filled with a hunger and thirst for righteousness and godliness (verse 6).
I struggle with he very first step on this progression towards righteousness and I have been a Christian for 11 years! I have tricked myself into believing I was so humble, yet I am just as guilty as the king of Tyre Ezekiel prophecied of in Ezekiel 28:
In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a
god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think
you are as wise as a god.
When we act with pride, are we not putting our faith, our love, and our trust in God on hold and replacing it with trust in ourselves thinking we are as wise as a god? Put your pride aside. Put your pride in Christ.
Only once we fully empty ourselves, can we move to real spiritual mourning for sin, become truly humble and meek, and be filled with a complete and fullfilling righteousness in Christ.
1 comment:
amen, lani. I hear ya!
Post a Comment