waiting...



Exaggeration and lack of humility seem to go hand in hand.

They seem to fit some like a latex glove that tightly surrounds the flesh and amplifies its flaws, rather than leather which smooths and conceals them.

If we know that pride is the very basis of sin, why do we so proudly proclaim our shortcomings as if we are the only ones who know this. We are not fooling anyone. When we do this, we become fodder for conversations at the water cooler or coffee shop.

If we truly understood our relationship with Christ, we would be exalting Him, alone.

I do not exempt myself from this issue, rather I know I struggle with it.

I understand that this is a difficult issue for many. I am frustrated with the tolerance we extend to one another when it comes to self promotion. I know we need to be "grace" to others, but we are also to hold one another accountable. That means someone needs to reveal the haughty, self righteous attitudes that our "believing" families have been filled with.

Do not think the enemy is blind to our sitting back and tolerating the putrid self intoxicated sots. Rather he is cheering our apathy along. Who better to destroy our witness, our attempts to point others to Jesus, than those who are most impressed with self and those who feed this gluttonous attitude by our own inertia.

A friend who attended a state convention of pastors, recently relayed to me that one who stood to address the body of pastors, proclaimed his own humility. Humility does not equal self promotion of the same virtue. In fact, the Word speaks directly to this and reveals our lack of the same if we proclaim.

I sound hyper judgmental. I apologize.

I just know that the enemy must sit back and laugh as we are blinded to his sinister schemes which clearly include preaching a humble spirit and living quite the contrary. Oh how we further his cause with our own blindness.

Even the affliction of this inability to have sight into our flaws stems from our preoccupation with our perception of the importance of our own accomplishments.

The Word speaks to this as well. Telling us that if we tell others about such things that we have already received our reward...none will come in heaven for the very things we promote ourselves for.

What to do?

Study the life of Christ and emulate Him, ALONE. Do not give in to the selfish desires that always lie between epidermal layers, waiting to erupt in spews of perspiration. Be self-controlled. This is not a body response, it is a mind discipline. One that is gained by spending time with Jesus.

The more time you spend WITH Jesus, the more you'll resemble Him. The more time you spend working FOR Jesus the more you'll look like the reflection in the mirror, if time has not been taken to get alone with Him. This includes significant prayer time. Humility is not born of the flesh. It is not born of serving others with selfish motives.

Humility is born of the Spirit. It is on display in the lives of those who closely pursue Christ. It is not on display in the lives of those who seek the platform of any gathering. It is not present in the lives of those who build their own when one is not present.

Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death - even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Amen!