Guess what?
I almost tripped and fell again. Stumbling over the same old sin. Thinking that my life is my own. Believing the lies of the opposition. The natural man, inside of me often focuses on what my eyes can see, and believe what my own thoughts think. I look at people and wonder, “How can that be? They promised their allegiance to me.” What kind of person shifts their loyalty? What kind of Christian acts unethically? How can a person cover themselves with such a blatant mask of deceit? And as I think on these things, I get entangled in demonic weeds. I begin thinking, “I’m not good enough.” I begin thinking, “I’ve had enough.” I begin focusing on what is wrong inside of them, and then I start thinking what is wrong with myself. Seeds of bitterness begin to grow faster than I have time to cut them down. And before you know it I’m being dragged down into a hole that I can’t get out of on my own. And that is when I call on Jesus! That is when I am reminded of what Paul meant when he said, “I die daily. My life is not my own.” Humility and High Ways don’t seem to make sense - but in the spiritual realm there is no other way to consider it. Humility means that we choose to submit to God’s authority and High Ways of Thinking are not our own! You see, Abraham offered Lot whatever land he wanted, and Lot chose the land that looked most watered. But over time the land that Lot had began to rot, and the land of the humble became the most prosperous. I am reminded that Jesus does not see what we define as success and greatness. He looks to the heart that beats within. He defines our greatness by our faith in him. “I die daily” echoes Jesus’ command to fully submit yourself to his teaching. “If anyone would come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 The Cross for followers of the Way could be viewed as a daily decision to endure humiliation - and it may feel like you’ve been stabbed in the back by a trusted person who has pledged allegiance. It could be a husband, a Pastor, a coworker, a friend; or even worse, it could come from within - an unexpected behavior that you've done that does not line up with what God's Word says. And this is why Jesus shows us how to love and how to forgive. Without humility there is no chance of shaking off Sin. Jesus could have come as The Lion, that he is, or he could have come as the cut rock from the Mountain of Zion, But he didn’t - for a reason! At least, not yet! Instead, our Creator came as a man - as a sacrificial lamb. To be the final atonement for the sin that separates us from him. He came as a Servant to show us how to live; he came to show his image of what it means to love and to forgive. He came to give mankind another chance to live. Jesus allowed himself to be mocked, and humiliated - and killed - in the human flesh. And he did all of this so that we could have faith to believe in him. He taught many people about the ways of God, but he didn't do it by demanding their allegiance. He led by example, and used many parables to teach about his precepts according to the Kingdom of Heaven. And he did this while speaking the truth in love. He never demanded that anyone be true to him. And he already knew who would betray him. And yet, he walked out the Father’s plan. He fully submitted himself to carry out the Father’s Will. He found comfort through the Holy Spirit. So on this day, as I FEEL broken and afraid, I submit my spirit to God’s Will, and His High Ways of holiness. Humility and High Ways are not in opposition as many people around us tend to teach us. Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12 "The Beatitudes" You see, "Greatness" has nothing to do with my dress or my shoes. And it certainly does not have to do with my Queen Bee attitude. "Greatness" is found in the humble, and the faithful, through people like Abraham, who offered Lot the choice of land, and then lived peacefully with what was left. Father, give me this kind of heart. Give me the opportunity to present myself daily as a living sacrifice. Help me not to focus on what went wrong, or how stupid I am. Help me to die to self one day at a time.
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