Superiority

 

Superiority

1 Corinthians 1: ²¹ For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. ²² Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. ²³ As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; ²⁴ but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

 

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“Let me go and teach ‘those’ people about the Bible” was my thought. I had freshly taken another class at a well known Bible institute and I was headed on my first missions trip. When I arrived a man who walked 20 miles to hear me spoke about the Bible in ways I was unfamiliar. He ended up teaching me more than I taught anyone on that trip.

 

• There have been times when I thought “my” knowledge was superior.
• There have been times when I thought “I” had more wisdom than others.
• There have been times when I thought “If only a miracle would happen in front of people who do not believe, then ‘they’ would believe.”

 

Paul explains the false belief in human wisdom. He knew that some of the church leaders would scoff at the message of JESUS being the Messiah. He also knew that some scientific leaders would scoff at JESUS because of the popular belief in their knowledge. BUT GOD has something else to say.

 

• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without question.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without needing to prove HIS power.
• GOD wants me to believe in JESUS without thinking I am smarter than HIM or HIS humans HE created.

 

Superiority may come from insecurity. I mean, when I want to be heard, I may study something and try to be the ‘best’ at that subject to prove to other humans I am superior in ‘my’ industry. BUT GOD laughs at ‘my’ knowledge. When I think ‘I’ am superior, I never ask myself, “What if I am wrong?” or “What if I should not be heard because my heart is wrong?”

 

Superiority takes over and makes me not see JESUS in my life when I should. I may judge someone or label ‘that’ person incorrectly, never admitting that I am not GOD and cannot see what is in a person’s heart. Only GOD is wise. I am glad I am not superior and admit I need GOD.

 

• Are you trying to prove yourself to people?
• Do you feel inferior to some and superior to others?
• Will you drop your labels you place on others and look to GOD for HIS wisdom today?

Broken Mirror

Broken Mirror

Romans 12: ⁴ We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have different functions. ⁵ In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body. ⁶ So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; ⁷ if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

 

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Preserving some of my junk in the move, I wrapped a mirror in newspaper to protect it. I placed the mirror in a box with books because it seemed like a perfect fit. Somewhere in transport, the mirror broke. Since it was still in the frame, I used it. I learned how to navigate the cracks for different purposes.

 

• There have been many times when I pondered my purpose.
• There have been many times when I wondered if I was doing what I was supposed to be doing.
• There have been many times when I questioned my purpose compared to another person’s purpose.

 

Paul tries to convince everyone to use their gifts and talents for the LORD. He eludes to the fact that some people are gifted one way and others are gifted another. Each person has a gift that they can do extremely well and it should be used for GOD.

 

• GOD wants me to use the gifts and talents HE gave me to serve HIM.
• GOD wants me to know I am not gifted in all ways, so I need other people.
• GOD wants me to be in union with others so together, we can make one body, which is CHRIST.

 

When the first human sinned, every human fell to GOD’s discipline. Every human became a sinner. We used to be made in GOD’s perfect image but fell to pieces, individually reflecting GOD, one tiny fragment at a time. My reflection is only part of one huge mirror that attempts to show GOD.

 

My fragment is no more or less important that another. It takes GOD to pick up the broken mirror and put it together to make something that can reflect HIM. HE fuses the broken pieces together so the entirety can be used. I am grateful GOD takes my tiny faith and connects it to other broken people.

 

• Do you think your gift is not valuable?
• Do you feel less than other people?
• Will you stop looking at other people and allow GOD to show you your gift and talent so you can use it to glorify HIM today?

Set Up For Success

 

Set Up For Success

Romans 11: ¹⁶ If the first piece of bread is given to God, then the whole loaf is his also; and if the roots of a tree are offered to God, the branches are his also. ¹⁷ Some of the branches of the cultivated olive tree have been broken off, and a branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to it. You Gentiles are like that wild olive tree, and now you share the strong spiritual life of the Jews. ¹⁸ So then, you must not despise those who were broken off like branches. How can you be proud? You are just a branch; you don't support the roots—the roots support you.

 

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Blame the last person for the mess so the new person could look like the hero, was the normal habit at this particular company. I got into the position and everything seemed to be falling apart. People were blaming “my” department and I considered using the deflection tactic.

 

• There were times when I wanted to blame someone else for the mess I was in.
• There were times when I wanted to set someone up for failure so I could succeed.
• There were times when I wanted to show how wrong someone else was so I could look right.

 

Paul spoke about GOD’s currency, namely people. He uses two analogies; one about bread and the other about olive trees. In both analogies, Paul explains that everything is GOD’s. If a group of people are given to GOD then the entire tribe is also given to HIM. If a group has been adopted into the family, those adopted should not despise the family members who left the family.

 

• GOD wants me to recognize I am accepted by HIM only because of HIS grace.
• GOD wants me to understand that all of us have gone astray so I must be humble because HE brought me back to HIM.
• GOD wants me to show love to those who are pursuing religion versus believing in JESUS as the Savior.

 

Setting people up for success means not speaking badly about them. I mean, I must look at my own sins and avoid pointing out someone else’s. I am a sinner and the only reason I can even speak JESUS’ name is because HE pursued me when I was not looking for HIM.

 

I have nothing to be proud of. My righteousness is like a pile of poop. I am grateful I can point to JESUS whose righteousness cleans all who believe.

 

• Are you looking at someone, thinking they are not following GOD correctly?
• Do you have a problem with the way someone sings, speaks or preaches about GOD?
• Will you get rid of your pride and be thankful JESUS is your Savior so HE can clean your heart to share in the “strong spiritual life” today?

It is About You

 

It is About You

Romans 10: ⁵ Moses wrote this about being put right with God by obeying the Law: “Whoever obeys the commands of the Law will live.” ⁶ But what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: “You are not to ask yourself, Who will go up into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down). ⁷ “Nor are you to ask, Who will go down into the world below?” (that is, to bring Christ up from death). ⁸ What it says is this: “God's message is near you, on your lips and in your heart”—that is, the message of faith that we preach. 

 

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Cruising at a very nice speed, I was beating everybody on the road. When I was pulled over, I quickly thought of my defense. “What about them?” I asked, not knowing where I was going with that argument. “Yes, they are speeding, but it is you who was caught speeding.”

 

• When I am in trouble I want other people to go down with me.
• When I am caught doing wrong, I want a group to be caught with me.
• When I want something that someone else has, I question, “Why them and not me?”

 

Paul tries to address a seriously diseased way of thinking. “Will that person go to heaven or hell?”” was the type of questioning that could get any human in trouble. Paul then gives the best alternative. Speak for yourself.

 

• GOD wants me to hear HIS message and place it in my heart.
• GOD wants me to speak HIS message to anyone who will hear.
• GOD wants me to have faith in HIS message so I will continue to speak about HIM.

 

Looking around at others, trying to decide if they believe in JESUS or not is impossible for any human. I mean, many people who speak and preach HIS name weekly may not know HIM in a saving way, but a greedy way.

 

On the other hand, that person who is a regular sinner, known by the community as a liar and a thief, may be GOD’s greatest example. Ask the thief on the cross. The only assignment GOD gives me is to speak about HIS SON, who took care of all my sins. I am grateful HE is gracious enough to give HIS message to me.

 

• Are you looking at “those” poor lost people?
• Do “they” need to be saved because of something ”you” saw them do?
• Will you stop judging others and include yourself by saying “I” am a sinner who needs salvation today?

Looking Across

Looking Across

Acts 10 ⁹ The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. ¹⁰ Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ¹³ And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

¹⁵ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” ¹⁶ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

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When certain people walked in the room, I got nervous. I mean, what was I supposed to say? I shook the CEO’s hand and said “I won the President’s Award recently.” He replied “Good for you” in a missed opportunity way. I did not know how to speak to the upper echelon.

Sometime later I walked around downtown. “Do you have any spare change?” asked a homeless person. He wreaked of all kinds of smells. With money in pocket I replied “Not this time.”

• Many times I treated some people as if they were higher than others.
• Many times I treated some people as if they were lower than others.
• Many times I treated some people as if “they” were unclean because “they” were sinners.

Peter was given a vision from GOD that was kind of extreme. He was told to eat animals and bugs that were not ceremonially clean for a Jew. Peter, trying to be righteous, replied “I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” He looked down on certain foods and up at others.

• GOD wants me to see people as “us” not “them.”
• GOD wants me to sympathize and empathize with people.
• GOD wants me to treat everyone the same and share GOD’s love, even to those I feel do not “deserve” it.

Looking up or down at people causes problems. I mean when I think I am lower than other people, I may not speak about GOD to them even if HE tells me to. On the other hand, when I look down at people I may not think they “deserve” a message from GOD.

Looking across at people enables me to see that “we” are all fallen people . I have sinned and so have they. As I have said before “We are in the mud, throwing mud at each other, saying ‘you have mud on you’.” GOD wants me to have an attitude of grace, not mud flinging. I am grateful HE sees me as clean, I should see others HE sends me to, the same way.

• Do you look down on people around you or on the news?
• Do you think you are better than “that” person?
• Will you widen your heart to include people who do not look or act like you so you and them will receive GOD’s grace today?

Looking Good

Mark 7: Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. ² Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

⁶ He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

⁷ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

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Preparing for church was a chore this particular day. As I put on my only dress shirt, the frayed elbow finally gave way. Maybe I can hide it by putting on the jacket. No one will notice.

• Many times I tried to look good in front of people.
• Many times I tried to keep up appearances in front of people.
• Many times I tried to show people that everything was fine when everything was really bad.

Performing ritualistic washing had become a major performance amongst the Scribes and the Pharisees. Appearing “clean” to people meant they held themselves to a higher standard so they could impose greater demands to have others “look good.” BUT GOD sees through it.

• GOD sees my heart and knows it needs cleaning.
• GOD sees my thoughts and knows they need to be put under HIS guard.
• GOD sees my desires and many times they do not include HIS desires.

My desire for fashionable good looks crept into my spirit life as well. Hiding lusts for sex, money and power had become the norm. I could afford nice suits and give more money than people made in a year, but where was GOD? HE was buried deep under my “good looks.” GOD desires to break through my good looks so HE can shine today.

• Are you busy telling people how “good” you look?
• Do you hide your flaws so others can think you are better than you are?
• Do you give false pity on those who do confess their sins?
• Will you open your mouth and tell people your sins so GOD can do a marvelous work in you?

Reset Expectations

Psalm 75: ⁷ It is God who judges:
    He brings one down, he exalts another.
⁸ In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.

⁹ As for me, I will declare this forever;
    I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
¹⁰ who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

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“Look at ‘those’ people” is what I thought to myself. I mean “they” are blatantly sinning by doing , not admitting any of my own. Maybe if “they” would just stop sinning then “their” problems would go away was my thought.

• When I think other people are sinning I don’t look at my own sins.
• When I look at what someone else is doing I ignore my own sins.
• When I talk about someone else I overlook my own sins.

Comparing myself to a class of sinner is real easy and quite honestly it feels good. I mean “they” are doing so much wrong and “I” am over here doing right! GOD should be patting me on the back and raising me up to be… well, the highest HE has raised me! Wrong!

• It is GOD who judges and what I sometimes overlook is I am in the mud.
• It is GOD who brings one down and exalts another and what I sometimes overlook is I do not deserve to be raised up.
• It is GOD who chooses and what I sometimes overlook is HE chose me in the middle of my sins.

GOD is the ultimate forgiver! HIS grace and mercy are unmatched. But my sinful mind sometimes expects HIM to raise me up to a certain level. Faith “is” the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen and I must put my faith in GOD. HE chooses how high I should be at a certain time to reach HIS people.

My expectations should not be on “how high” HE raises me, but “who” should I be talking to now that I am where I am. I will declare GOD’s righteousness forever, I will sing praises to the GOD of Jacob.

• Are you comparing yourself to others?
• Do you think you should be “higher” than you are?
• Can you stop trying to get raised up and seek the purpose of why GOD has you where you are?
• Will you become content and accept GOD’s calling on your life to reach the people HE is bringing to you at this level?
• Will you praise HIM for where HE has you and that HE has a special purpose for you?

Fixing people

Joshua 2:¹Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

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After praying and having a number of discussions I felt pretty good about the progress made with this guy. “He is ready to serve” I assessed. Weeks later I got a phone call stating he had a lapse and was back on drugs. We have to “fix” him, otherwise he can’t serve I thought to myself.

• When I look at someone else’s sin I can get smug.
• When I look at people as projects I can get high and mighty.
• When I look at a person’s contribution to the GOD’s kingdom, I act like I can save them and I have a heaven or a hell to put them in.

When I single out a sin “that” person is doing that I’m not, I can get rather smug in my thinking. I mean, I don’t do “those” things any longer, or I “never” did. “Those people” is a term that assumes I’m not part of that group.  In fact it implies I’m above the group. GOD has something different in mind.

• GOD sees every person as one of HIS until they reject the SON.
• GOD can use the most unlikely person to do great things in HIS kingdom and HE wants me to never underestimate HIS choice.
• GOD wants me to treat every person with high esteem and let HIM assess their sin level and position with HIM.

I can’t tell what a person believes even by their actions. I know I sin and that’s all I should focus on. Talking about other groups of people is very easy. I can point out their flaws and character cracks and I can even doubt they can be used. BUT GOD is the one who cleanses us of ALL unrighteousness!

• Do you think "that” person is a project?
• Do you believe “those people” are far away from GOD and “you” are close?
• Can you stop treating people like projects and give the love?
• Won’t you drop you assessment of sin and listen to what GOD wants you to do?

Should I treat everyone the same?

Deuteronomy 10: ¹⁷ The Lord your God is the greatest God of all. He is the greatest Lord of all. He is the great God. He is mighty and wonderful. He treats everyone the same. He doesn’t accept any money from those who want special favors. ¹⁸ He stands up for widows and for children whose fathers have died. He loves outsiders. He gives them food and clothes.¹⁹ So you also must love outsiders. Remember that you yourselves were outsiders in Egypt.

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“Aw man, here comes that dude who talks to himself all the time” I said to myself.  I was on my way into the church and I felt as if I was running late. “Don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact, aw man he saw me looking at him” was my dismal thought. He darted over to me and began his rants. Something within me said “invite him in and have him sit in your class.”

What?! He disrupted everything just as I thought. Afterward, he said “I learned a lot and I want to go to this church.”  I felt foolish.

• When I treat someone different I may miss out on helping someone in need.
• When I look down on someone I may be mistreating an angel GOD has sent.
• When I remain in my comfort zone I may be leaving others in a broken state.

GOD is the greatest GOD of all! HE is the greatest LORD of all! HE is “THE” great GOD, yet with all of HIS might and wonder, chooses to treat me the same as everyone else, with love. HE never views HIS position as a problem. In other words HE isn’t too high that HE can’t help those who are low.

• GOD wants me to respect HIM by treating HIS creations with respect.
• GOD wants me to serve others higher than I serve myself.
• GOD wants me to love outsiders because I was once an outsider.

I remember desiring to be in the “in” crowd yet when I got there it felt exclusionary and condescending. GOD wants me to serve those who are thrown away and forgotten so they can feel HIS love just as I did.

• Are you complaining about someone or some group?
• Have you prayed for the LORD to bless them instead of complaining about them?
• Can you stop for a moment to listen to GOD and serve the person you are least likely to serve today?
• Won’t you treat others with compassion today?