Careful Approach

Careful Approach

Genesis 44: ¹⁸ Then Judah came near to him and said: “O my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s hearing, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even like Pharaoh. ¹⁹ My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’ ²⁰ And we said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, who is young; his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him.’ ²¹ Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’ ²² And we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’ ²³ But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’

 

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Reluctantly, Israel allowed Benjamin to go to Egypt with his brothers to fulfil the terms of Joseph. Judah said he would be responsible for Benjamin and would return with him. But Joseph had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack. Judah had to respond to the difficult situation.

 

My Observations:

• Judah recognized Joseph’s position and acknowledged his role.
• Judah chose his words carefully when recapping Joseph’s request of them to bring Benjamin to Egypt.
• Judah mentioned that he and his brothers are servants so Joseph would not get placed on guard.

 

Tense situations need a careful approach that may include humbling yourself. Judah saw a situation that could not be won by blaming Joseph or by not admitting to what happened. Even though the situation was manufactured, Judah recapped the situation in a way that would possibly help Joseph hear his plea.

 

Judah was humble, thoughtful and very cautious with his words. This was a dire situation that required him to grow tremendously. He had to speak up for his brother and show respect to Joseph. GOD saw this exchange of words and was changing everyone.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Judah’s careful approach?
• What things are you trying to get that you are possibly blaming others versus adjusting your approach?
• Are there some ways to your approach that could use some humble adjustments that need courage from GOD?

Apron of Humility

Apron of Humility

1 Peter 5: ⁵ In the same way you younger people must submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” ⁶ Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time. ⁷ Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.

 

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“You are pretty good at this” were the words I loved to hear. I became more confident and took on more and more challenges. Soon I was “very good” in my own mind and wanted to make some demands or even leave for something better. After applying outside and not getting the position I had to tone down my demands.

 

• I had become demanding.
• I had become a bit arrogant.
• I had forgotten that I knew nothing when I first started out.

 

Peter turns to new believers to provide advice to them. They may have desired a higher position within serving, so he suggests taking a humble approach. He implied having patience by saying “HE will lift you up in HIS own good time.”

 

My Observations:

• GOD resists my pride, but shows me favor when I humble myself.
• GOD changes my heart when I practice serving others.
• GOD raises me up in HIS time, not mine.

 

Demanding that GOD “make me a leader right here and now” could come from a wrong heart. I mean, I may want to be a leader so “I” can take on the challenges I see fit. When I run into issues, I can simply call on GOD to beat up my enemies and fix all my problems. Unfortunately, HE doesn’t seem to work that way.

 

HE sees my heart and if it is full of pride, resists my efforts. But when I humble myself and ask HIM, “Is this wat YOU want?”, HE gets excited. HE then tells me to “leave all my worries with HIM” because HE cares for me. I am glad GOD takes care of me and raises me up in HIS time.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer emphasize serving one another?
• Have you ever thought you would do a better job than your leaders?
• Will you examine yourself to see if there are any opportunities to wear the “apron of humility” by following those put in leadership, whether you agree with HIS leadership appointment or not?

What is Missing?

 

What is Missing? (Feel free to comment)

1 Corinthians 11: ¹⁷ In the following instructions, however, I do not praise you, because your meetings for worship actually do more harm than good. ¹⁸ In the first place, I have been told that there are opposing groups in your meetings; and this I believe is partly true. (¹⁹ No doubt there must be divisions among you so that the ones who are in the right may be clearly seen.) ²⁰ When you meet together as a group, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. ²¹ For as you eat, you each go ahead with your own meal, so that some are hungry while others get drunk. ²² Don't you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or would you rather despise the church of God and put to shame the people who are in need? What do you expect me to say to you about this? Shall I praise you? Of course I don't!

 

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“Why don’t we do an outreach for the people on, let’s say, Main (name changed to protect the church) street?” I said to the leaders.  Looking back, this challenge had a hidden agenda of exposing the fact that the outreach efforts seemed to be targeted to those who already attended this particular church. “Great, why don’t you lead the effort?” was the shocking reply I wasn’t prepared for.

 

• There have been times when I wanted to be heard versus being part of the solution.
• There have been times when I wanted to complain versus offering to help.
• There have been times when I wanted to blame and feel good about registering my “two cents” versus stepping up to help based on a unifying need.

 

Paul does not hold back when it came to the divisive behavior of this group. Some people were getting all the attention, while others were left out. Some were using the church as a club to get “drunk.” What was missing was unity.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to approach HIS gathering with unity.
• GOD wants me to seek a unifying message versus “my own meal.”
• GOD wants me to come together to help the entire congregation, not just feed my own appetite.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I have been in need many times. In fact, I am in need right now! But GOD wants me to approach HIS church with a unifying message versus trying to be heard and seeking division. I believe the only “right” message is to preach the belief and love of CHRIST.

 

My ideas for making things better or growing the church do not need to be heard unless they are shredded through the knives of humility and the blades of unity. I am glad GOD expects unity from us all.

 

Challenge

• How powerful is unity?
• How dangerous is division?
• Have you ever come up with an idea and got frustrated when it was not accepted?
• Will you seek unity by understanding the needs of all, while serving the group you have been called to?

Painful Reinstatement

Painful Reinstatement

Acts 9: ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. ⁸ Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

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“That department is terrible” I said to others. I talked poorly about the leadership and lack of direction. I felt great because I had escaped the department and was on to greener pastures. But the reorganization happened and I was told I was being reinstated back into the department. “You represent this department. Do it well or leave.” I was told.

• There were times when I fought something bigger than me.
• There were times when I talked bad about something bigger than me.
• There were times when I had to come back to the thing that cared and fed me, but I needed a different attitude.

Saul met JESUS on the way to killing those who followed HIM. With a flash of light JESUS spoke to Saul but those around him could not see who he was speaking to. Saul asked the right question. “LORD, what do YOU want me to do?” He was reinstated at a price. He was blind.

• GOD wants me humble when I serve HIM.
• GOD wants me gentle when I serve others HE sends me to.
• GOD wants me gracious when I claim to be one of HIS followers.

Swallowing pride, ejecting arrogance and surrendering control are difficult things to do when “I” place myself higher than I should be. But when GOD wants me to serve HIM, I have to get rid of pride, arrogance and control. The more I hold onto these things, the more painful the reinstatement.

GOD wants to bless me through HIS methods. HE wants total control. The more I think “I” am in control the harder it will be for GOD to reinstate me to a place that HE has for me. GOD sometimes rips things out of my hands and it is painful. When I see the results, I am grateful.

• Is GOD calling you and you are ignoring HIM?
• Are you holding onto “your” way and not asking GOD “What do YOU want me to do?”
• Will you allow GOD to take over your plan gently so it doesn’t have to be torn out of your hands?

Entitlement

Entitlement

John 12: ¹⁴ Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

Behold, your King is coming,
Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

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“Could you tell that person they are sitting in ‘my’ seat?” I said to the flight attendant.  I wanted to say “How dare you sit in ‘my’ first class seat” to the person, but figured it would come out wrong. I had flown a lot so I “deserved” this upgrade. The flight was two hours.

• There were times when I liked rules that helped me get what I “deserved.”
• There were times when I got excited about programs that awarded me privileges that I could complain to someone about if I didn’t get them.
• There were times when it was exciting to travel first class, even when it was a short trip.

JESUS had walked miles and miles to get to the city. Once people saw HIM they cheered and threw palms down so HE would not continue to soil HIS feet. HE then got on a small donkey and rode a very short distance into Jerusalem. This was the entry of a King?

• JESUS wants me to see HIS humbleness.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS restraint.
• JESUS wants me to see HIS control over HIS power.

Entitlement creates rage. I mean when I think I “deserve” something better from someone and don’t get it, I get enraged. BUT JESUS showed me a different example. HE deserved everyone bowing down to HIM, yet HIS announcement that HE is King, was celebrated by some, but not all.

HE is GOD. HE is all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, yet HE took the lowest position as a human and was blamed by the church leaders for the sins of all mankind. I am grateful HE is the one who saved me. I am entitled to nothing.

• What do you think you are entitled to?
• Do you get enraged when someone is not acting the way you think they should?
• Will you take time to observe the humility of JESUS today?

You Are Doing It

Luke 7: ²⁹ And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

³¹ And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.’

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all her children.”

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“You are doing it wrong” I said to the person as I jumped in and started “helping” them. After a while I took over the task and the person shrunk away. “Thank goodness! They weren’t meeting my standards anyway.”

• Three have been times when I set the bar high when it came to meeting “my” expectations.
• There have been times when I talked about people who made mistakes and could not cut it.
• There have been times when I looked down on others who could not perform to what I thought should be the performance level.

The Pharisees and lawyers rejected being baptized by anyone who would call JESUS “GOD.” Their attitude seemed like they were doing everything right and JESUS was doing everything wrong. GOD HIMSELF appeared to them as a sinner and a drunkard.

• JESUS says to me “Do no judge lest you be judged.”
• JESUS says to me “Serve everyone, just as I have come to serve mankind.”:
• JESUS says to me “Follow ME and serve those who do not look or act like you.”

“You are doing it right” should be the words I say to someone who worships JESUS differently than I do. Instead of judging the people to “my” standard,

I should be praising GOD that there is another person who is doing things for HIS kingdom and I don’t have to do all the work. Unity is something GOD wants me to have so the kingdom can grow stronger.

• Are you judging someone?
• Do you feel you are doing things better than other people?
• Can you stop labeling people and start praising and encouraging them to follow GOD today?

Front of the line

Mark 9: ³³ Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?”³⁴ But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. ³⁵ And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” ³⁶ Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”

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All day long I could feel the pressure of competition at work. I mean did he have to say “that” during the meeting! As I replayed these words I on my drive to wherever I was going I stepped on the gas more and more forcefully. At least no one would pass me on the road. I was pulled over.

• There are times I desire to be on top.
• There are times when I just want to win.
• There are moments when I want to be ahead of everyone at all costs.

Who would be the greatest was the equivalent of being at the front of the line. The disciples were in for a rude awakening. JESUS, who was and is the greatest, told them they had to be like HIM, a humble servant.

• GOD wants me to learn to serve others.
• GOD wants me to classify serving as being great.
• GOD wants me to exchange my currency for souls.

Rich and powerful to GOD means how many people have I served. I’m not talking about human metrics, I am truly speaking about servitude that only GOD guides. HE gives me opportunities to accept those HE sends to me. Shall I turn them away? No. GOD desires that I serve someone in HIS name daily.

• Are you trying to get on top?
• Are you trying to learn how to be the best?
• Can you learn that being the best means being the best “true” servant of GOD?

Part of the Family

Mark 7: ²⁴ From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. ²⁵ For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. ²⁶ The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. ²⁷ But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

²⁸ And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”

²⁹ Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

³⁰ And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.

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“Aren’t you going to stay and eat?’ said one of my friend’s mother. The invitation came as a shock to me as I had not been invited to eat over anyone’s house before.

• It feels great to be invited.
• It feels wonderful to be taken in by someone.
• It feels positively delightful to be brought into someone else’s family.

I do not understand the cultural situation that was going on here. Was JESUS using her words against her when HE spoke of “little dogs” as a comparison to her upbringing? HE spoke of two cultures in analogous terms, one Jewish and the other hers, as if to say “I have a chosen people for whom I serve.” BUT HE does something incredible.

• GOD invited me into HIS family when HE did not have to.
• GOD brought me into HIS family when I did not ask.
• GOD adopted me into HIS family when I did not deserve to be adopted.

Humility is what I get from tis passage. JESUS heard her humble words and answered her request. She begged HIM knowing “No” could be the answer. She may have changed her heart towards insulting others as she took on the label of “little dog.”  A crumb of heaven is better than a feast towards hell.

• Are you insulting others?
• Have you labeled others in a bad way?
• Can you bring people into GOD’s family by serving them today?

What to Look For

Zephaniah 2: ³ 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.

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What does it mean to “Seek first the Kingdom of GOD?” I mean don’t I have to eat and pay bills first? I remember sitting on an airplane and hearing them say “Put your oxygen mask on first before helping someone else with theirs.” Shouldn’t I get what’s mine first?

• Sometimes I think of finances before I think of GOD.
• Sometimes I think of people with titles before I think of GOD.
• Sometimes I think of my wellbeing before I think of GOD.

With all of the busy-ness the world has to offer, I can get distracted. I can get into a seemingly innocent path of becoming so busy that I never once look up to see something special. When the winds of life blow against me I get frightened and then I look for GOD to mop up all the mess I’m in. How can I get out of this rut?

• GOD says to me “Seek righteousness” and since no human is righteous I need to seek GOD.
• GOD says to me “Seek humility” and since my heart is desperately wicked I need to seek GOD’s heart.
• GOD says to me “Seek MY kingdom first” and since HE owns everything I need to bow to HIM daily before my day starts.

There is nothing GOD places on me that is too hard for me. HE doesn’t command that I become a title or live in fame rather HE simply wants me to follow HIM in HIS righteousness and humility. Seeking GOD means I am looking for HIM on a daily basis. In my hunt for fame and fortune I must ask GOD “Is this what YOU want for me?”

Serving money and GOD cannot ever mix. I cannot mask my intentions by pretending to serve church folks when I really want their monetary gain. I must truly desire that people get to know GOD, end of story. Seeking GOD as my teacher enables me to learn forever!

• What are you seeking?
• Are you mad that you are not getting your way?
• Can you stop pouting and start learning from GOD today?
• Will you seek GOD’s heart before yours?