Devotional Time with God

This world taught me that I’m the center of my own universe.  I’m the god of my own destiny.  I’m the master of my world.

Of course, this teaching is wrong!

Eventually, I will die. Where will I end up? Space dust? All of that love, knowledge, and experiences – POOF, gone!  But I’m glad I know Jesus because He offered me grace and I took it!  I now have an everlasting life promised to me after I’m dead. I now have hope!

I don’t think I can go on trudging along on this earth without God’s healing power (Psalm 147:3).  I will, forever cast all of my care upon him, for He cares for me! (1 Peter 5:7)

My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

In weakness, I’m made strong by God. That is so mind boggling!  How can it be? This world always puts up the strong, the beautiful, the powerful.  Yet, God only wants to use the weak.  Why?

Simply because He wants me to lean on Him. He wants me to depend on Him. I need to have a humble heart. I need to have a compassionate heart. When I’m strong and powerful, I become prideful.  I wouldn’t need anyone else. I may even feel like God! There is only one God – and I’m not it.

I’m weak, and He is strong. I’m weak and useable. This is the essence of servanthood. This is what God wants me to be – and He’ll bless me abundantly because of it!

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

Humility is the key to success while learning God’s word and doing what He says. Humility is the way God wants me to conduct myself.  He wants to bless me richly and I must do it without a selfish intention.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:13

Does knowing God’s word and understanding what He wants is all I need to know?  Of course not.  Firstly, God has a much better purpose for me. The only way I can fulfill this purpose is by doing His will. I do the work, not to get as much credit for myself.  The work needs to be done with God’s love, not mean spirited, nor with complaints. The work needs to be done with the knowledge that it’s God’s command, not my selfish desire to be seen as wise.

In Mark 9:33-35, Jesus was asked who, among the disciples, were the greatest. His answer was simply whoever is last and servant of all, is the best.

It’s quintessential Jesus. I have a pride to want to be the best in everything. I want to be recognized as someone who leads the way. I want to be first in line.  But Jesus is always humble. He never wanted to be famous. He only wanted to serve humanity. He only wants us to serve each other.

God’s promise is to make me better if I serve others and be humble.

I can’t be better in God’s eye if I only serve myself. I have to change my attitude and be humble, and serve others.  It’s also His command, indirectly.  It is also Jesus’ great example, as He’s the one who’s willing to sacrifice himself to save humanity.

I pray that God gives me strength to be able to resist the temptation of pride. The temptation to be above everyone else and not be sympathetic to others. I pray that God gives me an overwhelming love so I may see others without contempt.

I am thankful God is with me. I am thankful for Jesus.  I am last, so Jesus can be first in my life.

I’ve stumbled many times.  I’ve relapsed.  I have went back to my old selfish, undisciplined, unaccountable self, many times before.  It’s not easy to do the right thing.  It’s not easy to keep up the high standards that God wants me to have.  It’s not easy being a Christian.  Temptations are many, and my strength is weak.

There are several reasons why I relapse:

1. Complacency
2. Confusion
3. Compromise
4. Catastrophe

Just when I think I’ve understand how my mind and body works, I tell myself I’m strong enough to handle things on my own.  Just when I think I have my bad habits beaten, I tell myself it’s not so bad after all.  Just when I think I can resist all temptation, I tell myself trying out a few old habits won’t hurt me anymore.   Just when I think it’s all good, bad things will tell me all hope is lost!

I need to grow!

I need to keep up with my devotional with God.  I need to continually turn myself over to God’s sovereign power.  I need to share my hurts and feelings to an accountability partner (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).  I need to stay humble (James 4:10).

One of my worse personality flaw is my quickness to anger.  I was brought up in a realtively dysfunctional family, and my parents are not readily there to guide me in the ways of patience and humility.  They were not Christians back when I was growing up.   We are Christians now and we’ve been taught many times to keep our angry words and thoughts at bay.  The bible says:

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 1:19-20

God certainly doesn’t want me to be angry at another, let alone antagonize others.  I must first listen to God, listen to others, and listen to my own heart.  I need to let the spirit of God guide me.  The fruits of the spirit is love, gentleness, patience, and self-control.  It’s what I have to attain to deal with my anger issues.

Thank you, Lord, for filling my heart and mind with your holy spirit.  You know how many times I had burst in anger, being disrepectful, and hurtful to others.  Please forgive me, Lord.  Your kindness and patience towards me exemplifies what I have to do to others.  Guide me, as always.  Fill my heart with gentleness.  Give me the strength to gain self-control.  Provide me the gift of discernment and quick thinking to know the difference between right and wrong.  Let your words flow in me, and in all of us.  Amen.

tufo/omai (Tuphoo)

• to raise a smoke, to wrap in a mist
  • metaph.
    1. to make proud, puff up with pride, render insolent
    2. to be puffed up with haughtiness or pride
• to blind with pride or conceit, to render foolish or stupid
  • beclouded, besotted

Another way of saying this is someone who pretends they’re “elite”, or above anyone else in terms of their social status.  Academic people are like this too – where they think they’re smarter (and knows more) than everyone else.

Unfortunately, they’re just as prideful and foolish as everyone else who thinks they don’t need God.  I’ve seen so many who think they got it all together, and boast about it.  Making me look weak and insignificant.

But in the end, we are all accountable to God.  He will judge us on what we do on this earth.  He’s going to ask the question, have we been good stewards?  Have we used our God given talents to help others?  Have we followed Jesus’ teachings of humility and compassion?

We all must remember that we’re nothing without God.

They will… be puffed up with pride…

2 Timothy 3:4

I missed last week’s study, so I’m combining two studies into one for today’s summary.

• Chapters 2-5 contain the messages for both the present and future of Judah and Jerusalem.
• The future of Zion was foretold with images of mountains and hills.
• It will happen in the “latter days” and will begin when the Lord’s temples are established. All the people will go to it, exalt God’s name on high (on the mountain top), and follow His path.
• The word of the Lord will come from Zion. He will also judge and rebuke many people.
• The moral condition of the people in Zion were detestable: pagan worship, filled with greed and pride, and idol worship.
• God will remove good leadership and supplies. God will only care for the righteous.
• Chapter 3 verses 18-24 details what will happen to the women: how they will be deprived of their looks and possessions.
• Men will die during battle by their enemies.
• God provided healing and blessings to the righteous. Shelter was provided for them also.
• Isaiah sang the song of God and His vineyard. He sang about how the vineyard would be destroyed because it produced “wild grapes”.
• Woes to the drunk, greedy, arrogant, self-righteous, and lazy people who blatantly sin and have confused morals.
• God struck the land by calling mighty nations to invade the land, and left the land in darkness and sorrow.

Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw and as dry grass sinks down in the flames, so their roots will decay and their flowers blow away like dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

– Isaiah 5:24

• In Chapter 6, Isaiah described the vision of the Holy God.
• It was suggested that Isaiah’s vision started his ministry.
• Isaiah saw the vision of the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, with His robe filling the temple. He also saw seraphims or angels, with 6 wings.
• The imagery of the 6 wings were: 2 wings to cover the eyes because they can’t see God with all of His glory; 2 wings to cover the feet because feet are the lowest form of the body; and 2 wings for flying.
• The angels praised, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.“
• Isaiah was approached by one of the seraphim and touched his mouth with a live coal taken from the altar. He is then purged of sins and could serve God.
• Isaiah humbled himself to God. He cried out that he’s not worthy, but he is ready to serve God with no fear.
• Isaiah was commissioned to show the people that their hearts were hardened, and tell the people to repent.
• Isaiah was told to preach until the cities were destroyed and people died.
• The small ray of hope is the “remnant” or the holy seed – the righteous people who seek God’s grace and mercy.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

– Isaiah 6:8

When God asks, be ready to serve with courage humility, and commitment – just like Isaiah did.

To summarize, to reconcile with others, I must first surrender to God and rely on Him for wisdom and patience. Now, it’s my turn to step out of my comfort zone and extend a peace offering. I must now invite the person I’m having a conflict with, to a meeting. A face to face meeting is preferable. I must not fear this. Fear gets me defensive and demanding. Better to humble myself and intentionally want to resolve the issue. My humility also starts by confessing my part of the conflict. I must know and admit that I’ve done something wrong (even if it’s a small one) before trying to resolve any conflict. I have to apologize for thinking only about myself.

Once I get over myself, I must then listen for other’s hurt. I have to treat people with respect and dignity. I must be able to look at him/her in the eyes. I must also be helpful and understanding.

Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

James 1:19