[box] Lord, so many pursuits are steeped in self-interest and sin, but You teach and model the power and glory of humility’s story. Rather than fluffing our feathers, You want us to dive into Your secret place where highest treasures wait. Where food is the pleasure of being like You. So here we go… shredding our gritty bits of self to plunge and truly freely find… we’re less attached to everything but You. [/box]
[box] “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Mathew 6:1-4[/box]
Anybody else struggle here?
Pastor Max saw a car at the side of the road and went to see if he could help.
“I ran out of gas,” said the lady.
“No problem,” said Max. “There’s a gas station up the road. Hold on, I’ll be right back.”
Max felt like a gem to fill up the poor woman’s car with gas.
“Wow,” he thought to himself. “I’m even doing this in secret. Wouldn’t it be neat if my deacons drove by and saw me now?”
The instant we do good, sin knocks… Well, guess what? We don’t need to open the door. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Resisting temptation is the best kind of suffering. Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. Life provides oodles of opportunities to grow in maturity.
Maturity starts with serving God in humility. Lord, make us your secret servants today!
Yes! Well written and thoughtful post on the nasty, twisted point that snags each of us as we yearn to be more Christ-like. And yet, we can rest assured that He will be faithful to lovingly remove each spot and wrinkle.
So true. And that’s the best kind of spots and wrinkles to work on. A little bit of Holy Ghost Word and prayer heart-moisturizer goes a long way. Thanks for stopping by, Jan!