2006-07-20 Not Because Righteousness
Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
-- Deuteronomy 9:6
I think we need to be often reminded that we are not chosen because of our righteousness. True, we all know that we are sinners and no one is righteous before God, not even one. This is our knowledge in our head, but do we truly understand the full extent of this? God's grace is so abundant, yet we will not be able to experience it if we do not have the right attitude. We cannot think, "for I am somewhat better than the others" that we deserve particular treatments. What of 10 compared to 1? In the light of infinity, they are all void. May we be able to regard all things, including ourselves, as zero, in the light of His glory and grace.
2006-07-15 Saturday Bible study
Saturday Bible study
2006-07-11 Not Self Centered
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?
I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
-- Numbers 14:11-12
This is nothing bad for Moses, instead of a great nation out of Jacob, it will now be out of Moses. His descendents will be a greater nation! But Moses does not think about himself, he intercedes for the people, appealing to the name of God. A true servant of the Lord cannot be self-centered, thinking about his own benefits. Paul said that he is not trying to please men in Galatians. These men includes the self. If we are to please the Lord, we need to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. The love of self is very strong, even the world knows this, and some claim that it is the "greatest love of all." However, we know of a greater love, the unconditional love that which God loved us with. It is right for us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.
2006-07-10 Humbleness
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
-- Luke 14:7-11
This reminds me of the way I was taught (by example and by culture) to do things. We always claim we are not sufficient, we are not deserving, that there are many better choices. However, we expect to be elavated in response. This expectation can really hurt us if we happen to be unnoticed. The way we behave can only be commendable if we also expect nothing, to have a true humbleness in the spirit.
(I have not posted for almost an year now. I definitely have been reading my Bible, perhaps I should post more often here.)