You know, seeing myself without those rose-colored glasses has been quite humiliating. After thinking I was doing okay with first few problem areas…before old ‘objectivity’ stepped in… I will spare you the details of looking at ‘disobedience’ and ‘inhumanity’ in myself and go on to the last of the negative points on my list – pride. Although, I don’t know how I could have any left after finding the things in myself that I have in the last couple of days.
It seemed like I should be able to skip this one with the excuse, “I’ve been humbled enough for one week.” But God has other plans - this problem is too widespread amongst professing Christians to skip over. The whole lesson is summarized in this passage from Luke 18:11-14 (CJB)
11 The Parush [Pharisee] stood and prayed to himself, `O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector!
12 I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . '
13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."
Most of us are familiar with that scripture. The negative side of the example comes through loud and clear but what we are supposed to learn from it requires more of that diligent probing that uncovers so much truth.
It seemed like I should be able to skip this one with the excuse, “I’ve been humbled enough for one week.” But God has other plans - this problem is too widespread amongst professing Christians to skip over. The whole lesson is summarized in this passage from Luke 18:11-14 (CJB)
11 The Parush [Pharisee] stood and prayed to himself, `O God! I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, immoral, or like this tax-collector!
12 I fast twice a week, I pay tithes on my entire income, . . . '
13 But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but beat his breast and said, `God! Have mercy on me, sinner that I am!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his home right with God rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."
Most of us are familiar with that scripture. The negative side of the example comes through loud and clear but what we are supposed to learn from it requires more of that diligent probing that uncovers so much truth.