Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Walking Humbly With God
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A devotional thought I read today and wanted to share. I struggle with a great many things in my Walk, not the least of which is separation...the whole IN the world not OF the world. Do my clothes make me separate? In our area, yes they do. In our area back north, no they didn't, not the the extent they do here. We are the only dresses-only/headcovering folks around this area for a good hour either direction. I am known as being separate from the churches in town because of my dress and covering. I am noticed as being different. I would pray that I am different in other ways as well...demeanor and such...but the greatest difference is visual for others. I am a book that can be read by it's cover alone here. I struggle in mind with friendships a great deal. It isn't easy to find truly like-minded fellowship when you are the only one like you around. Of course I'm not seeking out friendships based on dress/covering, but it is something I believe is important. If I allow fellowship, close fellowship and not just passing friendliness, with those who do not share our convictions, it can cause trouble within the flesh of my children. It is a very fine line to teach your children to have love and compassion for their fellow man, saved and unsaved both, when they see one church full of half-clothed, far from modest families with all the modern gadgets and what-nots and your church of conservative dress and not so many gadgets and toys. They can easily begin to walk with an air of superiority' in their demeanor, or they can go the other direction and begin feeling behind the times so to speak and somehow less than others. I don't want either for my children. I want they to be Children of God. I want them to have a deep relationship with The Father and a deep sense of God-reliance and God-esteem in their lives. I don't want a 'class' division of the have's and the have-not's to hinder them in any way. We don't have alot of what other families have, but we have God and many of them don't, even though many claim Him in name. It's an empty claim in my eyes when they are focused so intently on making sure they are connected to the world and all it offers. I don't want that for my children. I don't want that for myself. But, that being neither here nor there, here is the devotional thought for the day. It fed me plenty for my thoughts....I pray it offers you something to ponder yourself. WALKING HUMBLY WITH GOD (James 4) REQUIRED: WORTHY PURSUITS Most of us pursue something or another. Recognition. Satisfaction. Success. Marriage partner. Things. Kindness. Service. Peace. Friendship. Self-control. Money. Love. Truth. Some of these are worthy pursuits; others, unworthy. Are these attainable? Do we have to exert ourselves in reaching these? I have purposed to speak the truth and allow no deceit on my lips. This is not something that will "just happen" no matter how long and fervently I pray. I have to exert a conscious effort to always speak the truth and never even shade it. Have I ever attained to this? Of course! I *know* when I speak the truth and I *know* when I fall short of that. Does that mean that I have now reached perfection in truthfulness? Of course not! But inasmuch as I speak the truth, I have fully attained to it. Now allow me to complicate this discussion a little. Have you ever pursued humility? Is that a worthy pursuit? Will you ever know when you have reached it? Hmmmm!!! To not pursue humility is to flagrantly disobey the Scriptures that command, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord" (James 4:10) and "be clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5). Furthermore, to not pursue humility is to cut ourselves off from divine blessing and protection. God hears, forgives and heals those who know humility (2 Chronicles 7:14). God lifts those who humble themselves (James 4:10). God's grace fills the lives of the humble (1 Peter 5:5). Without a doubt, humility is a worthy pursuit! Now if the Bible tells us to be humble, does it not seem somewhat illogical to assume that we can never know whether or not we are obeying that command? Apparently the Apostle Paul knew he was humble (Acts 20:19)! Did that make him any less humble? I suspect not. Did that mean he never ever again acted in an egotistical, proud manner? I doubt it. However, inasmuch as he acted in humility, he was humble. Remember the story of the emperor's invisible clothes? Some con men convinced him they had tailored the most exquisite clothes for him. And they also convinced him that only the unwise could not see the beauty of such garments. The emperor could see nothing but his pride would not allow him to admit to lacking wisdom. So he let the con men "dress" him and parade him through the streets. The emperor and the people all thought he was naked but no one wished to "be foolish." Can you fit such a fable into 1 Peter 5:5? I'm telling you, I dressed this morning and I *know* it! Why? I made a conscious effort to put on these clothes. I can see my clothes on me. And nobody wondered why I drove my children to school in a state of undress. I submit to you that to be "clothed with humility" you have to make a conscious effort and you and others will see some results. How would you define humility? I suggest you begin with "Humility is esteeming others better than myself" (see Philippians 2:3). That begins in the mind then translates into living so that we can also say, "Humility is acting in the best interests of others" (see Philippians 2:4). Humility is a state of mind, yes (see Philippians 2:5). But humility is also something you *do*. If you cannot accept that, look once again at Philippians 2:7-8. Is it possible to *act* humble and not *be* humble. Of course. However, that does not cheapen the value of acting (that is, of doing). If you do not pursue godly humility, you cannot walk with God. WHAT CONSTITUTES FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD? Across the vast expanses of time and in multitudes of cultures, God has always called His people to unswerving loyalty. He insists that we come out of and away from ungodliness. He demands our clear-cut separation. He commands us to choose Him or lose His favor. And as He declares in James 4:4, "Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." Since "the friendship of the world is enmity with God," we should daily investigate the level and nature of our relationship with the world around us. Just what *does* constitute friendship with the world? Values. When my values begin to spring from and mirror those of the world, I have established my friendship with it. The world's values don't just differ from God's, they oppose His. The world values independence; God says we must depend on Him and His people. The world treasures, coddles, and promotes self; God says self must be crucified. The world says we must get ahead in this life; God says we must keep our eyes fixed on our eternal goal. To avoid the world's values we must choose God's values daily. If we isolate ourselves from His values by neglecting the Bible and becoming careless in our fellowship with Him and His people, we will surely embrace the world's values. So let's seek Him early, for then we shall surely find Him! Attachments. Our attachments spring from our values. If our souls let down our guards, we shall surely become attached to the same things that seize the lives of the unregenerate. Our choice of music, reading, and entertainment reveals whether or not we are the world's friends. If we become fixated with laying up various types of treasures on earth, we cannot lay up treasures in heaven...and neither can we be loyal friends of God. When material things cease to become a means to honor God and promote His kingdom, they have become the leeches that suck the life out of our friendship with God. I believe ungodly attachments tend to ease themselves quietly and unobtrusively into the lives of the believers. So let's ask God to keep us alert and committed. Of course there exist other elements of friendship with the world. Stay in tune with God for He will always lead all seeking souls to the truth and security found in friendship with Him. Each day reaffirm your choice of God and His friendship. Then the deceptive friendship of the world will have less draw on you. And then you will be able to walk with God. WHY HEART SEPARATION ALONE IS NOT SUFFICIENT. Yesterday I wanted some Pepsi ONE. Now do some imagining with me. To my shock and incredulity, all soft drinks are in unmarked cans. Puzzled at this, I point out the matter to an employee. He assures me that everything is fine because the manufacturer knows what is in each can. When I protest that *I* also need to know what's in a given can, he sternly informs me that I should rest content in the knowledge that the *manufacturer* knows. Exasperated at such senseless absurdity, I march off to a competing store...and discover the same situation. Resigned, I call the manufacturer, request a special code which will identify a can's contents, and return to the first store. I find a can with the Pepsi ONE code on the bottom, pay for it and go outside for a hard-earned drink. My first mouthful sets me to coughing, spitting and sputtering -- the stuff tastes precisely like pure mint. At this stage I'm perturbed enough to cup a hand and pour some of the can's contents into it. It smells like mint, looks like mint and feels like mint. Knowing it will be pointless to talk to store management, I call the manufacturer again. Their answer? "What comes out isn't important. What you see doesn't matter. It's what's on the inside that counts. And only the manufacturer knows what's on the inside. How dare you judge what's on the inside by what's on the outside?!" *Click.* How silly, far-fetched and logically-challenged! Yet we see its spiritual equivalent espoused everywhere by those who want to make Christianity and separation a heart matter only. They seem convinced that a separated heart does not necessarily lead to a separated lifestyle. |
Thoughts
