pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: humble


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Make Some Room!

“Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23) In today’s world isn’t it much the same? Don’t some people look for answers that are both impressive and tangible and don’t some seek to see some amazing feat that awes them? Only then do they consider something.

God chose those who were lowly to carry out his work. God chose the weak and the non-powerful to share the message. Why? So that the world could see that this amazing power and love came not from human hands but from the one true God. It is like when that kid in class that never says anything spouts out the most amazing insight – all just turn and look at them in awe. It is like when that Nazarene carpenter brought that young man back from the dead or when he gave a man back his sight or when he confounded the intelligence of the Pharisee who was trying to trip him up.

Today the power of the cross comes not from displays of power but through displays of self-emptying service. It comes not from flexing muscles in the academic, athletic, or corporate world but from stepping into someone’s world who needs a helping hand and serving them like Christ would have. It comes not from punishing another for their mistake, but in reaching out a hand of forgiveness and seeing with eyes of understanding and compassion. We are called to empty ourselves of self – ever wonder why? So that there is more room for Jesus!!!


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Asking the Right Question

Micah was a prophet in the old testament. In chapter six God, through Micah, begins by calling the people into account and they respond with a ‘what more can I do?’ attitude. God could just as easily be speaking to us today. Although we do not make animal sacrifices to atone for our sins, we do make what we call ‘sacrifices’ to God. We give Him a whole hour on Sunday morning, maybe two if we go to Sunday school! We give Him a few hours once a month to serve a meal at the mission or to help with a project at church or in the community. And then if we have a twinge of guilt over not doing more for our faith, we shrug and whine out, ‘what more can I do?’ And just like the Israelites, God looks down, gives us a loving smile, and lets us know we have our attitude all wrong.

In verse 7 of Micah 6 the people ask mockingly if God wants the first born of their bodies for the sins of their souls. What a powerful question! Maybe the people were thinking back to Genesis 22 where Abraham goes as far as having his son Isaac bound and upon the altar’s wood – ready to be sacrificed. As Abraham raised the knife, the angel of the Lord intervened. But don’t you think God wishes they (and we) had that much faith in Him?

The attitude that God desires is not for us to offer up our own son or daughter for the sins of our souls. He already did that with His son Jesus. The price for us has already been paid through Jesus’ blood on the cross. But in verse 8 God spells out what He does expects of us: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

And this is a 24/7 request – not an hour on Sunday, a few hours here and there once a month. It is about being in relationship with Christ ALL the time. It is about being in the world and not succumbing to what the world says is important. It is treating our fellow man with justice. It is about extending mercy to those in need. It is about walking humbly and acknowledging that it is God who is in control of our lives. In the end, our question should not be ‘what more can I do?’ but ‘what else CAN I do?’