I’m constantly losing stuff ∙

I’m constantly losing stuff ∙

The Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost. – Luke 19:10

Luke 15:4-6

 4 If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?

 5 And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders.

 6 When he arrives, he will call his friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.”

The story is told of a lady in her 30s wearing a lanyard around her neck, holding her cell phone, and a small sign reading, “I’m a loser.” She used the lanyard to ensure she wouldn’t misplace her cell phone. We often find ourselves misplacing or losing items like car keys, credit card holders, cell phones, and clothing items such as hats and coats. However, in our modern tech-driven world, there is an answer.

Welcome to the realm of 21st-century digital trackers. Two of the most popular are Air Tags and Life360 Tile. These small, thin tiles act as trackers for objects with a knack for running off and hiding from us. They can be affixed to or discreetly placed on items like cell phones, keys, credit card holders, purses, or even loved ones and pets. Powered by batteries, they emit signals. To locate the missing items tagged with an heir tile our life 360 tile, you can simply enlist Alexa, Google, a computer, a tablet, or a cell phone.

In a similar way, the Father uses a celestial tracking system of His own intelligent design. In the timeless expanse of eternity, He affectionately and meticulously named and tagged each of His sheep before they were ever born. He intimately knows each one, with an identity crafted through His intelligent design, ensuring they are never lost to the vastness of time or space.

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

This evident anthropomorphism vividly portrays that the Father is intimately acquainted with our names, having metaphorically “inscribed” them onto the palms of His hands. This graphic imagery is intentionally powerful, designed to demonstrate that the Father will never forget us.

We are all born into this life as lost sheep. The Good Shepherd seeks His own until they are found, and He calls them to Himself.

A shepherd will go to great lengths to locate, nurture, and protect his flock. In the first century A.D. context, each shepherd possessed a distinct call that only his own sheep recognized. Upon hearing this call, his sheep would instinctively come to their shepherd. Other sheep would not.

In times when shepherds needed to enter towns or villages, they would gather their sheep in a communal enclosure alongside other flocks. To reclaim his own sheep from this mixed assembly, the shepherd merely needed to utter his unique call. Only his sheep would come forward to him while the rest remained amidst the larger flock.

John 10:2-5

 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

 4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

 5 They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

This is the back story of a remarkable and beautiful promise made by the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 10:27-29

 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,  

 29 for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  

What is the call of the Good Shepherd? It is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. When His sheep hear this message, it has a life-changing impact. It transforms their very being. It echoes deeply within their hearts, urging them to respond to His call. Ultimately, they come to Him and receive the precious gift of eternal life.

It is a profound comfort to know and remember that, due to the Father’s immense love for us, the Lord Jesus Christ never ceases His search until we are found. He will relentlessly pursue us until we are safely in His embrace.

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father and the Son will always seek those that belong to them until they are found.

Father, I readily acknowledge that once I was lost, I was a very lost sheep. One day, I heard Your voice calling me and came to You. But sadly, even now, I tend to wander off. And repeatedly, You come looking for me, swoop me up in Your loving arms, and bring me home.

INSIGHT

When the Father created sheep, it might have been shortly after He fashioned owls. Perhaps the wisdom barrel was somewhat depleted by then. Evidently, sheep got the leftovers. Nevertheless, contemporary research questions this notion. In most cases, those responsible for the well-being of sheep discover that they are “not just stupid but mind-numbingly stupid.”

Even though we have come to the Good Shepherd and have been given eternal life as our present possession, never to be lost, we still have the temperament of sheep. We tend to stray and wander off. In the words of Robert Robinson:

Come, thou Fount of every blessing.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!

Let that grace now, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;

Here’s my heart; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.

Isaiah 53:6 All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path,

We are continuously in desperate need of a shepherd to care for us, protect us, and find us when we lose our way. The Lord is our good Shepherd. We can be confident that He will come looking for us when we stray. When He finds us, He is delighted and joyful. He tells everyone, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (Luke 15:6)

Every time the Father finds us, He offers us a fresh start. He provides a new beginning and an opportunity to distance ourselves from the past, embrace new possibilities, and be renewed and transformed.

Many would say that the best part of the journey is not the places we go and see but instead returning home. There is a poignant, pleasant joy when we return to where we belong: home.

For the children of the King, heaven is our permanent home. Although we have never been there, we know He has prepared a place for us. It is a place of joy, delight, and ultimate security. It is a happy place. It is the ultimate safe place. And we will dwell there forever, with our loving Shepherd King.

Are you still wondering about wandering?

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© Dr. H 2024

Do you feel lucky? ∙∙

Do you feel lucky? ∙∙

Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand and death and disaster on the other.- Deuteronomy 30:15

Deuteronomy 30:15-19

 15 Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster.
16 For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.
17 But if your heart turns away and you refuse to listen, and if you are drawn away to serve and worship other gods,
18 then I warn you now that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live a long, good life in the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.
19 Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

Released in 1971, the film “Dirty Harry” achieved critical acclaim and commercial success. Its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance was so profound that the Library of Congress selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2012. This iconic movie not only left a lasting impact but also pioneered a new genre of police film.

Clint Eastwood’s portrayal of Inspector Dirty Harry Callahan, working in the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), is a masterclass in building tension. As Dirty   Harry confronts the robbers during a bank robbery, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats. The scene reaches its peak when the third robber surrenders, intimidated by Dirty Harry’s memorable ultimatum:

“I know what you’re thinking: ‘Did he fire six shots or only five?’ Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I’ve kind of lost track myself. But being this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’

Well, do you, punk?’”

Every day, we are faced with a myriad of decisions, each shaping the tapestry of our lives in subtle or profound ways. These choices can be as trivial as deciding whether to wear a blue or red shirt or as impactful as determining how we allocate our free time. We might choose to immerse ourselves in a captivating book, binge-watch the latest TV series, or engage in physical exercise.

The media we consume also represents a significant aspect of our daily choices. Whether we absorb news from digital platforms, listen to podcasts, or scroll through social media, these decisions influence our perspectives and inform our understanding of the world around us. Additionally, our dietary preferences—be it opting for a quick snack, preparing a home-cooked meal, or dining out at a favorite restaurant—not only reflect our individual tastes but also impact our health and lifestyle.

At the core of these decisions is the inherent freedom we possess to make choices that align with our personal values and desires. While some options, such as selecting an outfit, may seem inconsequential, others hold greater weight and contribute significantly to our overall quality of life and sense of fulfillment. At the same time, some are momentous and life-changing with eternal consequences.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But not everyone has a right to their own Truth (Lutzer).

Ultimately, from the Father’s perspective, choices are black or white, good or evil, wise or foolish.

REFLECT & PRAY

“We almost always have choices, and the better the choice, the more we will be in control of our lives” (William Glasser).

Father, in my lifetime, I have made so many poor choices. Thank You that You are my counselor. Encourage me to make better choices, the right choices, and the best possible choices.

INSIGHT

In the Ancient Near East, during the time of Moses, when treaties were made and contracts were made, people invoked witnesses to their ratification. Often, the witnesses were their gods. This practice persists in the modern American justice system, where individuals are asked to “swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.”

In the Book of Deuteronomy, we see a profound moment where the Father stands as a partner in the Mosaic Covenant. In this sacred pact, He is bound by His own divine authority, for there exists no higher power to invoke as a witness. Consequently, the Father calls heaven and earth to serve as His witnesses.

Pause for a moment and reflect on the fact that our outcomes are determined by the choices we make. How can we achieve our desires when we feel dissatisfied and frustrated with our current situation? Recognizing that achieving our true desires involves making better choices is essential.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

The smart move is to gather as much helpful information as possible. We have access to the revealed truth of the Word of God. Seeking knowledgeable and wise counselors can empower us to make well-informed decisions, leading to the best possible outcomes.

Proverbs 15:22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, people fall, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety in having many advisers.

Proverbs 12:15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.

In His image, the Father created us, endowing us with minds to think, hearts to feel, and a will to make choices. The Father urges us to make righteous decisions. We are not mere robots; instead, we can hear God’s Word, learn God’s will, and decide to obey or disobey (Wiersbe).

Making decisions, in itself, is not a difficult task, but making the correct choices is an entirely different matter. What are the consequences of our actions?

The Father has presented the most crucial choices in clear and straightforward terms, making them easy to comprehend. Life and goodness lie on one side, while death and evil loom on the other. Who really wants to choose death? Perhaps only the desperate, the despondent, and the depressed might consider such a choice.

Just to be clear, what are the choices? Choosing to love and obey the Father leads to life and goodness while rejecting the Father results in death and evil.

Do you feel lucky?

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© Dr. H 2024

Have mercy ∙

Have mercy ∙

LORD, have mercy on me. – Psalms 9:13

Luke 18:9-14  

 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:

 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.”

 11 “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!’

 12 ‘I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’”

 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’”

 14 “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The Judds were an American country music duo consisting of lead vocalist Wynonna Judd and her mother, Naomi Judd. As one of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds released six studio albums between 1983 and 1991. They earned five Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group and nine Country Music Association awards. Additionally, they achieved 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

The Judds released “Have Mercy” in September 1985. It became their fifth number-one song on the country chart.

Have mercy on me

You treat me so bad I’m in misery

It’s breaking my heart, can’t you see

Baby, baby, have mercy on me

Have mercy

The Jesus Prayer is a short formulaic, simple, mantra-like prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The Jesus Prayer holds a significant place in Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition and is often referred to as the “prayer of the heart.” Throughout the history of the Orthodox Church, it has been deeply revered, widely taught, and fervently discussed. As part of personal devotion and meditation, the prayer is traditionally recited continuously, emphasizing humility, repentance, and the acknowledgment of human fallibility while seeking mercy and grace from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Partial snippets are found in the Old Testament. Psalms 9:13 LORD, have mercy on me.

The Jesus Prayer is quite similar to the prayer made by a tax collector in Luke 18.

The story portrays two men with contrasting attitudes. One, a Pharisee, was self-assured in his religious beliefs and practices. He felt he lacked nothing, so he requested nothing and received nothing. On the other hand, a tax collector recognized and acknowledged his spiritual poverty. He sought much, received much through his humble request, and was shown great mercy by the Father.

REFLECT & PRAY

Good and caring parents are merciful and gracious. They want only the best for their children and discipline them with love because they love them.

Father, thank You for disciplining me with love and mercy. Thank You for always remembering mercy!

INSIGHT

Grace is getting what you do not deserve

Mercy is not getting what you do deserve

Mercy involves the compassionate treatment of those in distress, particularly individuals under one’s power or control.

Cats are renowned for their effectiveness in eliminating vermin like rats and mice from human homes and buildings. However, observing a cat with its prey reveals a different story. The scene is the epitome of a lack of mercy. Initially, the cat captures the mouse, only to play with it and tease it before ultimately killing it. Why? This behavior is driven by instinct, a common trait among felines worldwide. It amuses the cat but is far from enjoyable for the mouse. Why do they act this way? Simply because they can.

The New Testament advises us to walk wisely and circumspectly, much like a cautious cat (Ephesians 5:15). It also commands us to show mercy, urging us not to withhold it. Instead of giving people what we think they deserve, we are called to extend compassion.

This is how the Father treated us.

How do you envision the Father? When you picture Him, what comes to mind? Do you see a loving Father with outstretched arms eager to lavish you with love and care? Or do you imagine a stern, critical, and somewhat wrathful judge?

The Father is a little bit of both.

Deuteronomy 13:18 The LORD your God will be merciful only if you listen to his voice and keep all his commands.

The Father responds to our thoughts and actions, engaging with us in real-time as we walk through life with Him. When we are faithful and live by His principles, we bring joy to His heart. However, when we violate His principles, there are times when the Father reacts with anger.

Isaiah 54:8 In a burst of anger, I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love, I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.

He is the Father of mercies, the all-merciful Father, the gentle Father, or simply the merciful Father. Even in His wrath, He remains merciful. He is not prone to anger but instead filled with loyal love and devotion for His children. His displeasure is fleeting. The Father’s abundant warmth and tender love far outweigh His brief moments of chastisement. His discipline is short-lived when compared to His everlasting love.

The psalmist asked, LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? (Psalm 130:3). The answer is clear: no one. Even when God must judge sin, He continues to show mercy (Stanley).

Habakkuk 3:2 In wrath, remember mercy.

We are to be just like Him!

Luke 6:36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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© Dr. H 2024

Son of Encouragement ∙∙

Son of Encouragement ∙∙

There was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). – Acts 4:36

1 Thessalonians 5:11-18

 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

 16 Always be joyful.

 17 Never stop praying.

 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

An encourager is essentially someone who “inspires with courage.” They infuse others with courage while instilling spirit, hope, and motivation. They are akin to an excellent sports coach who inspires players to believe in themselves and do their best. Such coaches don multiple hats: they are trainers, counselors, confidants, nurturers, guides, leaders, mentors, shepherds, and tutors. Their objective lies not only in developing talent but also in character building.

Based in Austin, Texas, Coach ‘Em Up, LLC is a firm that offers year-round basketball and volleyball programs for elementary and middle school students in the Austin vicinity. Their business is built upon the belief in the positive impact of robust and precise coaching and the comprehension and importance of age-appropriate progression and instruction.

“Be an Encourager: When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work harder, lift their spirits, and make them successful in their endeavors. Encouragement goes straight to the heart and is always available. Be an encourager. Always” (Roy T. Bennett).

“Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts . . .” (Robert Fulghum).

In American culture, we might say that an acorn does not fall far from the tree, meaning that one is not that different from one’s parent. It can be expressed, “Kids are like their parents, a chip off the old block; like Father, like son.”

In the Jewish culture, a similar concept is expressed by the phrase “son of.” It highlights the distinctive qualities or characteristics which distinguish a person.

Acts 4:36 Joseph was one of the apostles nicknamed Barnabas, which means “Son of Encouragement.”

Perhaps Barnabas was a natural-born encourager, or maybe he had the spiritual gift of encouragement. He earned the epithet “Son of Encouragement” or “Son of Consolation,” indicative of his positive influence.

Upon closer inspection, the nickname Barnabas reveals some interesting nuances not readily apparent on the surface. The Greek word for encourager or encouragement is parakletos, so we might expect his nickname to be Barparakletos, not Barnabas. But Barnabas is not derived from Greek; rather, it is either Hebrew or Aramaic. Bar, in Hebrew, translates to son, and nabasis a variation of the Hebrew word for prophet.

This is even more confusing because prophets tend to be spokesmen and confronters, not comforters. However, at times, prophets were tasked with providing solace to people. Hence, the name Barnabas encapsulates this dual role of a prophet – comforter and confronter.

Isaiah 40:1-2

 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned.

When children of the King are born again, the Father sovereignly endows them with spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift can be described as a skill or talent that enables one to perform a specific task effortlessly and teach others to do the same. Billy Graham, for instance, had the gift of evangelism. He could easily spread the gospel to others and taught countless people to do the work of an evangelist.

So perhaps what we see in Barnabas is a man transformed from a harsh, confrontive prophet to a soft, tender, gentle, encouraging, comforting prophet.

Barnabas was recognized for his kindness and support towards others (Acts 9:26-27; 11:22-26; 15:37). In this way, he embodies the ideal of a servant-leader. Barnabas demonstrates that he is indeed a true disciple of Lord Jesus Christ, who was the ultimate servant-leader.

The apostle Paul implores each child of the King to encourage and comfort others.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Instead of belittling, criticizing, passing judgment, yelling at, tearing down, or intimidating others, we should set a goal and purpose to “coach ‘em up.”

REFLECT & PRAY

No doubt the “Son of Encouragement” was himself encouraged by the Father. Pause for a moment and consider what it would be like to be mentored by the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Father, encourage me to become a source of encouragement and uplift others in the same manner You have encouraged me.

INSIGHT

Perhaps there’s a message of hope for each one of us here. We’re not bound by what we were born with. The Father has the power to bring about changes that go beyond the natural or normal. He is able to transform a person’s character and personality from the inside out. Every child of the King has the freedom and capacity to let the Father do precisely that for us. We are capable of becoming whatever the Father wants us to be. The Father has a beautiful dream for each of His children.

Take for instance, John and his brother James. At the beginning of the Gospels, they were referred to as the sons of thunder (Mark 3:17). They were known for their quick temper, zeal, and ambition. They were demanding, passionate, fiery, intolerant, brash, reckless, stubborn, and impulsive. They were ready and willing to call down fire on the Samaritans.

Luke 9:54-56

 54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

How amazing, this same John became known as the Apostle of Love.

We observe a remarkable change in John. He is transformed from a reckless, quick-tempered son of thunder to the beloved disciple. His gospel is filled with his profound love for Lord Jesus Christ, and his epistles even more so. Initially, he wasn’t characterized by such love and compassion. This love wasn’t innate; it was cultivated. It was not the product of nature but rather nurture. He acquired it from time spent with the Lord Jesus Christ on earth and decades of walking with Him. The perfect servant-leader coached ‘em up.’

James 1:19-20

 19 But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be (Stephen R. Covey).

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© Dr. H 2024

Idealized idols ∙∙

Idealized idols ∙∙

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.- Romans 12:3

1 Timothy 1:12-16

 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,

 13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.

 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

 15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” – and I am the worst of them all.

 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

Dr. Saul Levine, M.D. wrote “Our Illusions of Role Models, Heroes, and Idols.” It was posted on December 22, 2017, in Psychology Today.

“Idols who inspire and reassure us are ordinary people, both worthy and flawed. You remember ‘role models,’ don’t you? You know, those people we looked up to when we were younger, whom we aspired to be like, and possibly now, whom we want our children to emulate?”

“As young children, our first role models are usually our parents, and it takes years for us to see them as people with frailties despite their impressive qualities. Adolescents and young adults form relationships with admired mentors at school or work. They often idealize their mentor until the realization sets in that despite some exceptional talents, this role model is an ‘ordinary’ person with attendant faults. Accepting our parents and mentors – and ourselves – as worthy but flawed can at times be challenging.”

The Scriptures are replete with heroes and role models. They are often bigger than life, ancient superheroes. Consider Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Samson, David, Daniel, Paul, and Peter. Church history has more recent superheroes and role models: Jonathan Edwards, Fanny Crosby, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor, Watchman Nee, William Wilberforce, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Jim Elliott, Corrie Ten Boom, George Mueller, Eric Liddell, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Billy Graham. In all cases, they were indeed heroes of the faith, flawed but worthy of our admiration.

But when we look more closely, we often discover that they were ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. For example, the prophet Amos herded sheep and was a fig picker.

Amos 7:14 I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs.

Moses apparently lacked self-esteem.

Exodus 3:11 Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

What’s more, Moses probably had some form of speech impediment.

Exodus 4:10 Moses pleaded with the LORD, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Charles Spurgeon was often the object of extreme, dreadful criticism during his ministry. People had it in for him and were out to get him. Paraphrasing a bit, on one occasion, he suggested Brother, if anyone thinks poorly of you, do not be angry with him, for you are worse than he perceives. If he falsely accuses you on some point, be content, for if he knew you better, he might alter the accusation, and you would gain nothing from the correction. If your moral portrait is painted and appears ugly, be satisfied; it would only take a few darker strokes to make it even closer to the truth (Spurgeon – Volume 34, Sermons).

REFLECT & PRAY

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

 26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

Father, help me be clear-headed and balanced in my thinking about myself and others. Thank You for using ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

INSIGHT

A continuum of self-worth characterizes fallen human DNA. Some feel unworthy, while others think they are superior and far better than others. We tend to idealize our heroes, but they are all fallen creatures needing forgiveness. Are any of them perfect? No, not one!

Paul got it right when he advised the children of the King in Rome. They tended to think too highly of themselves. Paul warned them, “Don’t think you are better than you really are” (Romans 12:3). What is left unsaid, but equally valid, don’t think you are worse than you really are.

This concept can be expressed in many ways in different cultures. Do not think of yourself more highly than you could be rendered as “Do not think that you yourselves are so high,” “Do not think of yourselves with a big head,” or “Do not say to yourselves, I am so very big, when you really are not” (UBS).

Instead, he provided a very balanced approach.

Romans 12:3 Think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

The Greek verb translated as “think” is phroneo. Phroneo does not refer to the thinking process itself but rather to “the direction of one’s thinking, the way in which a person views something.” In this context, Paul uses the verb to denote how a person views themselves (Moo).

In contrast to overestimating ourselves, Paul encourages all children of the King to view themselves in a “sober” manner. The Greek word translated as sound judgment, sober, or be honest in your evaluation is sophroneo, derived from sophron – meaning sober-minded. It signifies possessing a clear and rational mind, exhibiting reasonable thinking, and exercising sound, discreet, self-disciplined, and sensible judgment.

We should view ourselves and others as ordinary individuals, each possessing both worth and flaws. While the strengths of others can be a source of inspiration, we should avoid elevating those we admire to a superhuman status akin to the gods of Greek and Roman mythology or the heroes of legends and myths.

It is wise not to let the successes or achievements of others make you feel ashamed or condemned. The Scriptures aim to inspire us by recounting the lives and deeds of faithful children of the King, ordinary people whom the Father used in extraordinary ways. These individuals lived, acted, and died in faith, demonstrating that the same is possible for each of us (Hebrews 11).

As children of the King, we are not to live horizontally, looking back to the past or forward to the future in this life. Instead, we are to focus on looking up!

Psalms 121:1-2

 1 I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there?

 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

Revelation 22:20 “I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

It can be frustrating when the material you are accustomed to reading or hearing doesn’t meet your expectations and fails to enhance your walk with the Father. In such situations, consider changing your sources.

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© Dr. H 2024