Post by Rob W. Case on Oct 28, 2005 2:14:13 GMT -6
This week's promise: God blesses humble people
Pride gets in the way 10-26-05
"God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble..
James 4:6 NLT
"
Not enough to be moral and upright
"J.C. Penney was a man of advanced years before he committed his life fully to Jesus Christ. He was a good man, but primarily interested in becoming a success and making money. "When I worked for six dollars a week at Joslin's Dry Goods Store back in Denver," he confessed as he looked back on his life, "it was my ambition…to be worth one hundred thousand dollars. When I reached that goal I felt a certain temporary satisfaction, but it soon wore off and my sights were set on becoming worth a million dollars."
Mr. and Mrs. Penney worked hard to expand the business; but one day Mrs. Penney caught cold and pneumonia developed, which claimed her life. It was then that J.C. Penney realized having money was a poor substitute for the real purposes in living. "When she died," he said, "my world crashed around me.…I felt mocked by life, even by God himself."
After several more fiery trials, J.C. Penney was financially ruined, and naturally, in deep distress. This is when God could deal with his self-righteous nature and his love for money. After his spiritual conversion he could testify of God's working.
"I had to pass through fiery ordeals before reaching glimmerings of conviction that it is not enough for men to be upright and moral men. When I was brought to humility and the knowledge of dependence on God, sincerely and earnestly seeking God's aid…a light illumined my being. I cannot otherwise describe it than to say that it changed me as a man."
from James S. Hewett, ed., Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press) quoted in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes by R. Kent Hughes (Tyndale) pp 215-16 "
Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House
(Content Courtesy of www.leftbehind.com, under God's Daily Promises)
This is also another mini-article that proves true in the real world as well, and provides us with a healthy psychological state of mind.
Humility, not humiliation
"You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud.
Psalm 18:27 NLT
The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts."
Isaiah 57:15 NLT
"
About this week's promise
"May God's grace give you the necessary humility. Try not to think—much less, speak—of their sins. One's own are a much more profitable theme! And if on consideration, one can find no faults on one's own side, then cry for mercy: for this must be a most dangerous delusion.
--C.S. Lewis
Humility is not effacing oneself. It is not destroying one's sense of self-worth. It is honest recognition of our own worth, our worth as God sees us.
Pride elevated us above others, and often above God himself. But to destroy one's sense of self-worth is also unacceptable, for it denies the value God placed upon us when he created us in his image and when he sent his Son to die for us.
Christ did not die for worms but for people he loves very much, and those people have great worth or value in God's eyes.
To see ourselves as God sees us—that is our goal
Pride gets in the way 10-26-05
"God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble..
James 4:6 NLT
"
Not enough to be moral and upright
"J.C. Penney was a man of advanced years before he committed his life fully to Jesus Christ. He was a good man, but primarily interested in becoming a success and making money. "When I worked for six dollars a week at Joslin's Dry Goods Store back in Denver," he confessed as he looked back on his life, "it was my ambition…to be worth one hundred thousand dollars. When I reached that goal I felt a certain temporary satisfaction, but it soon wore off and my sights were set on becoming worth a million dollars."
Mr. and Mrs. Penney worked hard to expand the business; but one day Mrs. Penney caught cold and pneumonia developed, which claimed her life. It was then that J.C. Penney realized having money was a poor substitute for the real purposes in living. "When she died," he said, "my world crashed around me.…I felt mocked by life, even by God himself."
After several more fiery trials, J.C. Penney was financially ruined, and naturally, in deep distress. This is when God could deal with his self-righteous nature and his love for money. After his spiritual conversion he could testify of God's working.
"I had to pass through fiery ordeals before reaching glimmerings of conviction that it is not enough for men to be upright and moral men. When I was brought to humility and the knowledge of dependence on God, sincerely and earnestly seeking God's aid…a light illumined my being. I cannot otherwise describe it than to say that it changed me as a man."
from James S. Hewett, ed., Parables, Etc. (Saratoga Press) quoted in 1001 Great Stories and Quotes by R. Kent Hughes (Tyndale) pp 215-16 "
Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House
(Content Courtesy of www.leftbehind.com, under God's Daily Promises)
This is also another mini-article that proves true in the real world as well, and provides us with a healthy psychological state of mind.
Humility, not humiliation
"You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud.
Psalm 18:27 NLT
The high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in that high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts."
Isaiah 57:15 NLT
"
About this week's promise
"May God's grace give you the necessary humility. Try not to think—much less, speak—of their sins. One's own are a much more profitable theme! And if on consideration, one can find no faults on one's own side, then cry for mercy: for this must be a most dangerous delusion.
--C.S. Lewis
Humility is not effacing oneself. It is not destroying one's sense of self-worth. It is honest recognition of our own worth, our worth as God sees us.
Pride elevated us above others, and often above God himself. But to destroy one's sense of self-worth is also unacceptable, for it denies the value God placed upon us when he created us in his image and when he sent his Son to die for us.
Christ did not die for worms but for people he loves very much, and those people have great worth or value in God's eyes.
To see ourselves as God sees us—that is our goal