Did You Meme That? -- Is That Biblical Humility?

 

Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

"Humility isn't a low estimation of oneself, but a high estimation of the greatness of God."
Wendy Speake

This quote comes from a Hollywood actress named Wendy Speake, who is also an alleged Bible teacher for women. I know little about her, but having looked at a few things on her site, I see the typical lack of the Bible she is supposed to love and teach. I also see another translation of the Bible that is not faithful to the truth. While it is true that sometimes good people will say or teach things that are off, in this case I'm not surprised at this quote after seeing the fluff and stuff on her web page. We will discuss this quote here apart from its original context because that is how I found it on social media. It was basically "clipped out" and started on its journey as a stand alone thought. I don't remember exactly where I found it being shared, but someone believes it enough to keep spreading it, so let's examine it - because words mean things.

According to this definition of humility, as it stands, we don't have to humble ourselves; we only have to think highly of the greatness of God.

Do you see what she has done there? She has left pride, ego, and self-conceit intact while claiming that we need only think very highly of God's greatness in order to have humility. We are apparently given permission to have whatever high and pompous opinion of ourselves we want, as long as we have a high estimation of the greatness of God. I am not at all sure that this is what she wanted to convey, but the original graphic with this quote is on her own website. What she wrote there seemed to point in another direction, but there is an uncertain sound.

Continue Reading.

Did You Meme That? - Blaming Grandparents for Bad Grandchildren

Today being grandparents' day, this meme seemed like a good topic to address. I hope this encourages someone.

"The test of a parent's Christianity is his children's children! It is not enough that my children walk in the ways of the Lord. The true test is where my grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to walk in God's ways."  - Nancy Campbell from Above Rubies Ministry

This quote probably sounds really convicting and/or inspiring to some people. But, the truth is that it is a lie. The reason is that it is in direct contradiction to the word of God.

People like to think that if they live just right and do everything just the way their teachers tell them God likes it, their descendants will turn out to be good, godly Christians. (Notice that it's the teachers that they listen to, not God's word.) The "christian" patriarchy movement has served up this lie in various ways by teaching parents and grandparents that they are personally responsible for the future, salvation, and Christianity of their children. This is a false teaching, perhaps we should even say heresy since it can directly affect the doctrine of salvation.

What does God actually say about this specific subject?

Continue Reading.

Did You Meme That? #8 - Love IS Hard Sometimes

Quote reads: "Fall in love with someone who doesn't make you think love is hard."

We could start out talking about the problem with that phrase "fall in love" because it has its own set of issues. But, maybe that would be quibbling over something unimportant.

So first of all, I want to state right up front and center that there are people in this world who make love hard because they are not worthy of your romantic love. Yes, you can love them with the love of Christ, but after all, Jesus told us to love our enemies, and obviously you shouldn't be "falling in love" with or marrying your enemy.

Matthew 5:43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

What we're talking about here is romantic love, marriage love, love between a man and a woman.

Mark 10:6-8 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Furthermore, this post is NOT about abusive relationships. Abusive relationships are hard - no question about that. In some situations the wife should leave if her husband is abusing her, and likewise the husband leave the wife if she is abusing him (less common, but it does happen). This isn't about those situations either.

This is about the love that grows between two people when they are on their way towards a marriage relationship.

So here it is: You aren't going to find someone who never makes you think love is hard. Yup. True story. Welcome to planet earth.

Before you or your friend or child heads down the primrose path to "love and marriage" it's good to remember this. If you're already married it's good to remember this. There isn't anyone who makes love seem easy all of the time - not that guy at school or college; not the wonderful guy you met at church; not the man who has the six digit income and a nice house and car; not the leader at church who is still unattached, not the handsome and dashing hero in that romantic movie or book (Oh, snap!). Not you and not me, dear friend. Not one person on this earth.

Why would I be sayin' such inflammatory stuffs? Well...

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

Sin does make love seem hard sometimes.

That man, guy, husband of yours is a sinner and he will do and say things that will provoke you and cause anger. He isn't going to do something you expected him to, and he is going to do something that hurts you or that is inappropriate. He's going to be there with too little too late when you needed him to be there with a lot and on time. He's going to fail you when you were hoping for something better. The best of men are still sinners, and there will always be something at some point in your relationship that will cause disappointment, frustration, or even anger.

But then, you're going to treat him to the same exact difficulties. You are going to make love hard sometimes too. Oh yes. Let's own up, ladies. We certainly have our bad days and there are times when we are less than lovable. If we're honest with ourselves and the loves of our respective lives, we make love seem hard sometimes too!

Things will happen even when you're both trying to walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh, because we are not perfect yet. We strive against sin (hopefully), but we are not like Jesus yet because we haven't seen Him yet.

Paul summed it up for us in Romans 7:14-25,  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

There are other aspects of life that make love seem like hard work sometimes too.

Some kinds of health problems can be very challenging to deal with and may cause the well spouse to feel like staying "in love" is hard. Sometimes the one who suffers the health problems has a hard time feeling "in love" because the challenges of just living are so immense. Yes, there will be good times when you both appreciate each other immensely, but there will be difficult times when something is just wrong and there doesn't seem to be a way to make it right again.

Sometimes other trials of life can cause similar challenges - sick children, rebellious and troublesome children, death in the family, severe financial strains, natural disasters, the necessity of being apart for some reason for a prolonged period, etc. You get the picture. Many aspects of life can challenge our ability to love one another as we should.

I don't appreciate the teaching that is popular in some circles that love is a choice and not a feeling. While it is certain that love is not just a feeling, I personally believe the Bible teaches it is both a feeling and a choice. Read Song of Solomon (and set aside the overworked idea that it's about Christ and the church, which the Bible never says it is, by they way). There are plenty of feelings of love there. It isn't just about a choice. But, by the same token, the Bible also commands us to love our spouses. If it were not a choice, as the world often enough implies, we couldn't be commanded to do it, now could we?

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

Titus 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

Love is hard sometimes. Let's not fool ourselves with some unrealistic imagination of how the world too often presents it. Let's dig in and do the hard thing. Because that is what we are commanded to do in scripture - not just Christian love for our enemies, but romantic love each one for our respective spouses.

And for those who are not married, as well as the married, let's not measure the quality of that "special someone" by his failure to make our experience "in love" perfect. When you stop and think about it, that idea is ultimately selfish, isn't it? It says, "If you make me think love is hard, you are failing me and are therefore not a worthy person." The fact is that each of us will inevitably make love feel hard for the other also, and therefore qualify for the same harsh judgment.

James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

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For more in this series: Did You Meme That?

Did You Meme That? - A Good Woman?

By Mary Stephens
with assistance from a friend.
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First of all, let's consider the issue of looks.

We are told in Proverbs 31:30,  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

We should be more concerned about our relationship with the Lord and our testimony for Him than we are about our outward appearance. Although the point of this meme is to emphasize that there is a more important value for a woman, we should still ask if it is the right one.

Psalm 53:2-3 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Are We Good Women?

We are clearly told in the Bible that none of us are righteous and that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. In other words, none of us are "good" in and of ourselves.

Matthew 19:16-17 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

In this passage Jesus was telling the man who asked this, in essence, "If you don't recognize me as God, then don't call me 'good.'" Why? Because our human perception of goodness is not the same as God's. In His estimation of goodness He is the only One who is good. In our estimation all kinds of things and people are good. The only real goodness worth having, then, is God's goodness.

This meme claims that a woman will lose her pretty face and her body will change with age, but that if she is "a good woman" she will always have her own goodness to fall back on to give her value. The problem is we have no real goodness of our own.

The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9-10,  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

And again, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23.

Some people imagine themselves to be "good" because they do "good" things. But, all of our righteousnesses and good works are as filthy rags. In the sight of God they are worthless.

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 

We, by our own sinful nature, want to be lifted up and admired for what we see as our good works. We like to admire ourselves and our accomplishments. This is pride, even in its most benign forms.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 

Pride in our worthless "goodness" is a sure path to destruction. To be proud of ourselves for being "good" and resting in that is very dangerous. Human "goodness" is more perishable than we are ourselves and we are no better than withering grass and fading flowers (Isaiah 40:7-8). We are told in Galatians 6:3, For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. It is nothing but self-deception to think we are good and that our goodness is enduring.

A Goodness that Endures

The meme says that a "good woman" will always be good. Will we always be good people - with or without good looks? Since we are technically not good to begin with, that is impossible from the very start. Even those who trust Christ as Savior are still sinners. (1 John 1:8-10)

It is important to understand that true goodness is a fruit of the Spirit of God because only God is good. Without His Spirit in us we cannot produce true goodness.

Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Some people talk about a person being "good at heart" even when some of their actions are obviously not good. But, can we trust in our own hearts or feelings?

God tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Good or evil proceed from the heart. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 12:34-35: O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. We can only become truly good at heart through salvation and being changed inside so that we bear the fruit of the Spirit.

When a person chooses to trust their own heart or goodness, they will reap the fruit of that. The fruit of the Spirit is eternal life, but fruit of the perishing flesh is death. Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Humanly speaking there are people who appear to be better than others. They may seem "good" on the outside, but it's what is inside that counts. The Pharisees are prime examples of this. Even though they appeared very religious and good on the outside, their hearts were vile. Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 

You see, fleshly goodness will eventually produce corruption. You won't "always" be "good" just because you appear to be at one time. Only God's goodness will last forever. This is why we can trust in God and what He says about His own goodness and the goodness of His Son. We can trust Him with our hearts. We can trust Him to give us of His goodness for our eternal good. His goodness is the only goodness worth having because He Himself will keep on being good eternally. Every person who trusts Christ as their Savior can fully rely upon His goodness.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Jesus Christ is good, so we should hold fast to Him and place our trust for all future goodness in Him!

Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Relying on the Goodness of God

So, how can we rely on God’s goodness? How can we see God's goodness revealed in our lives?

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

We will see God's goodness in our own lives by walking in the Spirit. We will see it through reading and obeying His word, and by trusting in and cleaving to the living word - Jesus Christ. The fellowship and edification of godly music and teaching can also help bring the goodness of God into our lives, as we read in Colossians 3:16-17: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Someone may be thinking, "I thought Christians are supposed to do good work."

Well, yes. We are. However, as we trust in Christ to lead our lives, reading His Word and talking to him through prayer, He will produce the fruit or good works in us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is God's purpose and plan that we should walk in good works. We are created in Christ to do this for the glory of the Father in heaven. When we do our good works as unto Christ, and not as a vain shew for man (see Matthew 6), we can know that they will be rewarded according to His good pleasure and that we are glorifying Him.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

When we obey the word of God, resting in the power of the resurrection and the blood of Christ's covenant, we can have the joy of knowing our good works are well-pleasing in the sight of the Lord, and that they will last, not in our strength or goodness, but in His. Anyone who trusts Christ as Savior should rest in God's goodness and promises. He will guide, keep, and provide for us and never forsake us. He will also make us fruitful in the good works according to His will and purpose as we follow the Lord Jesus.

Conclusion

Dear reader, if you have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone and His finished work on the cross, then all you have to trust in is your own goodness. As we have seen, that is a very dangerous place to put our trust. Relying on anything but Christ for salvation will lead to eternal loss because there are only two places we can go after this life - heaven or hell. If you trust in your own goodness you will end up in hell - a place God never intended for you to be.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The Lord lovingly lets all of us choose what we will trust in and, therefore, our eternal destination. Remember that all our good works are as filthy rags. Your good works will not gain you favor with God or eternal salvation. Only faith in Jesus Christ and the ultimate good work He did through His death, burial, and resurrection can bring salvation.

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

When God finished creating the heavens and the earth on the sixth day, we are told in Genesis 1:31 that "...it was very good..." Adam chose to sin and disobey God's direct command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and so he brought sin upon the entire human race and creation. The original goodness of mankind was permanently lost. Only Jesus Christ's sacrifice upon the cross can restore that to us spiritually.

Now your sin will keep you from heaven if you choose to reject the payment Christ made for us. You will then be forced to make that payment yourself, and you cannot. Jesus, the Son of God, paid the ultimate price to make us truly good with the goodness that only God can give. But, the choice is yours. If you haven't done this, I encourage you choose this day to trust Jesus Christ and receive the goodness and salvation that are only found in and through Him.

If you are already a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, then you need to think on a different aspect of this. Trusting in our own goodness as our source of value is ultimately just as wasteful as trusting in our good looks. Our goodness is actually more fragile and fading than our physical appearance is. Let's trust in the goodness of God and seek to bring forth the good fruit that He has willed for us to bear through His Son. Then we will have something of eternal value, something that won't pass away with the worthless "goodness" of this world.

1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 

2 Peter 1:5-8 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

I like this verse from the Old Testament. It reminds me of how we can now live as Christians through the power of Christ in our lives. Ultimately this is how to truly be "good women" that please God.

Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Did You Meme That? - A Good Life Ambition?

"My main ambition in life is to be on the devil's most wanted list."  

Attributed to Leonard Ravenhill.

Ambition - noun - "a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work...desire and determination to achieve success." [Source]

Main - adjective - "1. chief in size or importance." [Source]

Should our chief goal in life, the thing which we work towards the most, be to get on "the devil's most wanted list" (if such a thing even exists)? According to this quote it is apparently a worthy aim.

But, what saith the scriptures?

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

Notice that this is the one thing Paul does. It is, then, his "main ambition in life." It has nothing whatsoever to do with what the devil thinks of him and everything to do with Jesus Christ. 

Our goals in life should not be based upon anything so sorry as what Satan thinks of us. Instead of focusing on Jesus Christ, this thinking focuses on the devil and making him mad. What a lamentable aim that is. And, in thinking about it, I can see how that would please the devil rather than angering him because if we are basing our main ambitions and goals in life on getting his attention, we are not basing them on the glorious ambition of glorifying God and lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus sent His disciples out to do works under His authority they came back rejoicing, but in something which He didn't approve.

Luke 10:17-20 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. 

Notice that they were joyful and the apparent reason was that the devils were subject unto them through Jesus' name. This tendency of humans is not so surprising because the devil, being the prince of the power of the air, has typically kept mankind in bondage in many ways and exercises great power over people.

Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Hebrews 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

So, it is not uncommon for Christians to get a big rush out of the fact that we now have power over Satan and his devils through Christ Jesus. 

However, consider the answer Jesus gave His disciples in Luke 10. First, He tells them that He saw Satan fall from heaven. This is likely referring to the time before the creation of the earth, or shortly afterwards, when Satan was cast out of heaven for his sin of pride and rebellion against God (see Isaiah 14). In any case, Christ goes on to say that He gives them His power over the enemy - Notwithstanding. This means "in spite of this," and then He goes on to say, "...in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

Especially notice that He specifically commanded them not to rejoice in this power they had, even though it was through His name.

Now, what do you suppose Jesus Christ would think of making one's main ambition in life to "get on the devil's most wanted list"? He told His disciples while He was on this earth not to rejoice in the fact that He had given them power over the devils, but to rejoice that their names were written in heaven. I think that part of the reason for this is because this sense of their own importance and power are a direct route to walking in pride.

The fascination with the power over devils is one reason that certain groups make a big show out of "casting out devils" and various stunts intended to display their alleged power over Satan. It is very enticing stuff because it makes people feel very big and important, and even if they give lip service to Jesus Christ, they generally develop a sense of their own greatness when once they start down that path. It is also a temptation to become preoccupied with Satan and his works rather than keeping focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Many of them, though, are not really working in the power or Spirit of God. If they were they would be more interested in different things. It can easily become a source of pride to "prove" that we have God's power and that He is working through us by making a big display of it. (Perhaps the most extreme example of this is the groups that handle deadly snakes to "prove" they have God's power.) If we are really walking in the Spirit of God, we will be focused on following Christ's steps and rejoicing that our names are written in heaven as He told the disciples in Luke 10.

In John 15 Jesus clearly says that the Comforter will testify of Him. The Spirit's job is not to make a show of power over the devils, but to testify of Christ. John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 

Colossians 2:14-15 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

It is Jesus who triumphed over the principalities and powers and made a show of them openly. The Holy Spirit testifies of these things. The mind of Christ is not to rejoice in overpowering the devil and making him hate us more. It is to rejoice that we now have salvation through His name (Acts 4:12) and that we can take unto us the whole armor of God (Eph. 6) and stand in His strength. All of this is because our names are written in heaven, and that blessing was purchased for us under the new testament (Heb. 9:15) in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh, why waste one's life trying to get on Satan's "most wanted list" when we can live every day and hour in the glory and joy of knowing complete salvation and assurance of heaven in the person of Jesus Christ, the friend of sinners, the Savior, the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, and the author and finisher of our faith! Truly, it is a very low ambition indeed compared with what we have to rejoice over!

If Mr. Ravenhill actually said this it lowers him in my estimation because from a biblical standpoint this should not be anyone's main ambition in life at all. We should be striving to follow Christ's steps as we read in 1 Peter 2:21, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Of course, we will feel the attack of Satan on our lives from time to time, and in some situations this will be more fierce when we are pressing the battle into his territory in some way, but to attract his attentions should never be a motivating force or ambition in our lives. It seems to me to be unworthy of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has given us and told us.

We all say foolish things at times, I know, but I sincerely hope that no one will be posting my foolish sayings with approval after I am dead and gone. I am sure that Mr. Ravenhill would not be glad to know that this unbiblical saying of his was being posted on social media by today's Christians.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. 

When we post anything online as something we agree with and approve, it is as if we were saying it ourselves, and it is certainly the meditation of our hearts, at least for that moment. Let's strive to make these things that are acceptable in the sight of God, not just things that sound clever and powerful but are not faithful to the word of God.

Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

Did You Meme That? - Proud to Be A Christian?

Proverbs 16:18-19  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Occasionally I poke around on Facebook looking at things. I don't remember exactly where I got this particular meme, but I thought it would be worth talking about because it brings up an important subject - pride.

Meme reads: "I AM PROUD TO BE A CHILD OF GOD
Type "YES" if you are" [sic]

I always get uncomfortable when someone talks about being proud in a "Christian" context. Whether it's talking about the accomplishments of Sunday School students, the teens who went to camp, graduates, or whatever it may be, when someone starts in on being "proud of" anyone or anything and it's supposed to be a godly subject, I get rumpled in my spirit. It's even worse when someone says, "I know God is proud of you." Ugh!

The main reason it goes all the the wrong way in my mind is because I cannot think of one place in the Bible where pride is ever said the be "good." I know some people believe in a "good kind of pride", but biblically it does not exist.

The secondary reason that it bothers me so much is that I don't want to be tempted to do things to make some human "proud," and I dislike seeing other people tempted that way as well. There is a certain seduction in hearing someone say, "I'm proud of you." It makes us feel good about ourselves. The problem with that is that we are not supposed to be men-pleasers in our Christian walk. We are supposed to please God. If we do something that is right and good according to God's word, then some encouragement may be in order, but when someone says, "I'm proud of you," they are in effect bringing our focus to them and their approval when it should be on the Lord and His pleasure and praise.

Let's just talk about the meme here for a moment. If anyone is truly "a child of God," they would know what a tremendous price was paid to make that happen. They would know how unworthy they are in themselves of that name and the salvation that brought it about. They would be humble, not proud. They would feel blessed and privileged, they would feel thankful. But, to say "I'm proud to be a child of God," flies all in the face of everything that it took for that to happen in the first place!

We are told to humble ourselves before the Lord.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We are told that God resists proud.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

One of the proudest men who ever lived, who suffered greatly because of his pride, was king Nebuchadnezzar whose story is told in the book of Daniel. After experiencing what God would do to the proud in bringing him down from his own high place he wrote this:

Daniel 4:37  Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Please notice that the opposite of his former pride here is that he now praises and extols and honors God. We should not be "proud to be a child of God" as if we did something to deserve it or were worthy of it. We should praise and honor God that He did provide a way to make us His children through the tremendous price of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.

I would also like to mention that it is cheap to say, "I am proud to be a child of God. Type 'Yes' if you agree." Anyone can post or share this meme, and their lives may not measure up to it in way. The person posting it might not even really be a child of God. Inviting others to participate in this manner is an even worse cheapening of the very sacred and glorious privilege of being God's child.

Let's use better words instead of using "pride" so loosely. We can say we are pleased with other people instead of proud of them. We can say that we are blessed that someone did this or that because it was glorifying to God. This puts the focus on Him instead of us. We can say we are thankful or privileged to be a child of God, because that is a more accurate way of speaking.

Matthew 12:37  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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Did You Meme That? # 4 - Weak or Strong

"The weak fall, but the strong will remain and never go under." 

Attributed to Anne Frank

One of the problems with using quotes is that it is easy to take something out of its context and make it say something that perhaps the original author did not mean. I do not know the context of this quote by Anne Frank. I don't even know if she actually said it. But, in this stripped down form cut loose from its anchor of context, this statement is very misleading and worldly in its apparent meaning, regardless of what Anne may or may not have meant.

In the first place, even in the secular world it is a fact that sometimes the weak come out on top despite the fact that they are weak, and sometimes the strong fail despite the fact that they are strong. Solomon said it like this, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all." Ecclesiastes 9:11

This is often how life is. Just because someone seems to be favored to come out on top because of their skill or experience or knowledge, it does not necessarily follow that they will come out on top. Also, many people who are weak, ignorant, foolish, etc. become highly successful in some area because of a fluke or by chance of birth or accident.

But, speaking from the point of view of those who fear God and follow His ways, there is even more to this.

King David wrote this:

Psalms 37:34-40  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

As I hope you know, Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who lived under and was killed by the Nazis. She had much to think about in relation to being weak or strong. Sadly, I do not know that she ever came to a knowledge of true salvation in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But, the thing is, that for those who trust in the Lord as their salvation, He will not only be our strength in times of trouble, but ultimately we will be delivered from the wicked, even if we die at their hands in this life, as Anne and her sister did. Because we are eternal and He gives us eternal life, whatever the apparent outcome on this earth, we will see the wicked pass away and our eternal end will be peace. The wicked, on the other hand, will come to destruction eventually, particularly in the horrible eternity that they will someday live.

The apostle Paul wrote this:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

It is through our very weakness that God is able to show Himself strong, both to us and to those around us. We may actually take pleasure in our weakness on Christ's account because He will be glorified in showing His strength through us. This is an amazing and wonderfully comforting thought.

The world we live in admires strong people, well people, successful people, rich people, influential people, and so on. But, the Lord wants to show the perfection of His power through our weakness and our lack.

In the context of this passage Paul is speaking of physical illness or ailment in particular, but he also includes other forms of suffering (other than those we inflict upon ourselves through sin). This should be something that we look to for comfort in dealing with the many and sometimes burdensome limitations that we struggle with in this life. Ultimately, they are opportunities for God to show His power through us. In thinking about what David wrote, we also see that through trusting in the Lord we can expect His deliverance in the end, even if it is not in this life.

Ephesians 6:10-13  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We need to look to the Lord for the strength and power we need to stand in against the wiles of the devil. I see a lot of people getting confused about who their real enemies are. They are often looking an humans, government, organizations, "secret societies", etc. and thinking those are the enemy. The context of these verse indicates that those are not the enemy because they are "flesh and blood," and our enemies are all spiritual entities and powers. This is what we need to particularly remember. The power behind those people is the real power that is at work. They are merely dispensable pawns in a supernatural battle between the Lord God Almighty and the devil. We, on the other hand, are the beloved and treasured children of the Lord, joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and therefore we can count on Him to show His perfect strength through us, despite our weakness.

Does that not fill you with wonder? Why would God, the Creator of everything who has all power in heaven and earth, choose to show His inexhaustible strength through us? I don't know why. But He does.

Psalms 18:1  I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Isaiah 40:28-31  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Did You Meme That? # 3 - Casual Faith

"I believe the time is coming when we will not be able to take our Christianity as casually as we do now."  A. W. Tozer

The time to stop taking our faith (Christianity) casually is now. It was time when Tozer said this. There are American Christians who keep talking about the coming persecution and the imagined present persecution here (so puny as it is), but they sit and smile and give their approval as the devil literally devours them and their churches with Emergent, post-modern, New Age, Roman Catholic, mystical, Pharisaical, and/or humanistic teaching.

The time is not coming.

The time to "earnestly contend for the faith...once delivered" is now! It has been since Jude wrote those words.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Jude 1:3-4  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did You Meme that? - Morning Bible Reading

Psalms 119:148  Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

[This meme says, "Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him." - Hudson Taylor]


The idea has been around for a long time that the "best" time of day to read one's Bible and pray is early in the morning. I've heard things along this line all of my life. It influenced me as a young person and I spent some years getting up very early to have my Bible reading and prayer time. I don't regret that time by any means, but I was not "more spiritually minded" because I did it. In fact, I was pretty un-spiritually minded for much of that time. I grew and learned a lot, but I also thought a lot of myself and my diligence to be "godly" at that time. The idea that morning is the "right" time for personal devotions was so entrenched in me that I still sometimes fight the feeling of guilt when I don't read my Bible until later in the day or in the evening.

I think that this idea came partly from verses like Psalms 63:1 - O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; This is a good verse and certainly it's good to seek God early. But, as we'll see later in this same Psalm, David also thought on the Lord in the night.

NOTE: It is suspect at best to take one or two verses and build up a system of "godly living" based upon them, especially when one doesn't take other scripture into consideration. In some situations we could say it is downright dishonest, and in this case I'd suggest it is often self-serving.

I don't know when I first came to realize that there is nothing in the Bible that says we have to read our Bibles early in the morning - that that is the "most spiritual" time to read it. I do remember really thinking about this issue some years ago when I was hearing some conflicting things that made me crystallize my thoughts about it.  The truth is, it just isn't there. It has been encouraged by a lot of "great Christians" and repeated by many pastors and teachers. It has been practiced by some "great Christians" and has been thought to be the source of their power. But, the scripture doesn't clearly and specifically say that we are "more spiritual" if we read it in the morning.

I had to stop and think when a family friend said he just couldn't read his Bible in the morning. He suffered from severe "morning brain" and was so fuzzy then that he couldn't concentrate and get anything out of it. Reading at night, however, worked well for him because his mind was more focused and alert.

My own dad has done his Bible reading primarily in the evening for a long time. He has almost always been a "night-owl" type of person and is more alert in the evening and even late at night than he is in the morning.

I myself wasn't able to deal with rising early when my physical limitations became prohibitive. I still have to let myself sleep-in in the morning sometimes because I'm simply too tired to get up and function properly at an early hour, let alone try to get up and read my Bible with any attentiveness.

I'm sure there are mothers and others who hit the ground running, so the speak, in the mornings and just don't have time to sit down and read the word without distraction until later in the day.

Does this make us bad Christians? Are we less spiritual because of this? While some Christians would say "no", the exaltation of morning Bible reading and prayer is still strongly felt, as proven by the two memes I've chosen to show here.  [Note: I do not know if Hudson Taylor actually wrote or said the above quote since there are so many quotes attributed to various people which they never said. However, it is in keeping with what I have read about him myself.]

In the Psalm 119:148 (above) the psalmist said that he stayed awake into the late hours of the night meditating upon God's word. Obviously he didn't think it was a bad time to read or study the scripture.

Psalms 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

David prayed in the evening, morning, and middle of the day. He didn't think that early morning prayers were more "spiritual" or that they made him a better worshiper of Jehovah. He did all three. Some people have suggested that early morning prayers are the most sacrificial and the most spiritual.

This brings up one reason why I think people believe that early morning Bible reading and prayer is more "godly".

We read in Colossians 2:20-23,  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,  (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

I am going to tell you what I understand this to mean and you may do with it as you will. I believe this passage is talking about the commandments, ordinances (rules), and doctrines of men - not God. The point I see is that all these rules about touching and handling are the ideas of men and not the commandments of God. The reason that they seem "godly" to us is because they have a show of wisdom - not real and actual wisdom from God, but human wisdom which says that if you subject your will and humble yourself and neglect the body (get up early in the morning) and don't satisfy the flesh you are more spiritual. In short, it is about outward appearances.

That is exactly what we are talking about with this subject - the idea that subjecting one's flesh to the difficulty of getting up at a very early hour to read God's word and pray makes one a better Christian because only people who "really love God" would do such a thing. Sadly, and I say this from personal experience, there are many people who will do this to prove to themselves, others, and God that they are "spiritual". They feel "godly" because they denied the flesh in a way that others are not doing. In short, it is a form or symptom of religious scrupulosity - going through outward motions that are admired by man to prove one's worthiness, spirituality, or to show denial of the flesh for the purpose of justifying oneself before God. 1 Samuel 16:7  ...the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Psalms 63:5-6  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:  When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

David remembered God when he was on his bed and he meditated upon God in the night. I am sure there are people who would say that if you are "really spiritual" you shouldn't be lying in bed thinking about God, you should be up, and preferably on your knees. In fact, I've heard someone say that it's wrong to pray while lying in bed. Granted, if you go to sleep this might be a problem if you really wanted to pray about something. On the other hand, I'd rather go to sleep talking to the Lord than worrying about the things I need to do or the government or whatever. Just sayin'...

Let's not miss verse 5, though. David compares thinking of God on his bed in the night to a rich feast and he says he praised the Lord with his mouth and was joyful while doing so. Friend, that was not a little token thought before he drifted off to sleep. This sounds like a warm, deep experience that filled him with the joy of the Lord. Obviously he didn't think that it was "unspiritual" to do this at night!

Ecclesiastes 11:6  In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

This verse makes me think of Jesus' parable of the sower and how the seed is the word. Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

We don't know when we plant physical seeds which will grow - those sown in the morning or those sown in the evening. So it is with our exposure to scripture. Sometimes we take away something that really sinks in and bears fruit and other times we miss the obvious. Sow regularly and sow at different times. See which works best for you. If it's morning, fine. But, if the word of God sown in your heart prospers more when it is sown at night, then do that! Neither time is better than the other, it's the fruit that counts.

[This meme says, "The secret to a happy life is giving God the first part of your day, the first priority to every decision and the first place in your heart."]

Both of the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel experienced receiving prophecy in both the morning and the evening. The Lord Himself didn't prefer one time over the other. He gave revelations of Himself at both times. He can reveal Himself to us through His word at either time as well.

Ezekiel 33:22  Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.

Daniel 8:26  And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

Isaiah sought the Lord in the night and "early".

Isaiah 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night the Lord didn't rebuke him for not coming early in the morning. He didn't shame him for not seeking Him at a "better" or "more spiritual" time. He met with him when he came and He expounded some wonderful truth to him.

John 3:1-2  There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

It really isn't so much about when we meet with Him as what we seek to receive when we do. God isn't looking for people who are "so spiritual" that they will get up early in the morning to prove their zeal. He is looking for something quite different from that.

John 4:23-24  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

In Proverbs 1 wisdom says that those who refused her will not find her when they seek her early. Proverbs 1:28  Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: But, in Proverbs 8 we see that she loves those that love her and those that seek her early will find her. Proverbs 8:17  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. From what I can see, the meaning of the word early here is not exclusively in the sense of early in the morning. It also entails the idea of earnestness and in a timely manner. But, most importantly, we see from these two passages that it is not about the time as much as it is about the attitude and the desire of the heart - a willingness to attain wisdom. As we've seen from other passages, the time frame is not that significant with the Lord as far as the hour of the day is concerned.  The point is to seek the Lord, now. Don't put it off, don't neglect it, don't wait for the "right time of day."

Matthew 7:7-8  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Did You Meme That? #1 - Don't You Dare Shrink Yourself...

I'm starting a new page at the Home Maker's Corner called "Words Mean Things".  I have had a growing burden for awhile about various issues related to words, writing, and speaking, and it seemed like it would be good to consider some of these things.  The first section to be added on this page is "Did You Meme That?" - a discussion of various memes that I've collected on blogs and in social media.  This is the first meme in that series.

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"Don't you dare shrink yourself for some else's comfort. Do not become small for people who refuse to grow."  Source unknown.


Because there is so much emphasis put on being strong and smart, and even fierce, these days, it could be a temptation to think that this is good advice.  But, as Christians we should ask how it measures up to the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:5-8   Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We often hear and quote verse 5 without the following verses.  The mind of Christ is not about being big and important.  In fact, although He knew that He was equal with God as His Son, He did shrink Himself for the comfort of others!  He intentionally became "small" for people who didn't know how to grow or wouldn't.  He became a servant, He humbled Himself so that He could die for our sins and give us the comfort of salvation and eternal life!

When He was living on this earth He could talk with a woman who had had five husbands and was living with the man she then had without making her feel small (John 4:5 and following).  He could live with fishermen without making them feel small or ignorant.  He could tell a woman found in adultery to "go and sin no more" without making her feel worthless (John 8:11).  No, the key to not making others feel small is to humble ourselves as Jesus did, to shrink ourselves so that we can comfort others at the level of their suffering.

Someone might argue that the Pharisees and scribes were small-minded, which is true in some ways; but we tend to forget that they were the spiritual elite of their day and were held in high esteem.  They were the ones who refused to become small in order to help others learn to grow.  Jesus Christ rejected their high handed methods.

Romans 12:16  Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

We tend to think of condescension as a bad thing because of its modern usage.  But, let's look at where it came from.  "Condescend" comes from the Latin: "con" - together; "descendere" - descend.  It came to us through the Old French and in the Middle English it meant to "give way, or defer".  I think we've lost a good word somewhere along the way because literally this means to descend together - we might think of all coming to the same level with no one being above another (not to be high minded or exalting ourselves or others above measure, 2 Corinthians 12:7).  It also has the idea of giving way to others or deferring to one another.  In other words, being kind and not thinking more highly or ourselves than we ought.  Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

According to Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language, we find that "condescend" once meant "To depart voluntarily from the privileges of superiority; to sink willingly to equal terms with inferiors...To consent to do more than mere justice can require...To stoop; to bend...To agree to, or concur with."

Some of this reminds me of Jesus voluntarily taking upon Himself the form of a servant and stooping to our low estate as mere humans so that He could help us.  Whether the low estate of others is social, intellectual or spiritual, we have a truly astounding example in Jesus Christ who humbled Himself in all areas to meet us where we are.

Obviously, there are times and situations in which we cannot agree or concur with someone's small ideas of life, the Bible, right and wrong, and the world.  But, we can ask ourselves, "How can I point this person's thoughts toward the truth as Christ has done for me?"  Because, if we're honest with ourselves, we've all been that small minded person at some point in our lives and needed to have our views and ideas expanded in a way that would make us more conformed to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29).

Strong people who know what they believe and why, are not afraid to meet someone else in the shallow end of the pool and gently help them learn to swim in deeper waters, so to speak.  Our family has a friend who is a very knowledgeable person.  He has studied long and hard and my brother has heard him discuss theology at a level that most of us would find almost impossible to understand.  But, he has a praiseworthy ability to level himself in whatever company he finds himself.  He can talk to people where they are mentally, spiritually, and in their education without them ever realizing that he is so far ahead of them in so many ways.  I respect him much in the Lord for this.  It is a real example to me of what it means to condescend in the biblical sense of the word.

To make ourselves small so that God might be made great in the eyes of someone else, this is the mind Christ.  We do not have to deny our own abilities or who we are before God to do this because Jesus did not deny His own deity, but He denied Himself in many ways so that He might bring us life.

Luke 9:23  And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

1 Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: