(Click the text above, then click on the word OPEN.
After about a minute the recording should play)
TRANSFER TO HUMILITY
Many had confidence in their natural abilities as youth — who, years later — had found that their abilities is a gift from God (Judges 15:16; 16:25-30). Over the years, God makes them aware that He uses their gifts to His purpose and glory. God hones our skills. He teaches us how to transfer self-confidence in our innate abilities to a humble trust in Him.
EXAMPLES OF HUMILITY
Peter was a boisterous complicated leader of men, but God changed this author’s leadership style to one that resembled Christ’s (I Peter 2:21-23). According to tradition, Peter would display great humility toward the end of his life (John 21:18-19).
Moses was a young eloquent and confident individual (Acts 7:22), but when he became old he was the meekest man who claimed to have speech problems. God used him mightily in that state!
David was a great warrior who overthrew other nations, and yet he humbly confessed his need for God by looking to the hills (Ps. 121:1-2).
Christ was born in humble surroundings and in a little obscure town. He thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet He humbled himself even to the cruel death on a cross (Phil. 2:7-9)!
John the Baptist was a bold, yet righteous man who never took honor for himself, but always sincerely pointed others to Christ (John 3:30).
The apostle Paul, with all his knowledge of the law and powerful intellectual abilities, went from a persecutor of Christians to a slave for God. He stated his ability to humble himself and trust in the strength of Christ (Phil. 4:5, 12-13).
TIME AND HUMILITY
It’s a fact that time should teach us humility! It’s unfortunate that so many don’t learn the lesson that both God and time continually present to us.
The whole concept of humility is easy for followers of Christ to understand, but can be hard to put into practice: “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” (Mt. 23:12 – Berean Study Bible). What a great promise for those who go through the time-tested gateway of humility!
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusteth in thee.
(Is. 26:3)
Ever heard of ‘mind games’? It is a treacherous game where the victims struggle and strategize to become the winner. When confronted…the players of the game battle for supreme dominance over their opponents. The object of the game is to stay on top. In desperation, each player struggles to “stay afloat”…similar to someone being rescued who can’t swim. They would push down and attempt to drown their rescuers to save their own lives. Just like a drowning swimmer…people who play mind games are really not in control (II Tim. 3:13)!
Mind games can be one of the longest games ever played. There are no rules or boundaries! Sometimes the players are subtle and at other times mind games can be fierce and highly competitive. The games are cruel and really, in the end, nobody wins!
According to the Bible, Christians are to stay far from playing mind games (Gal. 5:15). If you choose to play you can easily become a pawn to the master strategist himself! It’s really his game — his turf. He plays it so well and would teach anyone who’s interested how to play to their own detriment! Don’t play mind games!
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix
your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and
pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that
are excellent and worthy of praise.
(Philippians 4:8 NLT)
The Red Sea
When your children ask you, ‘What are these
stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the
Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest
of the Covenant of God as it crossed the
Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are
a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’”
(Joshua 4:6-7)
The following is the thoughts of this author’s mental picture of Israel’s Red Sea deliverance based on the Bible along with comments about our memorial:
The Egyptian army pursued the children of Israel into the massive sea bed! Their purpose was to enslave them again or possibly kill scores of them there in a mass grave. God looked at this scene and overthrew Pharaoh’s great army of 600 elite chariots of soldiers, along with all of his other superior fighters on chariots. The one angel of God stood between the fleeing Israelites and the insane Egyptians. At one point…the Egyptian armies were thrown into confusion as a result of God’s presence. He caused their chariot wheels to bog down in miry surfaces of the sea as they retreated…finally realizing God was fighting for His people! Moses stretched his hand out over the sea and the raging sea collapsed over the escaping Egyptians, killing them all! The Israelites meanwhile, continued journeying the opposite route with a corridor of waters (mounted on their left and right) ushering them to the shore on the other side! After safely coming to the land, the Israelites saw the dead bodies of the Egyptians that were washed ashore!
Oh…the praises that must have erupted at one of the greatest deliverances recorded in history! The children of Israel’s praises were encapsulated in the following words from their song!: Exodus, chapter 15 – click here.
After coming forth from the bowels of the Jordan sea, the children of Israel were commanded to set up 12 massive stones (near Jordan’s banks) as a perpetual memorial and to remind future generations of the power of God’s deliverance. These succeeding generations would see the stones and ask what was their purpose. Thus, the traditions of the elders was verbally passed down as generation after generation came to realized the realness of Israel’s mighty God!
Your Memorial?
You should have a memorial…how our great God has delivered you from what would otherwise have been humanly impossible to be delivered from! This memorial should be a place in one’s heart and mind of the power of God. It is a memorial of the past that gives hope for the future!
Never forget where God has brought you from? How He has placed people in your life to change you for the better? Remember your elders and your instructors, those who made a difference during your seasons of unrest. Don’t forget men and women who have helped you. Be thankful!
God has lovingly held back and made many restrictions in our lives! He has also set us free from all kinds of bondages! Like the children of Israel, let’s stop and give memory to the wisdom of a loving God. Israel saw the death of the Egyptians and yet were delivered from death. Look around you and you too will witness violent and premature deaths, as well. But God has spared our lives another day, and so, every new day should be a memorial of the past day. Give thanks and be thankful for these types of memorials are good things!
God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time.
(Ecc. 3:11)
Feeling ugly? Depressed? There is a far greater picture than you and I can see! And the master designer uses His tools to free-form ultimate beauty on the canvas of our lives! He uses His colors — both bright and very, very dark — to paint a picture and each stroke tells a story.
For now, the picture has not yet been realized. It doesn’t seem an appropriate time for the beauty. But, the master has not yet completed the prized possession. Once the beauty emerges, the value will be priceless. The meshing of the rich colors will have come together. Men and women also will look upon it and recognize it’s true worth.
– Your beauty will emerge in God’s appropriate time! –
PCAFI Christian Ed. Aux. (ICEA) Articles 