Posts Tagged "pride"

Do you ever get the feeling maybe you’re not seeing yourself accurately? “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”  -Romans 12:3 The word Paul uses here for “Sober judgement” is the greek word “sophroneo.”  It literally means, “to be in one’s right mind.” This same word is used in the Gospels for a man who was set free by Jesus after being possessed by a “legion” of demonic spirits.  In Luke 8, Jesus casts out the demons and the man is then described as being sophroneo, “in his right mind” (Luke 8:35)....

Have you discovered how subtly bitterness can sneak in to your soul?

Thursdays are usually geared towards answering theological questions I receive in my role as a pastor. However, today I wanted to share a piece that’s not quite “theology” as much as it is a meditation on the cross as an answer to our cultural perspective on the signs of aging. I pray it’s an encouragement to you. —Pastor Phillip Thoughts on the Signs of Age Why is it that the particular signs of advancing age —graying hair, growing veins, wrinkling skin— are so often less desirable to us than the physical marks of youth? Biologists would say we’re hard-wired to prize youth because of its reproductive viability.  Survival of the species depends on a ready supply of healthy individuals who are able to reproduce effectively...

It’s hard to see ourselves for who we really are. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” -Romans 12:3 Paul realizes that the self-image called for here is only possible through and by the grace of God.  There are too many forces pulling us one way or another for us to do it in our own strength. When we think of ourselves too highly, grace reminds us it’s all a gift.  When we think of ourselves too lowly, grace reminds us that the gift was given because in Christ, God loves us deeply. Grace is the balance that keeps us steady in Him.  May you walk steady...

We praise the idea of the “self-made man”, but is that a good thing? A spirit of self-reliance takes a man’s affections and warps them inward. If he has money, it is HIS money because he worked for it. Therefore what he does with it is his decision alone and he will loathe the thought of anyone else’s fingers on his hard-earned currency. If he has children, they are HIS children, whose purpose is to make him look good, to make his name great, to serve the cause of his ego by following his desires for their lives, not theirs. If he has a wife, she is HIS woman, there to serve his wants and meet his needs. After all, did he not win her with his prowess, woo her with his charm? Does he not provide and pay for her needs by the work of his...