All goodness is a gift

For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 3:19–4:7)

One evening at Bible study I shared how God rebuked me for praising another person. She quoted Scripture that glorified Him instead of taking the praise for herself. I was startled but realized that she knew how God wanted her to think about her skills. She gave Him credit for giving them to her. 

I don’t always do that. While praise feels good for my ego, it does not build my faith. It is better to feel needy and unable than to have confidence in myself. The people in that Bible study did not agree. They thought she was being rude to me, not realizing the importance of humility that knows all good things are a gift from Him. 

I’ve since thought much about human effort apart from relying on the Lord and being filled with the Holy Spirit. The OT says: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6) 

Turning to my own way, relying on me instead of the Lord, means I’ve gone astray. The Word calls it ‘iniquity’ which means ‘guilt’ in Hebrew, My thesaurus says it is like: wickedness, sinfulness, immorality, impropriety, vice, evil, sin; villainy, criminality, crime, heinousness, nefariousness, knavery; vileness, foulness, baseness, odiousness, atrociousness, dreadfulness, egregiousness; outrageousness, outrage, monstrousness, obscenity, reprehensibility; ungodliness, godlessness, impiety, devilry, among other nasty words. 

The NT puts it like this: “. . . . . whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) and this:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

When I think about who God is and what He has done through the power of His Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ His Son, how arrogant to think that I can live without trusting Him and doing it my way.

Lord, this is an important truth that brings unity to Your children. Help each one of us to think rightly about ourselves and one another. No pedestals, no boasting, just serving faithfully without judging others or even ourselves. All goodness comes from You. 

 

Nothing is impossible with God

And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years. There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” (Judges 13:1–5)

This barren woman was startled, even fearful, when told by an angel that she would have a son and not an ordinary son. He would begin to defeat Israel’s most powerful enemy, the Philistines. It would be a long battle. After many defeats and efforts, they were ultimately subdued by King David around 1000 BC but continued to exist as a distinct group until that came to an end around 604 BC when Nebuchadnezzar finished their existence as a culture. However, since the name of Palestine comes from their name, perhaps the desire of that earlier enemy for Israeli land still exists.

As I read the above passage for personal application, two responses produced two emotions. One is that God prepared this woman to raise a child who would be a fighter for God. Sometimes his methods were wild and got him into trouble. He eventually died, taking with him many of those enemies. I know a bit about how she would feel as she watched him grow up and how God used him do those things he did. 

While some believe this is folklore, at least one researcher says, “the stories portray Yahweh working secretly, through human actions, with all their ambiguity, and openly, in direct answer to prayer, to defeat Israel’s enemies and the enemies’ god.” 

I tend to agree. I’ve also seen God use seemingly idiotic things like having sinful people deal with sinful people. I cannot judge God by the actions of such people. He had a plan and picked a most unlikely person to fulfill it. The NT backs this up.

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

My other response is that I was told how to raise my children, but as a new Christian did not realize how foolish it was to think that my way would be just as good. I’m thankful that they live decent lives and do good, but regret not paying closer attention to the Lord. At the same time, I know that He can do whatever He wants with anyone’s life, so am able to trust Him with my family, including grandchildren and great grandchildren. That means my regrets always need to be replaced by trust. Manoah and his wife were not perfect parents, and Sampson was a far from perfect son, but God did what He wanted and blessed them anyway.

Jesus, I know how easily I can slip from faith to thinking I can earn Your favor (or miss it) by the way that I live. This is the biggest error of sin — supposing that “if I only knew better” would make me better instead of remembering that Your blessings are neither earned or deserved.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

 

Finding a good church…

After moving many times and attending many churches, humanly speaking I liked best the congregations that made me feel welcome. All about me. Yet in deeper reflection, those that increased my knowledge and love for God were those that glorified Him the most. 

Feel good churches can be all about me. Glorifying God is far more important. Reading 1 Corinthians clarifies why this is important. A church that puts the emphasis on God will praise Him for a good message instead of boasting they have a pastor who is a good speaker. They will not compete with one another, nor will they boast.

Paul wrote to this church at Corinth to admonish them for their fleshy behavior. They were gifted by God yet boasted in themselves as if they were the source of these gifts. They argued about who was the best leader and teacher. Their focus was on human qualities rather than the glory of God. His words to them through Paul were sharp, yet given to put their focus where it should be;

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

When I hear someone critical of the church they attend, I want to say “Find a better one” because they do exist. Yet I hear of those who quit attending any church thinking they are all the same. How sad. Is it better to leave? Or to do what Paul did and remind them of the One that has given them new life and wants them to live accordingly?

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. . . . Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. . . . And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. . . . The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:1–16)

These words are both humbling and uplifting. They kick my pride and restore my thinking to the One who saved me from wanting to be “the best” to being glad that He is merciful. Our granddaughter, broken from a fall and covered in bruises, said, “I’m the dumbest smart person that I know” and that reflects a biblical truth. The Christians at Corinth had Christ and His mind, but they put the wisdom of God aside to boast about themselves. To this, Paul adds:

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. (1 Corinthians 3:18–23)

PRAY: Just because I figured this out does not make me wise — instead it shows that You are my wisdom. I cannot know truth from You unless You reveal it to me. Pride in myself is a huge barricade to living for You and glorifying You. And it is one thing to know this — but the challenge is doing it — giving You the glory for all that You are and do. Rebuke me whenever I take credit instead of putting it where it belongs.

In what do I boast?

 
I know a man who often says that he must ‘do something’ and that his Christian life is based on that rule. He says that he feels right about himself if he is involved in meeting needs and without anything to do, he does not.

Today’s reading is about growing in grace. Grace is not about what I do but about what Christ has done and is doing. The author says that to walk in grace means opposing all growth in self-dependence or self-effort. It means to oppose every legality or rules to put our growing in the hands of our Savior, Jesus Christ, just as we put our eternal destiny in his hands.

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:28–30)

I also know a woman who says that even though she knows salvation is not based on her in any way, she never feels ‘good enough’ to be a Christian. As Jesus says, she is ‘anxious about her clothing’ or to put it in salvation terms, she worries about what covers her or adorns her and her growth.

In this woman’s mind, the conflict is between flesh and Spirit, even though she knows that both cannot be true. If God covers or clothes her, why does she need to add more? If God saves us by grace, why the compulsion to add to that works?
I’m trying to relate. What comes to mind is this: if God does it all, He gets all the credit, all the glory. Being saved by grace is a humble admission that I cannot save myself. This is all about the future after death.

But what about requiring grace to live the Christian life? The Bible says I cannot do anything of eternal value in my life apart from grace. That is humbling too. It goes against the world’s value system. Only little babies and severely handicapped people are unable to do things. This truth hits my pride.

Jesus says I’m like a lily? It grows by itself. A weed is also the same. This ‘walking by faith’ rather than by sight is one thing, but abiding in Christ because ‘apart from Him I can do nothing’ does not seem like good news, even though it explains why a person feels as if they ‘must do something’ or is ‘never good enough.’

To add to this hit to pride, God also says:

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

God is not interested in my IQ, power, or any other credentials. No matter how high or strong I am in any category, compared to Him I am nothing. And I boast in myself? Silly me. All that is wise or good or of any value is because of Christ Jesus, and has nothing to do with how good I think I am. It is like swimming to Hawaii; some of us drown in no time and others cover a few miles, but no one can do it. We also all fall short of the glory of God.

PRAY: Jesus, those who whine about inability might hear, “Suck it up, princess” or something like that. I hear You say, “My strength is perfected in weakness” and “I’ve got you covered” — and that is far better than self-pity or any pride that focuses on me be ‘good enough’ or any compulsion that tells me I must work hard to be worthy. My boast must be in You. Also, I’m not to evaluate those who don’t see these things the way I do. You also say, “Do not quarrel over opinions” because “each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:1-12)

All for Jesus means all…

Christian living is like a train. Facts about God and His will lead me, faith follows those facts and feelings are pulled by faith.

The Holy Spirit is the center of my spirit with intellect, emotions, and volition acting according to that core. This means I do not dump those three things but yield them to the Spirit. Then my actions follow coming out of what the Spirit is telling me rather than from what I want, or feel.  

However the Christian life is described, all parts should be listening to God and doing what He says, willingly, and with emotions and whatever brain power I have. Faith is telling me that the will of God is true, correct and factual in every way.

This mean that “not my will but thine be done” is not about giving up my will but yielding it to God’s will. It also means that…

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:5–7)

…does not mean I give up using my brain, but that I yield my ideas and understanding to the engine that pulls the train. In other words, be aware of the lies about God that get presented to me by the world, the flesh, and that old liar, the devil. Instead, use my will to cooperate with God’s truth.

The people of God are not meant to become empty of will power, to be left poor, flabby, nerveless creatures who have no will, and are brainless and governed by our emotions. We are meant to rely on the will of God rather than our own sinfully misdirected will. My will needs to yield to and be obedient to God’s will.

The same is true for intellect and for those with a high IQ. Giving it over to the Lord is just as challenging as giving up our will or anything else that a person might rely on. This is why God says…

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

Just as the will must be yielded and determined to seek and obey the will of God, so must everything else, not just my thinking and feelings, but any strengths that I may have. There is no shame in weakness for it makes this obedience a little easier. So also do verses like these:

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18)

Paul gladly boasted in his weakness because the power of Christ was his strength. This is an important truth to learn and follow rather than wanting to be a big shot without Him.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, You are my strength, sometimes surprising me and yet realizing I cannot boast, only in You. Anything good comes from You, and I am so thankful that You persist in teaching me that my own strengths are useless unless they are totally yielded to You.

Amazing grace . . .

 

A friend told us that her son was not interested in salvation because he did not want to be in heaven with “those religious leaders who abused children.” While this revealed his sense of justice, it also shows he thinks some sins are worse than others (like his own sin of rejecting God’s grace) and negates the power of God to forgive and change lives of those who repent.

For July, MacArthur writes about the wonders of being united to Christ, of having access in prayer to God and to receive His blessings, our role as His children, our spiritual security, and much more. All these are reason for boundless joy and heartfelt thanksgiving. He begins with this:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4–10)

God has a different value system than the world. For instance, people value those who are healthy, wealthy, wise, popular, have a big house, and on goes the list of things that do not last and have no advantage in impressing Almighty God. That value system rejects Christianity, but God considers His people as chosen and precious. I need to remember His thoughts about me:

For consider your calling . . . not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

It is easy to measure myself against others and have a pity party. They have a nicer house or greater skills,  are better cooks or gardeners, make more spectacular quilts, or their writing attracts more readers. However, the NT reminds me that this is foolish. Paul said:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. (2 Corinthians 10:12–13)

This means sticking to thinking of myself as God thinks of me, without comparing myself to others. Paul also said, “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)

Worm theology has some Christians eating dirt and feeling as if they are no good at all. Others boast in all their accomplishments and how hard they strive to please God. Either way, the focus is on self rather than Christ. But when I consider what He has done for me, there is balance: the humility of being totally unworthy and useless yet being chosen and precious in the sight of God, holy, acceptable through Christ, a part of His family. He gives me status as part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a recipient of His mercy and the label that I am His child, no matter what I think of myself.

PRAY: What can I say to You, Lord? Your mercy and grace are overwhelming. The world’s list of what is important is a joke compared to all that You have done and keep doing in my life. I’ve heard many complaints about all sorts of things and realize that just being able to draw the next breath is a gracious gift from You. Enable me to always count your blessings and be thankful every day.

PONDER: Read Ephesians 1:3-14 and 1 Peter 1:3–9, thanking God for His mercy.