Pride is a huge turn-off

Every now and then I get upset when it seems someone is telling others they need Jesus with the underlining message that the other person is not acceptable unless they are a Christian. The other person seems resentful of this put-down and less interested in hearing more.

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit’s task is to convict sinners about their unbelief. This does not mean that I should merely pray and never tell others the good news of the gospel. It does mean that my attitude should never be one of superiority because I am saved and considered righeous in God’s sight but that other person is still in sin and not acceptable.  

The Bible is full of instruction on the attitudes God wants in my life. They are summed up in loving Him and loving others. That love for others is exemplified in Jesus Christ. He told His disciples:

Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

This means Jesus came into the world to save sinners, not to save the righteous, the fervent, and the earnest workers, but simply and only to save sinners. Some will say they are too far gone to save. At the other end of the spectrum are those who boast that God saved them, as if they somehow deserved it. Besides…

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. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

This means that no one, even the most pious of God’s children, can lord it over others as if their position in Christ makes them superior. Jesus came to save sinners and that attitude is contrary to the reason Jesus saved me! Pride has no place in why He did it.

Perhaps one of the reasons that the Apostle Paul was mightily used by God is about his attitude. He said this:

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Instead of putting himself on a pedestal, this man of God identified with those Jesus came to save. He was merciful and even though he led a sacrificial life, it was not characterized by a self-righteous attitude nor did he use his position in Christ to manipulate others. He wrote about his attitude:

I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away! (2 Corinthians 10:1)
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. (1 Thessalonians 2:7)
In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Today’s devotional warns me not to fix my eyes on myself or wonder if I am ‘good enough’ because I cannot answer these questions for myself, never mind impose such questions to others in the hope that they will be convicted of their sin and want to know Christ and salvation. All that would do is exalt self and fill me with self-congratulation and pride… and turn off the other person.

PRAY: Lord, in this I realize that exalting myself for not exalting myself is a form of pride too. Enable humility that shows up in all my interactions with others, even in my interactions with those who are filled with pride at being saved from sin. They don’t deserve even the least of Your mercies — and neither do I.
 

Not the most popular character trait . . .

 

 

Today’s word has a bad reputation. Many people associate it with ‘wimpy’ or fearful weakness, yet MEEK describes Jesus Christ who is none of those things.

It also describes Moses in Numbers 12:3. “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.” He was far from wimpy. Instead, this word is about  a lowly, pious, and modest mind, which prefers to bear injuries rather than return them. That takes strength rather than fearful weakness.

David also used this concept to describe God both in 2 Samuel and the Psalms. He said, “You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great.”

In the NT, this describes Jesus and He even used the word meek to describe Himself. Here, and in many cases it is translated gentle.

Matthew 11:29. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Even the readers of that day thought being noted for meekness or modesty was a weakness. Yet this describes God the Son, a perfect human without sin. Some say meekness is the best described as strength under control, like a wild stallion that has been tamed. There is power behind true meekness!

This word and its often used synonym, gentleness, means to approach others (including one’s enemies) in a humble and caring spirit, not using force to get one’s way. It is being like Christ and should characterize Christians, particularly since it is included as one of the nine characteristics of the fruit of the God’s Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

It is also descriptive of the wisdom of God. James 3:13 asks and answers, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” Then James describes the opposite which is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” and causes “disorder and every vile practice.” He contrast this fleshy wisdom with godly wisdom that includes humble and lenient gentleness:

James 3:17–18. “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.”

Is there a difference between meekness and gentleness? Paul uses both words in 2 Corinthians 10:1 to describe Jesus as the source of his own attitude:

“I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!”

My dictionary says meekness (often translated gentleness) means “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered” whereas in this verse, gentleness means “leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person charged with administering justice.” The first is a general way of being in all situations, while the second word means the same thing but is more specific in who and why meekness is shown.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. Jesus, because He died and rose again, purchased my redemption. He did this in meekness, accepting the wrong done to Him because in the eyes of God it was the only way to save sinners. As my Savior, He treats me with gentleness, even during those times I describe as being “booted in the backside and hugged at the same time.” It is His attitude of choice toward His children. As I focus on this, my attitude toward others cannot hold on to things like anger, resentment, bitterness, accusation, etc. Jesus is not like that, and because God is at work to transform me into the image of His Son, then this unpopular word meekness needs to be part of who I am.