Be Humble, Not Proud

No ministry or local church has it all. No one has a corner on the truth and no one has arrived. No one ministry or local church is God’s only instrument or the one true church. We are all parts of the body of Christ, which is made up of every Christian and every church that declares Jesus Christ as Lord. Each one of us is special and unique, but we also need to value the uniqueness of others.

Humility demands that we have a sober or balanced view of ourselves. We must not think of ourselves more highly than we should (Romans 12:3). Each individual ministry or church is only a part of what God is doing. We all need each other. The Great Commission is too big for any one of us to fulfil. We need all churches and all Christian ministries working together to achieve God’s purposes.

Praise God for the huge variety and diversity of ministries He is using today. We can learn from each one of them. God is delighted when we embrace a teachable attitude that refuses to become comfortable but seeks to keep learning and growing.

The book of Proverbs tells us that a mark of wisdom and maturity is a willingness to listen and learn from others (Proverbs 9:9; 12:15).

God hates pride (Proverbs 6:16-17. James 4:6-7). Pride goes before a fall and any ministry or local church that thinks of itself too highly sets itself up for self-destruction. Let’s clothe ourselves with an attitude of humility.

Be Inclusive, Not Exclusive

In Mark 9:38-40, we have an interesting story involving Jesus’ disciples. While travelling along ministering in various villages, they observed someone else ministering. They said, “Jesus, we saw someone who is not one of us casting out demons in your name. Should we tell them to stop?” Notice how their reaction revealed an attitude of pride and exclusiveness that Jesus had to rebuke them for.

This story reveals some common attitudes that can easily become part of our way of thinking concerning other churches and ministries. Like the disciples, we need to change our thinking patterns in order to adopt a kingdom mentality. We need to shift, from a focus which is totally on our own local church or ministry, to a much broader focus on what God is doing through the wider church and the body of Christ.

Other ministries need to be valued and respected, as long as they are building the kingdom of God. Those who are not working against us are actually working for us.

Over the next few days, we'll look at some excellent attitudes that we need to embrace:

Be Inclusive, Not Exclusive

God desires us to seek to include others rather than exclude them. Christian love is expressed by an open, warm, embracing attitude toward other ministries and churches. We should look for common ground and not focus only on our differences (Philippians 1:15-18).

The apostle Paul’s aim in each new relationship was to win everyone, and he did this by finding points of agreement and then seeking to influence people towards Christ and further maturity (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

God wants us connected to others, not isolated from them. Cross-pollination leads to growth and improvement. We should seek to maintain balance and avoid the extremes that often occur through isolation.

Continue reading “Be Inclusive, Not Exclusive”

My Favourite Bible Verses (Pt.3)

Bible Here are a few more:

Joshua 1:7-9. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. NLT

2 Timothy 1:6-7. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. NLT

Matthew 7:7-8. Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. NLT

James 5:16-18. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years! Then he prayed for rain, and down it poured. The grass turned green, and the crops began to grow again. NLT

Psalm 90:12. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. NIV

My Favourite Bible Verses (Pt.2)

Bible Here are a few more of my favourite Bible verses:

Matthew 11:28-30. Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." NLT

Philippians 4:13. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency) [Amplified Bible]

Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. NLT

Isaiah 41:10. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. NLT

My Favourite Bible Verses (Pt.1)

Bible The Bible was written to enable us to know God. It reveals his heart and mind, as displayed in the story of his work throughout history. As we read, and listen to his Spirit in the text, we can come to know him in a personal way.

Not only that, the Bible contains many inspirational and comforting thoughts for all kinds of times and seasons in our life. It is God's wisdom for life, written down for our benefit.

Here are a few of my favourite Bible verses:

Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." NLT

Philippians 1:6. … I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. NLT

Hebrews 6:10-12. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance. NLT

1 Corinthians 15:58. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. NLT

Thomas Edison

Edison Thomas Edison was a famous American inventor (1847-1931). He is widely regarded as the greatest inventor who has ever lived. He singly, or jointly, held a world record 1,093 patents. In addition, he created the world's first industrial research laboratory.

In his lifetime, he played a critical role in introducing the modern age of electricity. "From his laboratories and workshops emanated the phonograph, the carbon-button transmitter for the telephone speaker and microphone, the incandescent lamp, a revolutionary generator of unprecedented efficiency, the first commercial electric light and power system, an experimental electric railroad, and key elements of motion-picture apparatus, as well as a host of other inventions [Encyclopedia Britannica]."

Edison was the seventh and last child of Samuel and Nancy Edison. At an early age he developed hearing problems, which strongly influenced his behaviour and career, providing the motivation for many of his inventions.

Here are a few of his well known quotes:

  • Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
  • Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. Accordingly, a  'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework. Time is really the only capital that any human being has and the thing that he can least afford to waste or lose.
  • If parents pass enthusiasm along to their children, they will leave them an estate of incalculable value. 
  • Barring serious accidents, if you are not preoccupied with worry and you work hard, you can look forward to a reasonably lengthy existence…. Its not the hard work that kills, its the worrying that kills.

  • Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward. 
  • The first requisite for success is to develop the ability to focus and apply your mental and physical energies to the problem at hand – without growing weary. Because such thinking is often difficult, there seems to be no limit to which some people will go to avoid the effort and labor that is associated with it.
  • There is no substitute for hard work.
  • I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others… I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.
  • I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun.

Food for thought!