Blog or Article?
Blogs often focus on personal opinion, experiences, views, anecdotes or advice. Blogs tend to have a relaxed and conversational feel, such as in storytelling and are generally 300-500 words.
Articles aim to deliver well-researched, informative content with solid evidence to back up the points made. Articles are usually more formal, organized and frequently range 500-1000 words.
It has been rightly said that pride is the opposite of humility. As our teachers have often said; we sometimes have to recognize error before the truth can come to light. One of my teachers has rightly expressed the meaning of pride, as the lie that we can live independent of God. That's my paraphrase and not a direct quote. When one understands that they are made as a part of creation (e.g. birds, animals, plants, fishes), then a major part of the fog of the lie of pride begins to clear. Another of my teachers showed me quite vividly as we listened to a person's talking once. Afterward, he pointed out just how many times the person used the word "I" (capital i) in their discourse with us. I put that together with the gospel statement by Christ that out of the heart the mouth speaks. I began to listen to my own words when I was speaking to someone. I don't have to tell you how shocked I was! I know there is a balance. For instance, when speaking of personal experience, then the word "I" is a necessity, but where I began to draw the line as to wisdom, was by noting as to how often I put myself into the direction of my future, rather than the promises of God. Just, how was I envisioning my tomorrows?
I looked back on my failures and realized that they were the plans that I thought were the best, when in fact, they had failed to bring the desired results. Remember that, we don't just want results as the world portrays them, but as the Word portrays them. I see a result from decisions made as profitable only when the peace, love, and joy of God accompanies the results. I remember that from James on the difference between the two wisdoms.
Pride does come before a fall. But, the promise is that a just man/woman falleth seven times, but gets back up again. Thank God for His mercy! Would it follow the logic proverb of the pride saying by saying this(?); Humility comes before grace. I believe that's in first or second Peter. Of course.
Now from that foundation, we can remember that we don't pull ourselves up by our own 'bootstraps', but rather be humble enough to recognize that we need Father, just as a plant needs water. He is our fountain of living waters.
You need to be a member of Way Corps Site to add comments!
Comments
I began to understand that what God wanted from man was fellowship. A relationship. In order for me to have a relationship with my Creator, I had to get to know Him. (Sure, that sounds simple enough, but what about the truth that the whole world is deceived?) Humility and a loving God is an ideal that is not found in the world today. One cannot comprehend truth immediately when one's belief system has already been established by the lies of the deceiver. That takes humility. I remember as a child taking wonder in the simple things of nature, and was in such awe of the design of things. Leaves, tadpoles, squirrels. I saw life in everything. My wonder, made me think that I wanted to meet the guy who made all this stuff, because meeting him would be the ultimate joy of my heart. I searched by going to my Science books...the local Church...asking 'wise' guys...all to no avail. I gave up on that search at one time. I felt I was in the Twilight Zone. I remember reading about how TV was the greatest invention (when I was a kid), and yet, going into the living room the damn thing was playing "I Love Lucy". It just didn't make any sense! But, my humility started to harden as a young adult, until someone from the Way talked to me. I was cynical and read some books called "Studies in Abundant Living". A little flame of humility started coming back to me. I scrutinized everything I read, but the books just kept talking about a loving God, who is all good. That fit with my childhood ideal of the Creator. So, I re-read the material in those studies with less of a cynical attitude. My humility kept growing, and I started receiving insights that reflected God's love. I began to fellowship with Him, as I got to know Him from the Bible. But, what I didn't expect was the fondness for those that had brought this truth to me. My relationship with people that were different, than what I was used to was a little hard to take at first, but they reflected what I was learning and becoming, so I ditched my old party friends and started paying more attention. The attention that I was paying was not to be allowed to center on people or personalities - No sir! It was directed to pay attention to Jesus Christ. He was to be my focal point as far as personalities was concerned. I began to form a sort of 'communion' with God by speaking in tongues, and a communion with Jesus Christ as my personal, down-to-earth, Lord and Savior. As I enjoyed relationship with other people that believed the same things, I began to enjoy fellowship with them, as well. I wanted to emulate what Jesus Christ stood for, so I began first by emulating those around me that were emulating him. Then, I began to emulate Jesus teachings towards those around me (e.g. friends, family, associates). His work is now joined to us to work together to bring that message of the good news to a dying world. The calling for service is what I began to see. But, I couldn't quite get there.
Good works and personal accomplishment kept getting in my way. I had to ask myself if I was doing it for me to 'feel good enough for God', or because God made me good enough. That's when I had to align myself in my renewed mind to the grace God had provided, and let go of pride. It truly was not about 'me'. It was about God's plan of salvation reaching to the lost and deceived. This is where my fellowship turned to 'communion'. My communion with Christ's accomplishments for me. Receiving with meekness, or humility the love God has toward me that I should be called a son of God, and that Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call me brother.
As I read the book of Acts in this light of understanding of my communion with Christ, I noticed that the phrase 'one accord' shows up several times. It always shows up just before the signs, miracles, and wonders do in the book of Acts. Fellowship, communion, one accord are all words that are akin, and emphasize 'relationship' with God, Jesus Christ, and the believers. The broken body and shed blood reminds us that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to our Creator. The day of Pentecost brings us to Him as Father. And sharing this in one accord with other believers gives us on accord bringing to power what Jesus Christ did as his mission statement from Isaiah. Set the captives free, sight to the blind, etc.
Communion reminds us that Christ is in communion with us, and that we are in communion with him.