Remain Useful

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” - James 4:6

I once owned a car that had an intermittent flaw. Once in a while, the gas peddle would stick. There is nothing more unnerving that taking your foot off the gas peddle and finding the car is still accelerating. When a car becomes uncontrollable, it is useless and dangerous.

The same could be said of our lives. If we want God to make a positive difference through our lives, it is important that we remain useful.

Years ago, there was a popular license plate that read, “God is my Co-Pilot.” Typically, the license plate was on the front of a car owned by a well-meaning Christian. The problem is that God does not want to be your co-pilot. Instead, He should be the pilot. God is not interested in being second in command. As the old saying goes, God is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. Like that old car with the sticking accelerator, an uncontrollable Christian is rather useless and dangerous.

One of the worst sins in the church is pride. Sadly, ministers are often guilty of this sin. It is sad to see a preacher strut. An arrogant man is too proud to relinquish control of his life to the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that God resists the proud. He will not share His glory with another.

While God resists the proud, our text teaches us that He gives grace to the humble. Humble Christians are easily used by the Lord. If we wish to remain usable in God's work, we need to remain humble. The real problem with humility is that those who have it don't think they do and those who think they have it really don't. It is possible to be proud of your humility … and that is the worst form of pride.

I bought a pair of work gloves last year. I think there is a valuable lesson to learn from gloves. A person's life is just like a glove. Until it is properly filled, it is rather useless. That describes our lives without the Lord, doesn't it? Yet it is possible for a glove to be filled with dirt. A dirt-filled glove is rather useless, too. A worker must empty the dirt out before he will use the glove. When a man is rather proud, we tend to say, “he is full of himself.” Yes, the glove is full … of dirt. Only when we are emptied of sin and self can the Spirit fill us. Just like a competent hand in a work-glove, the Spirit fills a man, making him useful.

A talented worker can accomplish great things while wearing gloves. We can see great things done through our lives as the Spirit fills us and uses us, too. Even old, worn gloves can still be useful if a talented worker uses them.

There is a temptation for an humble man to get proud when he realizes that God is using him. He is tempted to take credit for God's work. Rather foolish, isn't it? A competent worker may build an impressive house. Yet no one ever praises the gloves he wore, do they? They always praise the builder.

When the Lord uses us, He alone should be praised. We're just useless gloves until He fills us. We remain usable to Him as we remain humble. When we get full of ourselves, we are not useful at all.

The key to a fruitful Christian life is found in a life of humility. Being used of God is an honor and privilege. Don't allow pride to ruin the experience.

Stay humble. That is how you remain useful.

Resurrection Day

 “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” - John 14:19

Today I take time away from my blog series to wish you and your family a happy Resurrection Day! I prefer the title, “Resurrection Day,” over “Easter,” because it is a more fitting title. Today, Easter has been reduced to a non-critical holiday celebrated by hiding and finding painted eggs. Instead, I want to emphatically state that this is a time of remembrance and celebration.

First of all, we remember an event over 2,000 years ago when Jesus died on a cross. We soberly remember His sacrifice. Because of His substitutionary death, believing souls find everlasting life through His shed blood. The cross is a reminder of two things: the horrific nature of our sins and the incredible love of God. May we never forget either.

Secondly, it is a time of celebration. Our Lord rose again the third day! This event is the most critical event in all of human history. His resurrection proves that His sacrifice on the cross was sufficient payment for our sins. Furthermore, His resurrection demonstrates that a person can live again after death. Finally, it guarantees that every believer will ultimately be resurrected by the One who rose from the dead 2,000 years ago.  Our Christian family members and friends did not die in vain --- and we won't either.

We celebrate knowing that our faith is valid, vital and vibrant. We celebrate knowing that Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave. We celebrate because His resurrection power is at work today, making souls alive who were once dead in trespasses and sins. We celebrate because we know that because He lives, we will live also. Because He lives, our faith is certain, our focus is clear and our future is bright.

Make sure you are in church on Sunday morning. Let us gather and worship this crucified Savior, risen Redeemer and soon-coming King!

The Mirror Principle

 “Thou art the man.” - 2 Samuel 12:7

I've been writing about great men of the Bible who were used to make a positive difference in this world for the glory of God. When we consider such men, we are tempted to be awe-struck by their accomplishments. It is easy to feel very inferior to such individuals. I know I do. However, we need to remember that, with the exception of Jesus, all the men we studied were flawed men just like us. They sinned. They needed the same Savior we do. Yet the achievements we read about weren't really theirs. God performed these deeds through them.

While it is has been great to think about these men of faith, we need to examine our own lives. Can God use us to make a positive difference in this world? If so, how can this occur?

I want us to consider this in the coming weeks. We'll begin by focusing on some basic principles of impact living. We start today by looking at the most fundamental aspect of making a difference. It comes down to this simple principle: if I want to see a difference be made, it needs to begin in me first. I call it the mirror principle. If you want to see a positive change take place, it needs to begin with the person you see in the mirror daily. Change needs to occur within me before it can happen through me.

Change is often a difficult subject to embrace. The theory is simple to understand but it is challenging to implement. It is easy to see the need for others to change, but we are often blind to the fact that we need to change ourselves.

It may sound selfish to focus on yourself before you do others. Yet God begins that way. He often works on us before He works through us. It begins with salvation, but then progresses through practical sanctification. In reality, a Christian is a work in progress. We are being changed through the ongoing work of God in our lives.

Sometimes it is painful to face criticism. Constructive criticism is an underrated blessing. Such critique can come from a family member, minister or boss. There are times the Spirit shows us our sins and reveals hidden secrets and deceit that tie us down. We need to be made aware of such hindrances.

When you look in the mirror and see a dirty face, it awakens you to the need for water and soap. Ridding yourself of the dirt in private is better than ignorantly going into the public sector with a filthy appearance.

In a similar fashion, God often shows us the dirt and grime that pollutes our lives. It is a wake-up call that should lead us to repentance so cleansing may occur.

King David's life was an unholy mess when the prophet Nathan confronted him. David was aware of his sinful conduct. But there was something about the confrontation that rattled him. When David heard the words, “Thou art the man,” it began a time of personal repentance that saved him from ultimate ruin.

It is wrong to expect others to change when you refuse to change yourself. It is hypocritical to demand others to repent when you won't even confess your own faults. If I want to see a positive change in my world, it must begin with positive change in my own life. What others need to see is my own life in transition. When they see me become a better man, perhaps it will lay the groundwork for their change.

I am not naïve. I am not as smart, wise or strong as my pride would have me think. I need God every moment. If any good is accomplished in me, He must do it. Of course, I need to trust and obey Him, but real, lasting change is a work He must do. He deserves the credit for it, too.

It is easy for me to criticize others, but it is more beneficial if I held myself responsible for my own sins. It is wrong for me to expect others to do what I am unwilling to do myself.

With this in mind, let me be candid. I want to be a better man than I was a year ago. I want to be a better Christian than ever before. Instead of expecting others to change, I want to focus on the area that obviously needs change the most.

It's the man in the mirror.