May God bless you this day… to be humble!
once spoke at a minister and lay leadership conference and was amazed how much fun they had together. I mentioned this to the conference chairman and he laughed. Well, here they relax, kick back, and forget about trying to be the only authority this side of heaven. They remember some humility.
Christian leaders have a tough time. They’re charged with sharing the truth, knowing the Bible inside and out, and taking a stand even when others are nowhere to be found. But sometimes, without meaning to, they forget who they are. Suddenly their direction cannot be questioned and their decisions become law.
And the very same thing happens to most of us ! We grow in Christ, study His Word, and pray. But sometimes we take pride in our relationship with God. The Apostle Paul once said, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
Susan Paradise is a former Ciloa Director and has an important lesson for us all.
Take care and be God’s,
Chuck
______________________________________________
A few months ago a lady began attending our church immediately after being released from jail. She had accepted Christ while incarcerated and now hungered for His Word and to be a part of a Christian family. Several of us women took her under our wing and ministered to her, buying her clothes and a nice study Bible. Every week she faithfully attended Sunday School and Worship Service.
Then a few days ago, I received a collect call from the county detention center. It was my friend, after having failed a parole-required drug test. She explained she would remain there until at least her sentencing. She asked me to inform the others and to seek their prayers, letters, and any Bible study material anyone could send her. I assured her we would do so.
After I hung up with her, I wrestled the rest of the day with feelings of pity versus feeling like throwing my hands up and saying, I told her not to do any drugs! To call one of us if she was tempted! Disappointed, I steadily grew self-righteous as the day turned into night.
As I prayed for her in my nightly prayer time, my prayer intensified as God began softening my heart. And then He gently spoke to me. You know that “little” sin you’re working on in your life? How you slip up now and again? That’s exactly what she did she slipped up. It just so happens her sin is also illegal in man’s eye and she ended up in jail. But by the grace of Me, so you would be also because all sin is the same in My eyes. Yours is not better or worse than hers. Now, get in the gap and you pray for my hurting child and minister to her as I have taught you.
Oh wow, that was one humbling prayer time! I began to understand how a brand new Christian would not know the power in calling on Christian sisters to help build her up when she was feeling weak. She’d never experienced it. She’d hungered for a Christian family but didn’t know what all it offered. And my heart broke as I thought of Ecclesiastes 4:10,12, If one falls down, his friends can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!...Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
She just didn’t know! The more mature Christians need to do more than buy a nice study Bible for brand new Christians. We need to SHOW them the scriptures that actually apply to what we are telling them and share with them our own experiences with these Truths. We also need to REMIND ourselves that our “little hidden” sins are no different in God’s eyes than their “big visible” ones. It is impossible to minister to these vulnerable babes in Christ, properly, if we can’t humbly identify with them.
Susan Paradise
Ciloa ... Encouraging one another as long as it is called Today!
