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Lenten Devotionals 2007
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
16There are six things that the LORD hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
*Proverbs 6.16-20 (ESV)
A WISDOM STORY
A frog was living at a pond. He never lacked water. But then a long dry season dried up the pond. He was soon to be dried up, too.
He prayed to the god of frogs. After much prayer, he got his answer. Two birds were nearby, and a stick lay on the ground near them. He was inspired with the idea to ask the birds to carry the stick in their beaks, one on each side. The frog would hold on to the stick, while the birds flew him to a pond with plenty of water.
The birds agreed, and began flying the frog to safety. The frog kept a tight mouth-hold on the stick.
Below, an elephant was surprised at the sight. She called out, "Who discovered that great idea?!" The frog, unable to resist, said, "I diiiii ...."
With that he lost his hold on the stick and began plummeting toward the ground. One of the birds flew downward and scooped up the frog just before he hit the ground.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
Proverbs 16.18 reminds us of a universal truth that we forget to our harm: "First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall" (MSG).
The opposite attitude is certainly to bring blessing to other persons and ourselves, as well as honor to God: "Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other" (Ephesians 4.2, CEV).
Proverbs speaks of pride as a "haughty eyes." We could speak of this as "strutting around." This is an "abomination" - an ugly word for an ugly spirit. God "hates" such. Pridefulness is contrary to nature and Grace.
Just think of this. You do one good deed. What would it take you to arrive at the act? Everything that merged to make that one act possible arose from outside you. Did you shape your hands, form your brain, fashion your central nervous system, create all the persons who inspired your ideals to good, conceive and give birth to yourself, ...? No. Where did even the thought to do good come from?
So, where is the logic for pridefulness? Nowhere within you, for all your success ultimately arises from factors, indeed, Someone, outside you.
I enjoy preaching, and it usually comes easy to me. Preaching is hard work, but I seem to have been spiritually gifted to do it. Now, early on in ministry I would get prideful. And when I did, something would happen at times: the inspiration well would dry up. Where? Right when I stood up to preach. I would stand to preach, and the inspiration was not there - the flow of Spirit was lacking, a flow that might have poured forth only days before. There I stood - a chastened man, needing to speak, and struggling to find the words. Well, on a number of occasions I left the sanctuary repentant for taking granted that all the inspiration and giftedness to preach was given to me, not naturally within me.
Our culture views humbleness as weakness. We live in a milieu encouraging us to prove ourselves and take the credit. We are taught that who we are is linked to success. No. God says our character defines success. Spirit adorns us with humbleness and rejoices when we appreciate our ultimate reliance is on receiving a gift to serve with, not on achievement to claim the credit for.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
Spend time thinking about the spiritual gifts and talents you have to serve other persons. Give thanks to God for them, and pray that you will remain humble in all you do.
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*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian K. Wilcox, of SW Florida. Brian is pastor at Christ Community United Methodist Church, Harbour Heights, FL, and Senior Chaplain for the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office, Punta Gorda, FL.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings or submission of prayer requests at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Contact the above email to book Brian for Spiritual Direction, retreats, or workshops. You can order his book An Ache for Union at major book dealers.
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