7.27.2006
A Few Things Before the Weekend Arrives
Tomorrow, I'm heading off to Alexandrov with Al, his son Joshua, and a young guy in the church named Kostya. The church in that city is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that we intend to double as a great evangelistic opportunity. The tourney starts on Friday evening and will conclude by 1pm on Saturday. I don't plan on posting anything until a day or two after we return. Keep us in your prayers as we travel, participate, and try to share the gospel with those we encounter during the trip.
I've been studying Matthew 18:1-5 this afternoon in preparation for Sunday morning. Olya and I will be teaching a combined Sunday school class (4-11 years old) during the second service. Here is the passage in full:
As I've read the passage and several commentaries, I've been thinking a lot about humility. In the kingdom of heaven, greatness is found in humility. In fact, Jesus in this passage says that one can't even enter the kingdom of heaven without turning (some other translations say converted instead of turn, but the idea is the same) and becoming "like children"; humble, teachable, totally dependent on another. If you never received the gospel in this way, in humility and turning from a selfish way of life, hear Jesus' words and think them over seriously.
As a believer in Jesus, I am exhorted to consider the presence or lack of humility in my life. I am currently pondering the question of whether or not my guiding principle in life is to please the Lord Jesus and act humbly towards His people. It is scary for me to think first that I may be driven more by a desire to please myself and then hear the words of 1 Peter 5:5
I pray that God helps me to understand what humility looks like and changes my heart in such a way that I would act in humility towards Him and His people.
I've been studying Matthew 18:1-5 this afternoon in preparation for Sunday morning. Olya and I will be teaching a combined Sunday school class (4-11 years old) during the second service. Here is the passage in full:
18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me," (ESV)
As I've read the passage and several commentaries, I've been thinking a lot about humility. In the kingdom of heaven, greatness is found in humility. In fact, Jesus in this passage says that one can't even enter the kingdom of heaven without turning (some other translations say converted instead of turn, but the idea is the same) and becoming "like children"; humble, teachable, totally dependent on another. If you never received the gospel in this way, in humility and turning from a selfish way of life, hear Jesus' words and think them over seriously.
As a believer in Jesus, I am exhorted to consider the presence or lack of humility in my life. I am currently pondering the question of whether or not my guiding principle in life is to please the Lord Jesus and act humbly towards His people. It is scary for me to think first that I may be driven more by a desire to please myself and then hear the words of 1 Peter 5:5
'...Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."' (ESV)
I pray that God helps me to understand what humility looks like and changes my heart in such a way that I would act in humility towards Him and His people.
# posted by Dave : 4:19 PM
