Psalm 21 Almighty God

One of the most basic things we learn about God is that he is all powerful. His strength is capable of anything. There is nothing he cannot do. On the other hand, we know that as human beings we are limited and frail. There is only so much we can do with our might and strength. Actually, our might and strength, as limited as it may be, is a derived power from God himself. He has chosen to grant us power and strength to achieve and create and overcome, but it will never be like his.

One of the greatest sins I can commit is to think that the limited power that I have comes from myself and it blinds me from seeing Almighty God as the source. I end up exalting myself above God which is idolatry. When my soul is steep in sin, it cannot enjoy life. I cannot be fully human as God created me to be because I have neglected my Creator. Peace, security, love and joy escape me when I trust my own strength and forget the Almighty God. But when I trust in the Almighty God, he promises to bless. Blessed is to be happy, full of peace, security, love, and joy. These things are only possible with God.

How can I feel secure in my own strength when I don't have the power to control what goes on in the world, never mind in the universe? Only God has that power and I find great comfort to trust in him. It is like trusting in yourself going into a fight against a gang when you only weight 100 lbs. and have no self-defense skills. But to trust in God is like going into a fight with your dad who is well built and holds a few black belts in different styles of the martial arts. O what peace and comfort it brings to trust in an Almighty God!

Unfortunately, time and again, my selfishness and pride arise to set itself up against God forgetting my place and failing to acknowledge his. We think that the greatest evil we can practice is to kill another human being or rob a bank. But the greatest evil we are capable of begins with setting ourselves in the place of God; to think of ourselves as so very capable and strong without need of his help. The truth is that we are totally dependent on God and the sooner I can acknowledge that and live it out, the sooner I'll enjoy his blessings. It is best to join David and proclaim:

13 Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength!

We will sing and praise your power.

Father, you are God Almighty, Creator of heavens and earth, Creator of my life. Teach me your ways that I may exalt you for your strength and power because there is no one like you. May I trust in your strength today and forevermore. Amen.

Acts 14:8-18 Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

Signs and wonders continue to accompany Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey. It is very interesting to see how Paul worked in the supernatural realm. The Holy Spirit would enable him to look at someone and "see" if they had faith to be healed. This was the case with a man crippled from birth and Paul commanded him to stand up straight. Paul was in tune with the Holy Spirit. I yearn to walk with the Spirit like Paul; to receive guidance and direction according to God's will every day.

Unfortunately, walking in the Spirit does not prevent people from misunderstanding. Spiritual success comes with its own liabilities. The people from Lystra interpreted the healing as a demonstration of Paul and Barnabas' deity and they called them gods - Hermes and Zeus respectively. And worst of all, they set out to offer sacrifices in worship to them. How do I handle spiritual success? When the Holy Spirit manifests himself through my life, the enemy is ready to attack with pride using people to place me on a pedestal for just being an obedient instrument in his hand.

The Apostles counter with the preaching of the Gospel. They stated that they were human, of like nature with them and called them to turn away from idolatry to the living God who deserves to be worshiped for he is the Creator of all things. They explain that God gave them a witness of himself in his provision of rain and crops for their sustenance. He is the only one that deserves to be worshiped and adored. When people set out to place me on a pedestal, it is an opportunity to share the Gospel. It is an opportunity to exalt my God.

It is important to notice that not all the people understood the message and many continued to worship Paul and Barnabas thinking of them as gods. Paul and Barnabas continued to preach the Gospel and allowed the Holy Spirit to work in people's lives. But they had to endure the attacks of the enemy. Spiritual success brings about much pain. Success in the kingdom calls for more humility before our God and more dependence upon our God. Otherwise, I can spiral out of control by the enemy's whispers that somehow I have anything to do with God's work in people's lives. God is the author and I am a mere instrument in his hands. I must keep that perspective.

Father, teach me to walk by the Spirit day by day. Fill me to overflowing that you may be able to use me as an instrument in your hands. Teach me to overcome the attacks of the enemy that come out of the successes you grant to your servant. Help me to stay humble and dependent on you. Amen.

Matthew 23:1-12 Woes to Scribes and Pharisees

Here is an accusation I definitely don't want to hear for as long as I live: that I preach, but do not practice. Ouch! But this is not the only accusation Jesus has lined up for the Scribes and Pharisees. There is more. They were accused of burdening people with nuances of the Law that they themselves did not observe. Legalism is the spirit that takes God's Law and converts it into a bunch of do's and don'ts that people can't keep. Am I placing burdens on people I am not willing to carry?

Here is another one. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. Phylacteries were small leather boxes containing Hebrew texts on vellum (a parchment made from animal skin) worn by Jewish men, either on the left arm or on the forehead, during morning prayer as a reminder to keep the Law. It seems they loved to make them big enough for others to notice. They made them a display of their piety. The fringes were tassels on the edge of men's clothing to remind them to obey the Law. It seems they loved to make them long for people to take notice.

If they went to a party, they loved the place of honor. At the synagogue they expected the best seats. In the marketplace, they expected everyone to greet them and call them by title. Jesus prohibits the use of titles like rabbi, father, and instructor among the disciples as a means to gain recognition and authority over each other pumping their selfish pride. There is nothing wrong with the proper use of titles. Titles describe one's job responsibilities and position within an organization. The misuse of titles to feed one's ego and pride is wrong.

It is easy to fall prey to these traps: to preach and not practice; to become legalistic in the practice of my faith; to burden people beyond God's Word; to seek public recognition; to seek places of honor; to expect people to respect me and call me by my title. I must walk humbly the ministry path lest I fall into one of these pits.

Lord, test my heart and mind. Purify my thoughts and desires. Don't abandon me to my sinful nature. Rescue me from my selfish pride. May I walk in humility before you and others.

Matthew 6:1-4 Giving to the Needy

"Beware" is a very strong imperative. It tells me there is a danger ahead that I must watch out for. It tells me that if I don't heed the warning I may suffer bad consequences. Who would wander into a property with a sign "Beware of dog" without checking out the dog first? At least, I would make sure the owner is present to control the dog or put it on a leash. I wouldn't feel safe otherwise. The sign warns me that there is a dog that might bite me.

When it comes to helping the needy, Jesus tells me that I must beware before opening that gate. Beware of doing so to be seen by others. The warning is against my motivation to help. What is my motivation when I help someone? To look good before other people so they would praise me and talk about how great I am? If I open the gate with that attitude, I will be in danger. I will be bitten by my selfish pride. A dog's bite is less harmful because when my pride bites, it bites like a snake injecting a venom that will kill me slowly but surely.

So, how can I avoid a bite from my pride? Jesus tells me that I must avoid making arrangements to parade my good deeds before others. I must make arrangements to ensure that it is secret. But Jesus goes further. He also gives me a new motivation for my good deeds: the reward of my Father. I must crave the reward of my Father more than the reward of people.

I must show off before my Father because I desire his reward above all other rewards.

I have been bitten a good number of times. Jesus has rescued me from every one when I confess my pride and ask for his forgiveness. Lord, give me a desire to crave my Father's reward more than any other reward when I perform good deeds. Help me to be compassionate towards those who are in need and seize the opportunities to exercise my righteousness before my Father. Help me to heed the warning to beware every time I set out to help someone.