Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Great Balancing Act
We think the opposite of pride is humility; this isn't true. The opposite of pride is despair. Pride is putting ourselves so high that none, even God, can reach us. Despair is burying ourselves so low that none, even God, can save us.
There is a beautiful balancing act between these, a solid soul for pure souls to stand on-the fertile soil of humility.
Humility is realizing that God is greater, and we ourselves will never reach that height. It is at the same time placing ourselves below others in order to serve Christ through them. Humility is burying ourselves deep enough to realize only God can truly reach us. It is burying the part of us full of sin, pride, envy.
Humility is the only firm ground upon which to stand in this great balancing act. Pride tips the scales one way, despair the other.
May you find joy, peace, and contentment in the middle.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Seek Ye First
"But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." ~Matt 6:33
Have you ever thought that everyone seeks the kingdom somehow? Even those who have no idea who Christ is search for something more. We all want what this Earth can't give us, we all want what we can't create ourselves. We all want the kingdom of God, and every single one of us tries to find that glory somehow. Some of us search in churches, some of us in service to others, some in the satisfaction of a job well done or a successful career. And still more of us focus on building ourselves up so high that we eventually reach the glory we think we deserve.
We all search for the kingdom somehow, whether we realize it or not. But even those of us who are consciously striving for holiness often forget a part of the passage above. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Seek first His glory, His power, His love above all else. Everything else is insignificant, regardless of how much emphasis the world may put on them.
Do not seek their kingdom (the opinion of others), for it only causes hurt, envy, despair, pride.
Do not seek your kingdom (self-satisfaction), because with it comes loneliness, emptiness, longing.
Seek His kingdom, complete with the unfailing love and the true glory that every heart desires.
Flee from the darkness of this world and run towards the light. For once we see that glory, everything else is beautifully illuminated.
Have you ever thought that everyone seeks the kingdom somehow? Even those who have no idea who Christ is search for something more. We all want what this Earth can't give us, we all want what we can't create ourselves. We all want the kingdom of God, and every single one of us tries to find that glory somehow. Some of us search in churches, some of us in service to others, some in the satisfaction of a job well done or a successful career. And still more of us focus on building ourselves up so high that we eventually reach the glory we think we deserve.
We all search for the kingdom somehow, whether we realize it or not. But even those of us who are consciously striving for holiness often forget a part of the passage above. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God. Seek first His glory, His power, His love above all else. Everything else is insignificant, regardless of how much emphasis the world may put on them.
Do not seek their kingdom (the opinion of others), for it only causes hurt, envy, despair, pride.
Do not seek your kingdom (self-satisfaction), because with it comes loneliness, emptiness, longing.
Seek His kingdom, complete with the unfailing love and the true glory that every heart desires.
Flee from the darkness of this world and run towards the light. For once we see that glory, everything else is beautifully illuminated.
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